Cyber Threats In Education – Week 2- Continued….

Following on from last weeks post, below are some further tips to help with cyber threats in education.

Backup Advice

Confirm Your Backups Are Working

Make sure your backup system is running properly. It’s important to carry out occasional test restores so staff are familiar with the process and confident that information can be recovered if needed.

Keep an Offline Copy

Always ensure you have an offline version of your backup. This copy should be recent enough to be useful if the school ever experiences data loss or a cyber incident that affects your main systems.

Back Up More Than Just Files

Remember to include device settings and any important system credentials in your backups (such as private keys or access tokens). This helps ensure the school can fully restore systems—not just data—quickly and safely.

Incident Response Plans

Keep Your Incident Response Plan Up to Date

Make sure your school’s incident response plan is current and reflects how you would manage a real‑world cyber or IT disruption. You can refer to the NCSC’s Incident Management guidance for best‑practice support.

Check Contact and Escalation Details

Review all escalation routes and emergency contact details to ensure they are accurate. In a fast‑moving incident, having the right information at hand makes all the difference.

Clarify Who Makes Decisions

Your plan should clearly state who has the authority to make key decisions — especially outside normal school hours. This helps avoid delays and ensures the right people can act quickly.

Ensure the Plan Works Even If Systems Are Down

Make sure your incident response plan — and the communication methods it relies on — are accessible even if your school’s main IT systems are unavailable. This could include printed copies or alternative communication channels.

Why Primary Technologies Recommend a Watchguard Firewall

Why Do Schools Need a WatchGuard Firebox Firewall?
In today’s digital environment, safeguarding your school’s network is just as important as safeguarding your pupils. With cyber attacks on the rise, reliable IT security and managed support should be essential components of every school’s protection strategy.
One of the most effective ways to strengthen your security posture is by installing a WatchGuard Firebox firewall. As WatchGuard Gold Partners, Primary Technologies work closely with schools to provide industry‑leading protection and expert guidance.

What Is a Firewall and Why Does Your School Need One?
A WatchGuard Firebox firewall is an advanced security device designed to protect your school from viruses, malware, data breaches, and other online threats. It analyses every piece of data entering or leaving your network and blocks anything suspicious.

This ensures that:

Sensitive student and staff information remains secure
Unauthorised access is prevented
Your school remains compliant with safeguarding and KCSIE requirements

With intuitive management and powerful security features, WatchGuard Firebox is a crucial layer of protection for modern educational environments.

Ten Reasons Why Schools Rely on WatchGuard Firebox Firewalls

Defends against cyber attacks – Protects your network from hackers, malware, and viruses targeting school systems.
Monitors all network traffic – Helps IT teams spot suspicious activity quickly.
Enables secure remote access – Essential for remote learning, staff working off‑site, or MAT‑wide administration.
Provides Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) – Includes AI‑driven threat detection and sandboxing for enhanced defence.
Supports compliance requirements – Helps your school meet GDPR, DfE cyber security standards, and safeguarding obligations.
Scales as your MAT or school grows – Easily expand security as your network and number of devices increase.
Built‑in VPN functionality – Securely links school sites, remote teachers, and central trust offices.
Real‑time monitoring and reporting – Gives clear visibility of risks and network activity.
Cost‑effective security – Prevents potentially huge financial and operational disruption caused by cyber incidents.
Peace of mind – Protects pupils, staff, and vital school systems 24/7.

How Good Are WatchGuard Firewalls?

The WatchGuard Firebox range is known for its high performance and exceptional protection capabilities. Schools benefit from:

Strong defence against a wide range of threats
Real‑time monitoring tools
Reliable VPN connectivity across multiple school sites
Scalability—ideal for both single schools and multi‑academy trusts

With WatchGuard, schools can enhance their cyber‑resilience while reducing the time and cost associated with managing multiple security solutions.

Why Schools Choose WatchGuard Firebox

WatchGuard Firebox firewalls stand out thanks to:

Advanced threat protection
Powerful intrusion detection and prevention
Easy‑to‑manage centralised console
Option of High availability for uninterrupted learning
Smooth integration with SD‑WAN
Authentication for On Premise and Cloud Only Environments
Strong Layer 2 and Layer 3 security

This makes Firebox an ideal choice for safeguarding school networks of all sizes.

WatchGuard Pricing for Schools

As WatchGuard Gold Partners, we offer competitive education‑specific pricing and expert support to help schools maximise their investment in cybersecurity.

How to Choose the Right WatchGuard Firewall for Your School

Every school has different security requirements based on size, infrastructure, and safeguarding needs. Our WatchGuard-certified experts can help you:

Assess your current IT security posture
Identify vulnerabilities
Recommend the best Firebox model for your school or trust
Configure and deploy your firewall correctly

Invest in your school’s digital safety today.
Contact us via the form below, 01303 847 390 or sales@primarytechnologies.co.uk to protect your network with a WatchGuard Firebox firewall.