Local nurseries are being urged to bolster their cyber security following an attack on an international chain that led to criminals getting access to children’s photos, names, and addresses.
The cyber attack – which hit a nursery chain in the UK, US, and India – also resulted in hackers accessing safeguarding information about individual children.
There is currently no indication that Jersey nurseries are specifically being targeted, but the Jersey Cyber Security Centre is urging local providers to review their cyber security measures.
JCSC director Matt Palmer explained that nurseries, schools, and colleges are common targets, with hackers often choosing marks based on how weak their defences are.
“That’s why we’re urging nurseries to take straightforward steps to protect themselves, and to get in contact with us if they need more advice and guidance,” he said.
“Even simple steps can make a huge difference. Organisations that use good passwords, enable two-factor authentication where it’s available, and regularly creates and tests backs ups will be that much safer than those who don’t take these simple steps.”
Mr Palmer recommended that any organisation that holds personal data should consider getting a Cyber Essentials certification.
“This UK Government-backed scheme helps organisations defend against the most common cyber security attacks,” he explained.
“Cyber Essentials costs from £320 plus VAT depending on the size of the organisation. However, this cost is likely to be significantly lower than the cost of recovering from a successful cyber attack.”
ADVICE…
Nurseries who want to know how they can better protect children and families can contact the JCSC by phone on 01534 500 050, by email at hello@jcsc.je, or in person at 1 Seaton Place.