Trust appoints cybersecurity partner

Kingfisher Learning Trust, which comprises seven schools across Oldham and Tameside in Greater Manchester, will have its computer systems checked for cyber weaknesses under a new security partnership, the Oldham Evening Chronicle has reported.

The trust has appointed Oldham-based Foresight IT Services as its cybersecurity partner, covering a digital environment used by around 800 people.

The work will include school laptops and servers, networks and firewalls, the trust's Microsoft 365 accounts, its websites and any systems that can be reached from the internet. Foresight will run antivirus and endpoint detection software, monitor devices remotely, manage security updates and scan for vulnerabilities regularly.

Kingfisher Learning Trust chief operating officer Michael Unsworth said: "We rely heavily on digital systems and hold substantial amounts of information across our schools, so our approach needs to focus on identifying and managing risk proactively.

"This partnership gives us greater visibility across our digital estate and brings vulnerability management, endpoint security, Microsoft 365 protection and external monitoring into one coordinated strategy.

"Cyber resilience is not only about technology. It is also about awareness, governance and understanding the risks facing the organisation."

Craig Barratt, sales director at Foresight, commented: "Kingfisher operates a substantial digital environment across seven schools, supporting around 800 users and holding significant amounts of sensitive educational and personal data.

"Protecting an organisation of this scale means looking at the complete attack surface. Our role is to identify where risks exist, reduce vulnerabilities and provide the monitoring needed to strengthen the trust's resilience."