73% of UK Schools Hit by Cyberattacks—How IT and Educators Can Protect Student Data

As cyber threats targeting schools continue to rise, UK educators face the challenge of balancing innovative edtech adoption with strong data security practices. On March 10, the UK Department of Education updated its standards for meeting digital and technology standards for schools to help schools provide safe digital learning. This article explores 3 steps trusts can take to make data-informed decisions about protecting student data.  

Student data is at risk without a unified, collaborative approach 

73% of UK education institutions have faced cyberattacks in the past five years, underscoring the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity measures to protect student data privacy. At the same time, due to edtech adoption at an all-time high, decisions on how to implement technology vary by school. Research by the UK Department for Education shows that 51% of teachers are guided by school policy and make independent decisions, while 15% make autonomous decisions because there is no policy. Ultimately, no matter how well-intentioned, when educators make independent decisions on what edtech to use, it’s more difficult to know how much data is shared or where it’s going, leading to more security risks.

To strengthen student data privacy, cybersecurity must be a shared responsibility embraced at every level — from teachers selecting digital tools to leadership establishing clear data policies. While 96% of IT administrators view cybersecurity as a collaborative effort, only 17% feel their current strategies truly reflect this unified approach. Bridging this gap means aligning teacher autonomy with institutional safeguards, creating a culture where innovation and security work hand in hand.

One of our biggest cybersecurity challenges in the UK is ensuring thorough data protection impact assessments (DPIAs) are done and understanding how much data we’re sharing with providers. With new products and AI emerging constantly, many schools and trusts are struggling to keep up.

Neelam Parmar

Director of Digital Education and Professional Learning, AISL Harrow Schools

“It was definitely the ‘Department of No’ when I got here. It’s a lot easier to maintain systems when you just get to say, ‘No, we’re just going to do Office, and we’re not going to do Google. We’re just going to support Apple products and not Apple and Dell.’ But is that really what’s best for our students?”

Eva Rodriguez Mendoza

CTO, San Antonio Independent School District

“The role of the CTO in schools has evolved from a job description to a strategic leadership position. As technology’s impact grows, so do the threats—leading many districts to create senior tech roles that didn’t exist before.”

Keith Kruger

CEO, Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)

“Instead of being the ‘Department of No,’ tech leaders should be the ‘Department of Know’—fostering collaboration and finding creative ways to make new technologies work safely for students.”

Mark Racine

Former Chief Information Officer, Boston Public Schools

“Clever’s SSO and Rostering integration has been invaluable for our district customers like Allen ISD and Bellevue School District, streamlining access, automating rostering, reducing support tickets, and simplifying IT processes for staff and students alike.”

Nicki Rodriguez

Vice President of Customer Success, x2VOL by intelliVOL

“Keeping student identities secure is an uphill battle, especially with AI amplifying cyber threats and schools being prime targets.”

Kristin Bowling

Director of Technology Services, Enterprise Elementary School District in CA

“The growing adoption of AI in K-12 schools brings exciting opportunities for teaching and learning, but also introduces new considerations for district technology leaders.”

Julia Fallon

Executive Director, SETDA

“Automation, combined with threat intelligence, is the single biggest thing that can be done to improve the state of K-12 security.”

Corey Lee

Security CTO at Microsoft Education

“When I presented the statistics on daily attacks to district leaders, eyes went wide—people didn’t realize the scale of what we face every day.”

Neal Kellogg

Digital Procurement and Data Privacy at Oklahoma City Public Schools

I’m proud that Clever actively invests in DE&I by improving our inclusivity and driving multiple workstreams that produce results and deliver meaningful change.

Jana Hart

Equity and Belonging Leadership Committee Member

How UK schools can bridge gaps to protect students

The UK Department for Education advises schools to establish processes for controlling and securing user accounts, including protecting user data. Proactively tracking how technology is used at both the school and trust levels can help uncover vulnerabilities before they escalate into threats. Using data effectively allows schools to make strategic decisions and manage risks.  Key strategies include:

1. Building a comprehensive catalogue of edtech tools to gain full visibility of the technologies in use. This data can help with building awareness of edtech usage across leadership teams. View a demo of Clever’s Edtech Analytics.
2. Evaluating the security practices of edtech vendors to ensure they meet data protection standards. Learn more about evaluating vendors.
3. Developing a clear plan to safeguard student access to applications, ensuring secure and streamlined entry points. Download this blueprint for foundational cybersecurity best practices.

View edtech data in one place with Clever 

If you need visibility into what edtech is used, Clever’s Edtech Analytics can help you automate that process. With your edtech data all in one place, you’ll be more equipped to make strategic decisions about security practices and safeguard student access. Preview Edtech Analytics or connect with a Clever specialist for a live demo!

Preview Edtech Analytics