VIEWS & OPINION


The challenge of cyber security


Comment by NELSON ODY, Product Manager, Cyber Security at RM


For many in education, just ‘keeping the lights on’ is hard enough. A lack of resource as well as a set of complex and ever-changing demands leave schools in a constant state of challenge. Now, the latest and greatest challenge is cyber security.


But cyber security skills are in short supply, placing pressure on sectors like education that can’t afford such talent. Even worse, schools are unclear on exactly what is required from them. In fact, RM found that while nearly two-thirds of secondary schools are


members of the RPA scheme, just 5% have implemented all of what they are required to do.


In the coming months, money and budget are going to come under extreme pressure. Energy bills for schools are going to rise dramatically, but schools can’t lose sight of the huge risk that a cyber-attack threatens. What’s more, Ofsted toughened up on their guidance [gov.uk] for school inspectors and will now be checking whether schools have addressed all that they reasonably can to limit the risks to the school or college’s IT system. With many more months of disruption on the horizon, it is clear


there is much that still needs to be taught in the school of cyber security. The call for strong security hygiene couldn’t be any clearer. My advice to schools would be to start with the cost-effective basics. It may sound obvious, but too often good password behaviours are neglected. Using something as simple as the ‘three random words’ approach to passwords, as advised by the NCSC could have a huge impact. Similarly, implementing Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) for all staff in a school should be seen as essential but it must be across all cloud-based applications and schools must also encourage that staff members use MFA all applications in their personal lives too, for example on Amazon or Facebook.


Good update behaviours matter too. The tech staff must ensure updates are completed promptly, but generally, all staff must be educated and understand the importance of updates. That means staff should be rebooting their machines when first asked, not leaving it to the last minute, and making sure their mobile devices are up to date as well. It’s not just the school’s operating systems, application software and mobile apps need to be kept up to date as well as all of these elements are possible vulnerabilities waiting to be exploited.


Yet unfortunately, as cyber-attacks are becoming more organised, the complexity gets tougher. Therefore, working with managed services and trusted partners, schools need to increase both their training and technological solutions to raise their walls. One of the most effective ways would be to undergo a vulnerability assessment. Time and time again these prove to be a sound investment, uncovering issues with a school’s websites and externally facing systems.


Ultimately, like with everything in life, preparation is essential. If we consider what we do for the event of a fire; training, regularly check the alarms and run fire drills, we should be doing the same for cyber security. Training, checking our systems, reporting mechanisms and running various drills, such as simulated phishing campaigns, response exercises for tech staff and SLT.


Tolerance is a critical skill today


Comment by FELICIA JACKSON, Chair of the Learn2Think Foundation


The importance of religious tolerance has raised its head once more, following the outbreak of violence between Hindus and Muslims in Leicester in recent weeks. What stands out so much however is the role of misinformation in stoking tensions.


Leicester is a famously multicultural city, one that has been rightly proud of its growth, openness and acceptance. Yet the clashes between groups of young men shocked the city, especially as they initially seemed to have been set off by an India-Pakistan cricket game in August.


While cricket may not seem to be a massive trigger to many, the challenge is the long history between India and Pakistan, the separation of states and people that has been mirrored in conflict between Hinduism and Islam. There had been rumours of gang attacks, and accusations of language used by Hindu extremists in India, which seems to be increasingly linking nationalism with ethnic background. There was widespread sharing


October 2022


of stories and videos that were called ‘distorting’ by the city’s mayor. So widespread in fact that people around the country came to Leicester in response to what they saw as attacks on their beliefs and their people. At times when politics is increasingly polarised and the cost-of-living crisis is putting intense pressure on everyone, there is a danger that racism and intolerance will raise its ugly head. Add misinformation to the mix and suddenly tension and groupthink can turn into a mob mentality. History has shown us the success of politicians who have chosen to blame one group for the ills of a nation, from the Jews in Germany in the 1930s to Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, to the widespread complaints from Europe to the US that migrants are taking people’s jobs. It’s too easy for politicians to turn discussion of their failures as leaders into placing the blame for economic ills onto a less powerful group. The scapegoating of minorities is a historical reality that can be tracked around the world. That makes it ever more important that children learn how to be tolerant. While children may have an innate sense of what’s fair, they learn tolerance from the behaviours of those around them. Its not about putting up with things you don’t like, but rather about ensuring that everyone has the same rights that you demand for yourself.


Children must learn what those rights are, and what it means when those rights are under threat. This year it’s even more important to ensure that children learn what tolerance really is, and how to understand the truth of a situation despite misinformation. Learn2Think provides free lesson plans, games and reading lists on religious tolerance, critical thinking and false information, polarising politics and more.


They can be used all year round, not just to engage on one particular day. But this year we urge you to sign up to mark the UN’s International Day of Tolerance on 16th November and help equip our children with the skills to make the world a better, fairer place.


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