Cybersecurity for Multi-Academy Trusts in England

This whitepaper discusses the cybersecurity challenges faced by Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) in England, highlighting the significant changes in the educational landscape where over half of state school pupils now attend academies. The document outlines the increased reliance on technology in education, particularly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting vulnerabilities that MATs face due to rapid digital transformation and a shortage of IT skills. It details the rising threat of ransomware attacks in the education sector, with statistics showing a substantial increase in incidents. The whitepaper emphasizes the need for MATs to adopt a proactive cybersecurity strategy, including the importance of user education and incident response planning. It also addresses the complexities of existing IT infrastructures and the necessity for collaboration with managed service providers to enhance security measures. The document concludes with recommendations for improving cybersecurity resilience in educational environments.