Introduction to cybersecurity in the Early Years

Growing cyber threat awareness in Early Years settings

The Early Years sector is increasingly targeted by cyber criminals due to the sensitive information held by nurseries, such as:

• Children and parents details
• Medical notes, such as medication, disability, and allergies
• Safeguarding records
• Payment data.

The transition from paper-based to digital operations has created significant vulnerabilities that many settings are underprepared to address. Early Years settings may not have the right layers of protection for their digital data due to not knowing the security risks or weak data security policies and procedures.

Human error is the primary risk factor

The majority of cyber incidents stem from human mistakes rather than technical system failures, making staff awareness and training a critical line of defence. Common vulnerabilities include:

• The use of default passwords
• A lack of multi-factor authentication
• Staff accessing personal email accounts on work devices.
• Staff being allowed to gain access to sensitive data on personal devices
• Lack of awareness about phishing emails
• Poor or no training on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

According to research, 53% of nurseries use default passwords, and 80% of incidents occur due to human error, highlighting the urgent need for staff education on security measures and clear acceptable-use policies.

Absence of formal policies and procedures

A significant proportion of nurseries lack documented cybersecurity and data breach management policies, leaving staff without clear guidance on how to respond to incidents. Without formal policies, risky behaviours can become normalised, and mistakes may go unnoticed or unreported.

25% of nurseries do not have an effective data breach management process in place, and staff uncertainty around policies can lead to inconsistent decisions and potential safeguarding issues.

Device management and data storage risks

Unmanaged devices, such as tablets, laptops, and personal mobile phones, represent one of the most pressing concerns for nurseries. You need to be aware of:

• The risk of unauthorised access, particularly where devices are taken off-site
• How data is stored, especially if data is often held across a mix of platforms such as SharePoint, Google Drive, Dropbox, or locally on devices.
• What staff are doing on devices, especially tablets and phones within settings, is described as "a real concern at the moment" for many operators.

Financial and reputational consequences of a breach

The financial impact of a data breach for an individual nursery can range from £8k to £50k, with additional exposure through ICO fines of up to 4% of global turnover for serious breaches. Beyond financial cost, reputational damage can lead to loss of parental trust and children leaving the setting.

Nurseries must report breaches to the ICO within 72 hours, and failure to do so can result in even greater fines, making prompt internal reporting essential.

Cyber Essentials as a structured path to accreditation

Cyber Essentials is a government-backed certification scheme that provides nurseries with a structured, affordable framework covering five key technical controls:

• Firewalls
• Secure configuration
• Access control
• Malware protection (like antivirus software)
• Software updates.

There are two tiers:

1. Cyber Essentials (self-assessment)
2. Cyber Essentials Plus (independent technical audit)

An annual fee is payable directly to the assessment provider, IASME. Achieving Cyber Essentials accreditation can lower cyber insurance premiums, build trust with parents and regulators, and demonstrate that information security, safeguarding, and compliance are taken seriously.

Practical first steps for settings

Settings are encouraged to start with the basics of your data security operations:

• Audit all the devices you use
• Understand exactly where data is stored
• Reviewing who has access to your digital data

A foundational IT audit can help identify gaps and inform the steps needed to progress towards formal accreditation.