Recent cyber attacks on schools in other regions, such as the devastating ransomware incident in Lancashire, should serve as a wake-up call to educational establishments across the South West. Schools, academies, and trusts rely heavily on IT systems for daily operations, communication, and the management of sensitive data. A successful cyber attack, such as ransomware, could leave your institution crippled, leading to weeks of downtime, disrupted learning, and a breach of critical personal information.

Ransomware: A Growing Threat to Schools

The attack on Lancashire’s Fylde Coast Academy Trust affected all 10 of its schools, forcing them to revert to manual processes and leaving essential systems offline. While the South West hasn’t yet seen an incident of this scale, the threat is very real. Ransomware can lock you out of vital systems, and recovering from such an attack can take weeks.

How Can Schools in the South West Protect Themselves?

At the South West Cyber Resilience Centre, we are dedicated to helping educational institutions build strong defences against cyber threats. Here’s how you can reduce the risk and impact of an attack:

1. Remote Vulnerability Assessment

Identify weak points in your systems that could be exploited by cyber criminals. Our team can help you assess your school’s infrastructure remotely, making sure no stone is left unturned.

2. Security Policy Review

Does your school have the right policies in place to mitigate risks? We’ll review your current security policies, ensuring they meet the latest standards and are designed to protect against evolving cyber threats.

3. Cyber Business Continuity Review

How quickly could your school recover from a cyber attack? We’ll work with you to ensure your business continuity plan is robust, so in the event of a disruption, you’re back online and operational with minimal downtime.

Why Cyber Resilience is Critical for Schools

Schools handle a wealth of sensitive data – from personal student records to staff and financial information. These factors make schools attractive targets for criminals. In the case of a ransomware attack, your data could be encrypted and held hostage, with serious consequences if your systems are not prepared.

Dean Logan, CEO of Lancashire’s Fylde Coast Academy Trust, recently faced this reality when ransomware disrupted all of the trust’s 10 schools, leading to significant system outages. Logan stated that it could take weeks to fully restore systems, with only partial recovery expected within days.

Educational institutions in the South West must ensure they are prepared to avoid a similar fate. Whether it’s ransomware, phishing attacks, or data breaches, cyber resilience is key to ensuring that your school can recover quickly with minimal disruption.

Our Commitment to South West Schools

The South West Cyber Resilience Centre offers affordable, practical services to help schools and trusts across the region improve their cyber defences. Our goal is to make cyber security accessible, helping you safeguard your institution without needing to be an IT expert.

With services like Remote Vulnerability Assessments, Security Policy Reviews, and Cyber Business Continuity Reviews, we can support your school in becoming more resilient against threats.

Take Action Now to Protect Your School

Don’t wait for a cyber attack to disrupt your school. Contact the South West Cyber Resilience Centre today to schedule a consultation and discover how we can help you secure your systems, protect your data, and ensure business continuity in the face of rising cyber threats.