Schools, trusts, higher education and DfE all eligible.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched its first AWS UK Cyber Education Grant Program, aimed at strengthening the cybersecurity capabilities of educational institutions across the United Kingdom.
The £5 million initiative offers credits for new and existing AWS customers to implement cloud-based cybersecurity solutions, as well 600 free courses, including more than 40 security-focused trainings.
Eligible institutions include state and private schools, colleges, multi-academy trusts, higher education institutions, and the Department for Education. The program aims to improve security capabilities across UK educational institutions, advance ransomware protection capabilities, upskill IT workforce in crucial cybersecurity competencies, and provide immediate incident response support when needed.
The announcement comes in the same week as research found a fifth of schools have reported three or more incidents in the past five years. The survey by ESET also found that seven percent of institutions operate without an annual cybersecurity budget at all, while 28 percent believe cyber insurance is too expensive.
“I know how important it is that our nurseries, schools, colleges and universities are protected from online threats, and we stand ready to support settings that are victims of cybercrime” said Martin Sivorn, CISO at the Department for Education.
"Our work to help these settings improve their cybersecurity never stops. That is why we welcome this programme to boost the sector's resilience to breaches - unlocking freedom to harness the potential of tech to drive high and rising education standards."
Written by
Dan Raywood
Senior Editor
SC Media UK
Dan Raywood is a B2B journalist with more than 20 years of experience, including covering cybersecurity for the past 16 years. He has extensively covered topics from Advanced Persistent Threats and nation-state hackers to major data breaches and regulatory changes.
He has spoken at events including 44CON, Infosecurity Europe, RANT Conference, BSides Scotland, Steelcon and ESET Security Days.
Outside work, Dan enjoys supporting Tottenham Hotspur, managing mischievous cats, and sampling craft beers.
