The number of cyber training course participants at the Department for Education (DfE) has jumped from 7,000 last year to more than 30,000 in 2021.

The 329 per cent rise is the result of the department increasing security courses on offer to staff from four to 44.

These figures were obtained under the Freedom of Information act and analysed by a Parliament Street think tank.

The data also revealed that total cyber training spend increased from £1,996 in FY 19-20, to £31,960 in FY 20-21, which is an increase of over 1,400 per cent.

“The Department for Education’s boosted investiture into staff training likely reflects a positive attempt to combat surging cyber threat levels targeting the education sector in the wake of the pandemic and remote learning,” said Edward Blake, area vice president EMEA, for Absolute Software. “Many public sector organisations are afflicted with a widening digital skills gap, and it’s encouraging to see significant investment into security training to try and turn a major weakness into a strength.”

Share Story: