Childminding settings, like other early years education and childcare settings, are increasingly reliant on technology. Smartphones, computers, laptops and tablets are a fundamental part of modern life – and they also play a key role in children’s life, learning and development.
As a childminder, you are required to hold confidential information and records about children and families, and your staff (if applicable) – and it is vital to ensure that this information is protected and can only be accessed by those who have a right or professional need to see them.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has produced a new e-pamphlet to support childcare practitioners – including childminders – with cyber security, aimed at helping you to protect sensitive information surrounding your setting and safeguarding the children and their families from online harm and danger.
You may not realise it, but regardless of the size and nature of your setting, the information that you hold could be of value to a criminal. And although they may not target your setting directly, it’s all too easy to be damaged by scam emails that cyber criminals send out indiscriminately to millions of people and businesses.
The ‘Early Years Practitioners: Using Cyber Security to Protect your Settings’ e-pamphlet from NCSC covers the following areas:
- Backing-up your important information
- Using passwords to control access
- Communicating safely with your families (including social media)
- Protecting your devices from viruses and malware
- Dealing with suspicious messages (e.g. phishing attacks)
Read Early Years Practitioners: Using Cyber Security to Protect your Settings
The ‘Early Years Practitioners: Using Cyber Security to Protect your Settings’ guide is also available from the National Cyber Security Centre website and it has been added to the Resources, Guidance and Support section of the Membership Dashboard.