Why Schools Must Prioritise Edge Protection in the Face of Rising Cyber Threats
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recently issued a stark warning about the scale of malicious cyber activity linked to commercial organisations in China. According to the advisory, campaigns are targeting critical sectors worldwide such as government and telecommunications, including the UK.
The report highlights how the threat actors have achieved considerable success by exploiting common and publicly known vulnerabilities, rather than relying on advanced malware or undiscovered weaknesses. In many cases, such attacks could have been prevented by timely patching and robust endpoint defences.
Lessons for the Education Sector
While much of the focus of the NCSC advisory is on national infrastructure, the lessons apply equally to the education sector. Schools and Multi Academy Trusts are attractive targets for cyber criminals. The exploitation of unpatched devices or insecure endpoints is a common gateway for malicious activity, and with safeguarding responsibilities at the forefront, schools and Multi Academy Trusts cannot afford to ignore the risks.
Why Edge Protection Matters
Edge devices, such as laptops and tablets used by staff and students are often the weakest link in a school’s cyber security chain. If left unprotected, they provide attackers with a direct route into networks, putting sensitive data and safeguarding systems at risk.
This is why endpoint and edge protection must be a core part of a school’s cyber security strategy. Schools Broadband’s Endpoint Protection service provides advanced, AI-driven threat detection and response at the device level. Unlike traditional anti-virus solutions, it can identify unusual behaviour, block attacks in real time, and give IT teams centralised visibility across all devices on the network.
When combined with our safeguarding filtering and monitoring services, endpoint protection offers a layered approach to school security. It not only helps prevent disruption from cyber-attacks but also ensures compliance with statutory safeguarding requirements such as KCSiE.
Proactive Defence is Essential
As Dr Richard Horne, Chief Executive of the NCSC, emphasised: “It is crucial organisations heed this international warning about the threat posed by cyber actors who have been exploiting publicly known, therefore fixable, vulnerabilities.” For schools, this means staying ahead of threats with proactive monitoring, timely patching, and comprehensive endpoint security.
Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated and more persistent. By strengthening protection at the edge, schools can dramatically reduce their exposure and safeguard both their data and their duty of care to pupils.
