Cybersecurity in education is no longer the sole domain of IT teams or external consultants. In today’s threat landscape, Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) must develop a cyber-informed culture — one that spans classrooms, central offices, and boardrooms.
With schools relying on shared infrastructure, cloud systems, and digital learning platforms, the risk is distributed — but so must be the response. In 2025, the most resilient Trusts are those that align technical defences with operational practices, governance oversight, and staff awareness.
This article explores how to build a cyber-informed culture across your MAT — and why it’s the single most effective way to reduce risk and increase resilience.
🎯 Why MATs Must Lead on Culture
Technical controls matter — but without awareness, ownership, and consistent behaviours, they won’t work.
In MATs, risks often arise from:
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⚙️ Inconsistent practices across schools
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🧠 Staff confusion about roles and responsibilities
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📣 Cyber seen as “someone else’s problem”
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🚪 Vulnerabilities introduced by third-party providers, EdTech, and outdated tools
No technical fix can substitute for shared responsibility. Culture is the glue.
🧩 What a Cyber-Informed Trust Culture Looks Like
A cyber-informed MAT doesn’t rely solely on IT policy. It embeds cybersecurity into:
| Trust Role | Cultural Expectation |
|---|---|
| SLT | Treats cyber like safeguarding — a leadership priority with daily implications |
| Governors | Asks for evidence, not reassurance — reviews risk metrics quarterly |
| Headteachers | Understands how cyber affects operations, reputation, and funding |
| Teaching Staff | Knows the risks of phishing, weak passwords, and shadow IT |
| IT Teams | Partners with SLT — not siloed or reactive |
| Business Managers | Evaluates vendors and software with risk in mind |
| Pupils | Are taught secure behaviours — as part of digital literacy |
🛠️ Practical Steps to Build Culture Across the Trust
1. Define a Shared Risk Language
Use clear, consistent terms in staff training, policies, and leadership meetings. Make sure “risk register,” “vulnerability,” “resilience,” and “response” mean the same thing across schools.
2. Run Joint SLT & IT Risk Reviews
Don’t isolate cyber in a technical silo. Schedule shared reviews that include operations leads, safeguarding staff, and digital leaders.
3. Demystify Cyber for Boards
Governors and trustees don’t need to know firewall settings — they need to understand impact, risk appetite, and response maturity. Provide visual dashboards and short briefings.
4. Standardise Awareness Training
Ensure every member of staff — including temp workers and volunteers — gets the same phishing simulations, breach briefings, and policy refreshers.
5. Incentivise Secure Behaviour
Include digital hygiene in staff inductions, appraisal criteria, and performance reviews. Praise reporting of suspicious emails. Build cyber into everyday thinking.
📉 What Happens Without a Cyber-Informed Culture?
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A headteacher clicks a phishing link, thinking the finance team already vetted the message.
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An IT manager is locked out of a system during a ransomware attack because central policies weren’t applied consistently.
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A safeguarding breach goes unreported because staff didn’t recognise a digital compromise.
Culture gaps become attack paths.
🧭 Cyber Tzar: Supporting Trust Culture from the Ground Up
At Cyber Tzar, we don’t just scan for vulnerabilities — we support a shift in mindset.
✅ Trust-wide dashboards: showing board-level metrics and operational exposure
✅ Sector benchmarking: so you know where you stand compared to others
✅ Real-time alerts: that help operational teams respond fast
✅ Board-ready reports: built to inform, not overwhelm
✅ Third-party risk insights: aligned with Cyber Essentials, NIS2, and DfE guidance
We give Trusts the tools to talk, act, and lead on cyber.
📣 Final Thought:
Cybersecurity is no longer a bolt-on to operations — it is operations.
The MATs that build culture now will protect pupils, funding, and futures later.
🎓 Want to see how your Trust compares — culturally and technically?
Request a benchmark scan and readiness report at cybertzar.com
