In this episode of the Cloud Design Box Podcast, COO Darren Hemming is joined once again by Glaucia Rosas and James Wilkinson from The EduTec Alliance to share exclusive insights from their year-long global study on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education.

With the rapid rise of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT in late 2023, The EduTec Alliance set out to move beyond the hype and uncover the real impact of AI in schools, Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) and districts worldwide.

The study tested over 250 AI tools across a diverse range of teaching and learning use cases, providing rare, data-driven insights into:

• The top AI use cases in schools
• Practical approaches to AI adoption in education
• Challenges and risks including data privacy, AI literacy, and cognitive offloading
• The rapid evolution of AI technologies and their effect on digital strategies

“Virtually all the commercially available tools are front ends of the big Large Language Models (LLMs),” explains Glaucia. “If anything changes on the back end, they have no capacity to do anything but accept that change.”

At Cloud Design Box, we help schools and MATs bring structure to the fast-moving world of edtech. From secure SharePoint intranet hubs to compliant Microsoft Teams environments, we work with education leaders to ensure technology is safe, scalable, and aligned with strategic goals.

We are Microsoft 365 for education specialists, trusted by over 450 schools and Multi-Academy Trusts to:
📈 Increase collaboration and engagement
⏰ Save significant teacher time and effort
📚 Ensure high-quality, consistent learning resources

🎧 Listen now to learn how AI is reshaping the education landscape and how you can prepare your school or trust.

Find out how we can support your school or MAT: www.clouddesignbox.co.uk/contact

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Would your school or trust survive a cyberattack tomorrow? With hackers increasingly targeting the education sector, digital safeguarding is now just as critical as physical safety. Without a robust strategy, student data, staff security, and daily operations could be at serious risk.

In this episode of the Cloud Design Box Podcast, COO Darren Hemming speaks with Philippa Wraithmell, Founder of EdRuption and author of The Digital Ecosystem, about the growing importance of digital safeguarding in schools and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs).

Philippa shares insights from her work helping schools worldwide develop strong digital foundations, governance policies, and security safeguards. Her company, EdRuption, is dedicated to bridging the digital divide by empowering schools with the tools, resources, and strategies they need to create digitally literate and inclusive environments.

Key discussion points:

• Why digital safeguarding is essential in 2025 and beyond
• The cyber threats facing schools, from phishing to ransomware
• Bridging the gap between IT teams and safeguarding leads
• Practical steps to protect sensitive student and staff data
• How safeguarding policies must evolve to address online risks

“Schools hold vast amounts of sensitive information — dates of birth, locations, parental details — making them prime targets for cyberattacks,” Philippa explains. “That’s why safeguarding has to include digital.”

At Cloud Design Box, we help schools and MATs create safe, compliant digital environments using Microsoft 365, SharePoint intranets and Teams for Education. Trusted by over 750 education organisations, we work with leadership teams to:
📈 Increase collaboration while protecting sensitive data
🛡 Ensure compliance with safeguarding and GDPR requirements
⚙ Build scalable, secure IT systems aligned to school strategy

🎧 Listen now to learn how to strengthen your digital safeguarding strategy and protect your school community.

Find out how we can help your school or MAT: www.clouddesignbox.co.uk/contact

Follow Cloud Design Box:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/clouddesignbox
• X (Twitter): x.com/clouddesignbox
• Facebook: facebook.com/clouddesignbox
• Instagram: instagram.com/clouddesignbox

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In a recent episode of the Cloud Design Box podcast, Martin Byford-Rew, Head of Digital Systems at King Edward VI Foundation, discusses the importance of multi-factor authentication (MFA) in schools and the strategies that institutions can use for successful implementation.

MFA offers significant advantages in educational settings.

By introducing an additional security layer, MFA safeguards against unauthorised access, even if a password has been breached.

The rise of cyber threats in education is alarming. And with schools now managing more sensitive digital information than ever before, cyberattacks pose risks to student addresses, financial details, staff information and other personal data tied to HR, Finance and other departments.

Schools must elevate their cybersecurity strategies beyond weak passwords and outdated practices.

Meet Martin Byford-Rew

Martin has extensive experience in education technology, previously working as a Microsoft 365 trainer and consultant. He has collaborated with Cloud Design Box on several SharePoint intranet projects, helping schools and multi academy trusts (MATs) build secure and efficient digital systems.

Now, as Head of Digital Systems at King Edward VI Foundation, Martin is leading the implementation of robust cybersecurity measures in schools.

What is Mutli Factor Authentication (MFA) for schools?

MFA serves as a digital barrier against harmful cyberattacks. Users must log into a system with two or more verification factors, such as emails or accounts.

Many of these additional verification factors, such as receiving a taxt code on your phone after entering your password or using Face ID to unlock your phone, are likely familiar to you. You might have also encountered similar verification requests during payments through your banking app. This familiarity can help ease the transition to MFA.

Make Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) work for schools

While the prospect of rolling out MFA across a school or MAT may seem daunting, Martin shares practical strategies to make the transition smoother.

His insights show that the process is manageable and beneficial for the school’s security:

Prioritise staff accounts first

MFA should be rolled out across staff accounts first, then explore ways to extend MFA to students where possible.

“It’s not optional for staff, because there’s such sensitive data that teaching staff have access to. You’ve got to be so careful, because obviously, if any of that stuff leaks out, it’s really, really bad,” explains Martin.

Other tools worth a mention

Authenticator apps – Use trusted authenticator apps, such as Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator for a secure and easy-to-use option.

Hardware security keys – Ideal for staff who need a highly secure, phishing-resistant method.

SMS or email codes – These are common but less secure than other MFA options.

Schools can’t afford to ignore MFA – so what’s next?

As cyber threats advance, schools must adapt.

Contact our team of Microsoft 365 experts today to talk about making Microsoft 365 more secure.

Watch the full podcast for expert insights on implementing MFA in schools.

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