GDPR Forces Cherwell School in Oxford to Ban USB Use

[6Foot2]

Link: GDPR forces Cherwell School in Oxford to ban USB use [Oxford Mail]

 

A SCHOOL in Oxford has banned USB flash drives to meet data protection laws.

 

The Cherwell School in Summertown scrapped use of the memory sticks on Monday, stating in a newsletter: "The use of USB’s and any external drives will not be permissible within school for both staff and student due to GDPR guidelines.

 

"We will be putting together a video guide so staff can see how to use alternative ways of transferring files between home and school using Home Access Plus or Google drive."

 

The EU's strict GDPR rules came into force in May 2018 and schools have had to adapt practice to comply...

[localzuk]

We have done the same... But it isn't "due to GDPR guidelines", its because allowing USB sticks, and complying with the rules is complex and higher risk than simply blocking their use. We basically just don't want people to use them because they're more hassle than they're worth.

 

Easier to get people to use OneDrive and RDP.

[CHiLL]

Seems a bit sensationalist. I know schools have taken different stances on their interpretation of these. We have taken a bit from each side - we have disabled USB access for students (who have access to OneDrive and HAP), but kept it for staff. However we are using BitLocker to enforce all removable media to be encrypted before data can be saved to them. Edited March 26, 2019 by CHiLL

[TronXP]

We have done the same... But it isn't "due to GDPR guidelines", its because allowing USB sticks, and complying with the rules is complex and higher risk than simply blocking their use. We basically just don't want people to use them because they're more hassle than they're worth.

 

Easier to get people to use OneDrive and RDP.

 

This ^^

 

we have installed Currentware Accesspatrol in key areas which only allow certain usb storage devices to work (i.e. Microbits in Computing, and in technology for 3D printing). It emails us a report each night with data that has been transferred. We can then check that it isn't being abused.

[FN-GM]

Wonder if they ran a report when the school stopped using Floppy Disks for a newer technology (in this case USB drives).

[Bompalompalomp]

More local newspapers blaming Eu regs for everything? Shocked.

[msi_school]

Our DPO is a big fan of simple rules such as no USB access excluding on PC in the IT office. We tried this for half a term but it became with lots of people requiring read access to external devices such as downloading photos, voice recorders in MFL and external visitors.

 

We now have USB set to read only across the site except the one machine in IT which can write, this seems to be working well.

[Katy]

We're forcing encryption on USB but banning completely from Sept 2019 (except for a few exceptions e.g. the exam board that refuses to use anything else, us using them to net boot to SCCM on devices that can't PXE boot). The outright ban is being imposed from above but to be honest I'll be glad to see the back of them, there's no need when you can just use OneDrive.

 

The one thing we do have to work out is allowing the cameras in art/photography to connect via USB yet not allowing USB removable storage...

[rogerdnixon]

Did this ages ago with zero headlines and we are down the road from Cherwell School (in the same MAT). Was never a headline grabber for us - must be a quite news week for the Oxford Mail!

[Sonic007]

Ive been implying this to staff since last year. People rely on them far too much and then they get corrupted, broken, or lost which then opens up to data protection issues if the files were to fall into the wrong hands.

[Cat_Jam148]

We took the opportunity in May to ban completely and wouldn't go back. I expected a few grumbles, but 95% of the staff didn't have an issue with switching over to OneDrive - helped a ton that we had the full backing of SLT.

[enjay]

We took the opportunity in May to ban completely and wouldn't go back. I expected a few grumbles, but 95% of the staff didn't have an issue with switching over to OneDrive - helped a ton that we had the full backing of SLT.

 

What do you about Microbits, or people who want to transfer photos from cameras?

[Cat_Jam148]

What do you about Microbits, or people who want to transfer photos from cameras?

 

For the last 5 years or so, each class has had its own teacher iPad with OneDrive installed - we found that staff quickly abandoned the class cameras and just ended up taking and uploading all their pictures that way. Meant that this was one less thing we had to worry about.

 

Haven't used the Microbit kits so can't say. We do have some Lego WeDo kits and they still function fine with the storage block in place.

 

We have one machine in the IT office that can read and write to removable storage which occasionally comes in handy with visitors, although it's only probably been used twice in the past year as most of our staff know to inform visitors beforehand so that they can e-mail it over or use some other alternative.

Edited March 27, 2019 by Cat_Jam148

[leegcvcc]

It's fine to use USB drives if they're encrypted surely?

[bossman]

We've banned the use of computers and only allow slate boards and chalk now.....

 

Its been a major step forward...

 

Teachers have praised our implementation....the efficiency of the IT team in their implementation has been effective in polarising the effects of the CO2 hothouse gases...

 

We're so proud to be leading the way they said!!!

 

Lol!.......haha!

 

This was reported in the Newcastle Journal front page......haha!

 

What will they try to sensationalise next I wonder?....

[enjay]

For the last 5 years or so, each class has had its own teacher iPad with OneDrive installed - we found that staff quickly abandoned the class cameras and just ended up taking and uploading all their pictures that way. Meant that this was one less thing we had to worry about.

 

Photos here are generally taken on iPad too or by students on their phones, which they can then upload to Google Drive. We still give out digital cameras when the Geography trip goes and stands in the middle of the river measuring flow rates - for some reason, the students don't want to use their phones then....