Running a single school is complex. Running a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) magnifies that complexity — especially when it comes to cybersecurity.

With multiple schools, inconsistent IT setups, and a growing reliance on third-party systems, MATs have become highly attractive targets for cybercriminals. One successful breach can impact not just a single school, but the Trust’s entire digital estate — and its reputation.

So how can MAT IT leads, Trust-wide technicians, and operations teams take practical, immediate steps to reduce risk?

🎯 Why Multi-Academy Trusts Are at Greater Risk

Multi-Academy Trusts are vulnerable because:

  • 🔁 Shared infrastructure – When the same login or software is reused across schools, compromise in one place can escalate quickly.

  • 🎓 Rapid onboarding/offboarding – Constant staff and student turnover increases the likelihood of orphaned accounts or weak access controls.

  • 🔗 Complex supply chains – From catering and safeguarding to MIS and remote learning platforms, vendor risk is everywhere.

  • 💰 High-value data – Trusts hold sensitive records including finance, payroll, HR, SEND, and child protection files.

Yet many MATs lack a centralised view of their digital exposure.

✅ Five Key Actions for Trust Cybersecurity

Here are five high-impact steps that every Trust operations team can take today:

1. Map Your Digital Estate

Build and maintain a full inventory of systems, platforms, and digital tools in use — from learning apps to central finance systems. Include shadow IT.

2. Standardise Security Policies

Each school might have different rules for passwords, device use, and patching. Create a unified Trust-wide policy and enforce it consistently.

3. Run Regular Vulnerability Scans

Don’t rely on supplier assurances or legacy antivirus tools. Use external vulnerability scanning to identify misconfigurations and exposed assets across the Trust.

4. Review Third-Party Risks

Know which third-party vendors access what — and whether they meet basic standards (like Cyber Essentials). Ask for proof.

5. Deliver Consistent Staff Training

All staff — from admin officers to headteachers — should receive the same phishing simulations and training materials. Cyber risk awareness must be normalised.

🛡 Cyber Essentials Is the Starting Line — Not the Finish

Cyber Essentials and CE+ are great frameworks, but they don’t cover everything. The most secure MATs:

  • Maintain live cyber risk registers

  • Regularly report metrics to boards and governors

  • Benchmark performance against other Trusts

  • Factor cyber risk into operational and financial planning

📣 Looking for a version of this guide aimed at MAT board members and trustees?
[Read our leadership briefing → MAT Cyber Governance: Why Leadership Must Take the Lead on Risk]

🚀 How Cyber Tzar Supports MATs

Cyber Tzar helps Multi-Academy Trusts gain control over cyber risk with:

  • ✅ Real-time vulnerability scanning across every school domain and shared asset

  • ✅ Supply chain risk monitoring for vendors, MIS platforms, and EdTech systems

  • ✅ Trust-wide benchmarking — see how your posture compares across the sector

  • ✅ Board-ready reports for governors, SLT, insurers, and auditors

Whether your Trust has 3 schools or 30, we help you turn complexity into clarity — and risk into resilience.

🏫 Want to understand your Trust’s true cyber risk exposure?
📍 Book a free scan tailored to MATs at CyberTzar.com

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