The day is almost upon us! EduGeek EdSec is going to be an amazing event, so join us all at the Museum of Making in Derby for a day of informative educational IT security focussed talks from some of the industries leading security focussed companies, an expo with many of the suppliers you rely on daily and the opportunity for networking, geeky chat and fun +competitions!
Then finish the day with the evening social kindly sponsored by LGfL to eat, drink and be merry

Program:

• 09:15 – 10:00: Delegates arrives\refreshments etc.
• 10:00 - 10:30: Smoothwall
• 10:30 - 11:00: Nellcote
• 11:00 - 11:30: Break
• 11:30- 12:00: LGfL
• 12:00 - 12:30: Heimdal
• 12:30 - 13:30: Lunch
• 13:30 - 14:00: Sophos
• 14:00 - 14:30: EXA Networks
• 14:30 - 15:00: Break
• 15:00 - 15:30: Clever
• 15:30: Expo
• 16:00 - Conf Ends
• From 17:30 - Evening Social @ The Standing Order

The Ransomware Attack Chain

Ransomware remains the single biggest cyber threat facing UK schools — and it isn't slowing down. Meeting the DfE standards or passing an audit tells you the paperwork is in order; it doesn't tell you whether an attacker could still get from one compromised mailbox to a fully encrypted network.

This session takes you inside a real attack, phase by phase — from the reconnaissance that happens before anyone even opens a phishing email, through to the moment a school is staring down a ransom note — showing exactly how attackers get in, move around undetected, and cash out.  

Bringing over 36 years in school IT and senior public-sector security experience between them, this session will be led by Gareth Jelley, LGfL's Cybersecurity Lead, and Michael Eva, LGfL's Director of Service Excellence.

SOC for Schools: Always-On Protection That Fits Your Budget

Schools have become a prime target for cybercriminals, but why? Join Heimdal as we take a closer look at recent attacks on educational institutions, revealing how they unfolded, the methods attackers used and the motivations behind them. We'll finish by exploring the practical measures you can take to strengthen your security posture and how Heimdal can help you stay one step ahead of emerging threats.

Presented by Adam Pilton

DfE Cyber Security Standards Defined

The DfE has set clear cyber security expectations within its Digital and Technology Standards, with all schools and trusts expected to work towards meeting these standards by 2030, we explore these and the changes in Cyber Essentials.

Presented by Kieron Maughan

Project Zero Day: What If Your School Lost Its Digital Infrastructure for a Day?

What would happen if your school's digital infrastructure disappeared for an entire day? Schools invest in firewalls, filtering, MFA, backups and continuity plans, but few have tested whether they can keep running without them. In this practical closing session, Alan introduces Project Zero Day, a controlled exercise in which a school operates as though key systems are unavailable. It covers how to uncover hidden dependencies, why having a backup isn't the same as knowing you can restore it, and how to turn a written business continuity plan into a tested one. Attendees will leave with ideas they can try in their own schools.

Presented by Alan O'Donohoe, Specialist Leader in Education, The Exa Foundation (Exa Networks)

The Security Roundup: Underminr, ClickNix And What IT Teams Are Doing About It

Join Smoothwall’s Rob Faulkner for a rapid roundup of the cybersecurity threats facing schools, from new ways to slip past DNS filtering, to the gaps attackers exploit every day. This interactive session features a live quiz and poll on the security steps IT teams are taking, plus five practical actions they can implement to secure their networks. 

The road to compliance: Student MFA that works in UK classrooms

The DfE expects every school to meet its digital and technology standards by 2030, and MFA is part of that picture. Cyber Essentials and NCSC guidance point the same way. For UK schools, that raises a hard question: how do you add MFA for students when phones are banned and younger learners still struggle to type a password? In this session, we’ll break down what the DfE standards, Cyber Essentials, and NCSC guidance ask of schools, and what that means for your classrooms. Then you’ll see how one school rolled out device-free MFA for students across Google and Microsoft, from the youngest learners up. You’ll leave with a realistic plan to secure student sign-ins without slowing down learning.

Protecting Education

Sophos will show attedees a range of tools that can be used to improve a school’s security posture, minimise attack surface, mitigate threats.

At Net-Ctrl, we specialise in delivering networking and physical security solutions tailored to the unique challenges faced by educational institutions

• Expertise and Experience: With over 20 years in the industry, we bring deep technical expertise and a proven track record in designing, deploying, and supporting robust IT and security systems. 
• Powerful Partnerships: We are proud partners of industry leaders like Ruckus and Verkada, offering best-in-class solutions for high-performance wireless connectivity, simplified network management, and advanced physical security. 
• Customer-Centric Approach: We prioritise long-term client relationships, offering dedicated support, seamless integration, and ongoing consultancy to ensure your technology investments deliver maximum value.

Stand Staff - Andrew Coates - Education Solutions Consultant

SMART Technologies is a global leader in interactive technology and the inventor of the original SMART Board®. For more than 35 years, SMART has helped schools, businesses and organisations create more engaging, collaborative and productive environments through innovative hardware, software and support services. Operating in over 175 countries, SMART is recognised for delivering secure, reliable and easy-to-manage solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing technology ecosystems.

For IT managers and technical teams, SMART offers enterprise-ready features including remote device management through SMART Remote Management and SMART Control, enabling centralised monitoring, updates and support across large device fleets. Visit our stand to explore the latest SMART Board® MX-V5, featuring Google EDLA certification, USB-C connectivity, advanced security, remote management capabilities and award-winning collaboration software designed to simplify deployment, reduce support requirements and maximise long-term value for organisations.

Since 2007 SalamanderSoft has developed bespoke integration services for education. Our experts are trusted by over 3 million users in over 4,000 schools worldwide.

SalamanderSoft focuses on being the experts in bespoke integration services for education – helping Schools and Colleges, Multi Academy trusts and other organisations make the most of the data and services they already have. Provisioning, maintaining and managing users in Active Directory, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Apple School Manager and more.

Providing much more than user management, we also support many other features including, synchronising timetables to Exchange/Outlook and Google Calendar, Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom. Whatever your MIS/SIS, our solutions ensure that they are ready to be used by students and staff when they need them allowing staff to focus on providing the best learning experience without complex manual processes to keep everything up to date.

Find out more. Web: https://www.salamandersoft.co.uk/ Email: info@salamandersoft.co.uk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/salamandersoft/

Schools Broadband is the UK's specialist education ISP, providing integrated broadband, safeguarding, and security services to 3,500 schools and 300 Multi-Academy Trusts nationwide. Our DfE and KCSiE-compliant solutions combine high-speed broadband, web filtering, monitoring, and award-winning cyber security, giving schools and MATs one partner and a single point of contact - all managed through The Hub, our intuitive customer portal.

Trusted by education professionals since 2007, we're dedicated to keeping pupils safe, schools connected, and networks secure. With scalable services and expert UK-based support, Schools Broadband helps schools and MATs achieve compliance, and value - from one safeguarding-first provider. We ensure fast, secure, and compliant digital access, helping you meet KCSiE requirements while keeping pupils safe online and your infrastructure running smoothly.

On the stand will be Stephen Woodward and Louise Allen

Wave9’s EdSec Quick Quiz: win a £50 Amazon voucher!

Visit the Wave9 stand and try six quick questions on the DfE’s broadband, filtering and monitoring standards. Complete the quiz and leave your details to enter their prize draw for a £50 Amazon voucher.

All completed entries go into the draw, regardless of score.

On the stand will be Matt Burton, Craig Childs, Rob Wakelin (Virgin Media Business)

Clarion is a UK communications and ICT specialist working with more than 700 schools. At EduGeek EdSec, we’ll be demonstrating how integrating school phone systems with MIS platforms can streamline communications, automate routine processes and reduce manual administration.

We’ll be showcasing Clarion’s MIS Integration for Arbor, Bromcom, Databridge, GO 4 Schools, iSAMS, ScholarPack, SIMS and WCBS, alongside CPOMS safeguarding integration.

See practical workflows including parent caller screen-pops, click-to-call, call logging, attendance write-back, absence automation and safeguarding alerts.

The integration works with 3CX, Microsoft Teams Phone and Yeastar, helping schools create more joined-up communications between IT, reception, attendance and safeguarding teams.

Clarion is also offering the first 12 months of MIS Integration free for applications made by 31 December 2026.

Visit our stand and meet the team!

MSI is a global technology brand, founded in Taiwan in 1986 and known for its PCs, monitors and components. Through MSI for Education, we help schools and trusts get more from their IT budgets with reliable, business-grade hardware that is easy to deploy and manage.

On our stand, we will show solutions that fit real school environments: AI solutions for local inference ensuring data privacy in education, compact mini PCs that mount behind a monitor to free up desk space in classrooms and offices, PRO business monitors designed for long days of teaching and admin, and All in One PC solutions that can be upgraded rather than replaced as needs grow.

Come and say hello, talk to our team about your next refresh, and enter our prize draw on the day.

On the RM stand, delegates will have the chance to enter our guess how many M&Ms are in the jar competition, for a chance to win an iPad mini - if you could mention this in the introduction speech that would be fantastic. Jon will be on hand with full details across our complete range of school technology solutions.

RM Technology helps schools give learners the best possible outcomes through reliable, simple technology. We support schools at every stage, from fast broadband and secure network infrastructure to meeting DfE digital standards. Whether you need 1:1 devices, comprehensive IT health checks, robust online safeguarding and security, or fully managed IT services, RM delivers classroom confidence for staff and students alike.

Joining them on the day will also be stands from Smoothwall, ICT Direct, LGfL, Heimdal, Entry Sign (Osbourne Technologies), Nellcote, Clever, Concero, Papercut, Kyocera and Concero!

It's a truly impressive array of speakers and vendors from all over the EdTech sector and an event you really don't want to miss!

And all attendees will receive one of our new EduGeek Defrag mugs  

So join us on the 27th October and grab your free ticket here - https://edugeek.me/to/edsec26

See you there!