The Department for Education (DfE) has issued advice for schools considering cloud services. It outlines how schools should consider the data security implications of moving sensitive information to the Cloud with particular focus given to the school’s obligations in relation to the Data Protection Act.

The advice is directed at school leaders, school staff and governing bodies in all maintained schools, academies and free schools as well as Local Authorities.

The literature, which is available on the DfE’s website, also outlines self-certification checklists that suppliers of cloud services to schools can complete to provide schools with a clear indication of the robustness and security of their services and processes. At time of writing (27 March 2015), Redstor is the sole listed specialist provider of cloud backup to schools with its Redstor Backup Service for Schools (RBUSS) service.

The document outlines:

• Data protection obligations;
• Key obligations for schools including overarching legal requirements, data processing, data confidentiality, data integrity, service availability, data transfers beyond the European Economic Area (EEA), use of advertising;
• Self-certification and how it works covering supplier responsibilities, the role of the Department for Education and;
• Using checklists, covering supplier checklists and accessing further information

As of writing (27 March 2015), Redstor is one of only four companies listed and is the sole listed specialist provider of cloud backup services to the education market.

Redstor’s response to the DfE self certification process is listed in the DfE’s advice document. 

Today, Redstor offers a range of cloud services to schools through well over 100 partners, including file sync and share, safeguarding and endpoint management, in addition to providing the UK’s leading, Capita-approved backup service for schools. Redstor Backup for Schools (RBUSS) is Capita approved for the protection of SIMS, FMS and Discover data.