Why Cyber Awareness Matters for Every Member of School Staff

For too long, cybersecurity has been relegated to the domain of the IT department, viewed as a technical problem that can only be solved by firewalls and antivirus software. But the reality is evidently different, especially in schools. 

We’ve seen the devastating impact firsthand: from schools being locked out of critical systems during GCSE season, unable to send emails or access essential resources, to ransomware that spreads so fast it shuts down lessons and leaves parents getting text messages about unexpected closures. 

This, at a glance, is why cybersecurity is not just an IT issue; it’s a whole-school issue. Every interaction with a school system, whether logging in, clicking a link, or handling a USB stick, is a potential risk point. This means every staff member plays a vital role in building cyber resilience. Even the strongest firewall in the world cannot stop a teacher from clicking a convincing phishing email or a staff member from using a weak password. 

The foundation of the problem

To understand why every staff member’s vigilance is needed, we must first assess the current landscape. At the start of this academic year, we released the first-ever State of School Cybersecurity report, revealing a snapshot of schools’ cyber readiness. 

As we work with schools daily, it's difficult not to think about the real pupils and dedicated teachers whose learning, work, data and security will be affected if a cyber attack were to hit their school when we read these statistics: 

• Only half of schools said they have a password policy.
• Fewer than one in six have a designated cybersecurity lead. 
• Less than 40% have a plan for what to do if they're attacked. 
• Fewer than a quarter of schools said they have switched Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) on everywhere they can. 

Behind these numbers lies the reality that most attacks succeed not because of sophisticated hacking, but rather due to simple, preventable human errors and policy gaps. This is precisely where effective cyber awareness becomes the entire school’s first line of defence. 

Cyber awareness starts with leadership

Changes begin with a clear direction. Recognising the severity of growing cyber threats, the Department for Education (DfE) now expects academy trusts to appoint a senior leader responsible for cybersecurity and strongly advises all schools to do the same. 

It is only when a leader takes ownership that things start to shift: budgets are allocated, priorities are reset, and most importantly, staff habits begin to change. 

Our recent report, The State of School Cybersecurity, revealed that fewer than one in six schools have a designated cybersecurity lead - this needs to change. Appointing a Cyber Lead (in practice, not just title) is a significant first step towards improving cyber resilience. Cybersecurity should be discussed at every governing body meeting, just as safeguarding is, which is why a Cyber Lead is vital for ensuring cybersecurity is regularly on the agenda.  

Furthermore, school leadership teams should strive to make cybersecurity a staple of their agenda at governors' and board meetings. When leadership shows that cyber awareness matters, every member of staff takes notice and treats it with the seriousness it deserves. 

How can schools build cyber resilience right now?

Building resilience is a continuous journey, like learning a new instrument; it happens step by step. But there are three simple, high-impact things every school can do right now to raise its collective cyber awareness: 

1. Practice your "cyber fire drill"
   If your entire school network went down suddenly on a Monday morning, what would happen? Who do you call first? How do you get urgent messages to staff and parents if email is unavailable? Most schools don’t have clear, practised answers to these questions. 
   
   
2. Keep software up-to-date
   Think of your unpatched or outdated software as a broken lock on your school’s front door. You wouldn’t leave a physical security flaw like that for weeks, would you? The same principle applies to your IT systems. 
   
   
3. Focus on staff account hygiene
   Staff accounts are often the easiest and most common point of entry for cyber criminals. Small, consistent habits make a huge difference, for example: enabling MFA where applicable, using password managers, and regularly reviewing staff permissions. 

Summary

Our mission is not to scare anyone, but to build confidence in your school’s ability to withstand an attack. 

Every small step, whether it’s updating a policy, enabling MFA, or reminding staff not to reuse passwords, adds another essential layer of protection. It’s like managing classroom behaviour: the more consistent the expectations, the safer and more secure everyone feels. 

Cyber awareness isn’t just the IT department’s job; it’s everyone's responsibility. Because ultimately, what is at risk isn’t just data, it’s learning time, the privacy of children, and the trust of your community. 

Attackers aren’t waiting, and neither should you. Download the latest School Cybersecurity Handbook for a free guide to assess, plan and strengthen your school’s cybersecurity posture.