Last week the Ministry of Education (MOE) sent a message to schools suggesting they take action to mitigate the risks of their servers being affected by cyber security threats.
Cyber security is an ongoing challenge which requires continuous vigilance, education and learning. New threats continue to emerge, as do new techniques to protect against these threats.
Thankfully there are many organisations offering cyber security advice and support for schools. Netsafe, the Connected Learning Advisory, N4L and our panel of ICT providers are well-equipped to provide schools with advice, including how to put in place the recommendations suggested by MOE.
The Managed Network connects 766,000-plus students and teachers to fast and reliable internet, and includes a number of security tools and features designed to help schools keep their online environments safe. We also provide guidance, support and training materials on how best to use these tools.
Record number of security blocks in May
In the month of of May, our Managed Network security tools blocked more than 528 million websites and prevented more than 72 million security threats! A record number of viruses and unwanted applications such as malware, spyware and adware were also blocked in May.
Schools are connecting an increasing number of devices to the internet and are collectively consuming more data. There are simple, yet effective protective measures schools can put in place to help keep their IT systems safe and secure. These include using robust passwords and not opening email attachments from unknown senders, and ensuring secure remote access to servers for those working offsite, such as using a VPN (virtual private network).
Schools wanting further advice and support can contact N4L’s helpdesk on 0800 LEARNING.
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