The Nation Cyber Security Centre warned us that MFA-targeted attacks were coming. The 2025 data proves they are here.

The Funding Gap in School Security

All parts of the education sector investigated by NCSC were found to have a higher percentage of cyber attacks than the 43% level experienced by  businesses across all sectors. Although Primary Schools and Secondary Schools were the lowest of the education sector, they nevertheless reported 44% Primary and 60% Secondary attacks or breaches in the last year (as of mid 2025). The most common form of cyberattacks was phishing, impersonation and viruses/spyware/malware. All forms of these attacks cause risk of interfering with children’s education and Alternative Provision support.

External sources of support can help to lessen the  number of breaches. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), for example, is an extra layer of security for educational institutions to keep their information safe. The National Standards for Non School Alternative Provision will mark a change for alternative provisions and how they are expected to work. Section 3 of the standards focuses on admissions, support and guidance, requiring private information to be well protected in line with GDPR.

While larger schools and academies have the safety net of larger trust-wide budgets, expertise as well as access to government funded schemes and support; Alternative Provisions often operate on the front lines with fewer resources. This creates a ‘security gap’ that cyberattackers  are eager to exploit. At Learntrek, we don’t believe your students’ data should  be less secure just because your setting is smaller. We’ve designed our platform to bridge that gap – giving you the same ‘lock-and-key’ protection used by major institutions, but tailored specifically for the unique workflow of an AP.

What is MFA?

A verification method of multiple security methods and options. Passwords, passwordless MFA and a code provided by an app or biometric authenticator being the most common.

We Can Help

At Learntrek we  offer MFA free of charge in our software as we don’t believe security should be an add-on. Data is securely hosted by Amazon Web Services, and we provide a range of cyber security measures including cyber security scanning alongside MFA. Registered with the UK Government’s Cyber Essentials programme, we make it as clear as possible that we value security of the students and staff first. Our databases allow a restricted line of access to specific individuals, and cybersecurity is a core part of Learntrek handling sensitive information.

Empowering Your Team

It can be overwhelming to keep up with the constant security updates required to battle modern cyberattacks. That is why we don’t just provide the software; we provide the knowledge. We offer comprehensive staff training (via support videos, training calls, or face-to-face sessions) to help your team understand and navigate your security system with confidence.

Moving Beyond the Spreadsheet

Whether you are currently using cloud backups or a simple Excel spreadsheet, we know that tackling admin and security can feel like a mountain to climb – especially with smaller teams.

Learntrek is designed to be flexible and customizable, adapting to the specific security measures your institution needs to remain compliant. While MFA usage is increasing across the education sector, we want to ensure Alternative Provisions are not left behind. By handling vulnerability management seamlessly, we allow you to focus on  the needs of your students rather than anxieties about technical compliance.

Secure Your Provision Today

Cybersecurity shouldn’t be a luxury reserved for the biggest budgets. It is about protecting the personal data of the young people in your care.

Ready to see how Learntrek can protect your setting? If you have questions or would like to see a demo of our MFA and security features in action? Complete our contact form. A member of our team will get back to you within 24 hours.