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news & resources

IT news, guidance and resources for your audience

Explore Education, Business and IT-provider material. Each audience has its own product brief, example review and planning checklist, alongside relevant published guides and articles.

Guides, downloads and practical tools

Choose Education, Business or IT providers for a pack written for your audience. Downloads are public and require no form.

39 resources

EducationPDF · 2 pages

Education product brief

School and MAT technology reviews, DfE evidence, asset priorities and the investment discussion with leaders, governors and trustees.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Version 1.210 October 2026472 KB
Download PDFView Education pack
EducationPDF · 4 pages

Education example report and roadmap

A fictional school review with evidence gaps, school and trust responsibilities, a three-year hardware plan and explicit cost exclusions.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Version 1.210 October 2026169 KB
Download PDFView Education pack
EducationPDF · 2 pages

Education planning and evaluation checklist

Questions for school and MAT buyers, plus a reusable school evidence, action and investment worksheet.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Version 1.210 October 202655 KB
Download PDFView Education pack
BusinessPDF · 2 pages

Business product brief

Technology risks, service dependencies, replacement priorities and a costed plan for an IT and finance investment discussion.

For Businesses

Version 1.210 October 202655 KB
Download PDFView Business pack
BusinessPDF · 4 pages

Business example report and roadmap

A fictional two-location business review linking service risks, device replacement and network priorities to a three-year planning discussion.

For Businesses

Version 1.210 October 202674 KB
Download PDFView Business pack
BusinessPDF · 2 pages

Business planning and evaluation checklist

Buyer questions for business leadership, IT and finance, plus a reusable service-risk and investment worksheet.

For Businesses

Version 1.210 October 202655 KB
Download PDFView Business pack
IT providersPDF · 2 pages

IT-provider partnership brief

The provider customer-review workflow, customer and provider responsibilities, onboarding and the distributor partnership handoff.

For IT providers

Version 1.210 October 202655 KB
Download PDFView IT providers pack
IT providersPDF · 4 pages

IT-provider example customer review and roadmap

A fictional provider-led customer review showing evidence ownership, customer approvals, a phased hardware plan and delivery boundaries.

For IT providers

Version 1.210 October 202674 KB
Download PDFView IT providers pack
IT providersPDF · 2 pages

IT-provider customer-review checklist

Provider evaluation and onboarding questions, plus a reusable customer evidence, responsibility and review worksheet.

For IT providers

Version 1.210 October 202655 KB
Download PDFView IT providers pack
Two adult miniature colleagues review paperwork and mint folders together at a school office table. Heading: “Who makes the school IT decision?”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

briefing

Who do we ask when school IT needs a decision?

A teacher needs a new app. The office needs a replacement laptop. A parent asks about online safety. These requests may all involve IT, but they need different people to help.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 29 October 20262 min read
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An adult miniature colleague hands a closed laptop across a school office counter. A small painted mint asitplan arrow mascot stands on the counter, with its original friendly face and limbs, pointing towards the task. Heading: “Laptop, charger, ready to go”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Where are the school laptops, and are they ready to use?

You find the laptop, but its charger is missing. Another one has gone to a different classroom. A simple equipment list can make it easier to prepare lessons and decide what the school needs to buy.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 26 October 20262 min read
Read guide
A miniature IT support colleague discusses an update checklist with an office colleague beside a laptop. Image headline: “PHP security alert: what to check now”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve. An illustrative scene.

Article

PHP security alert: what schools and businesses should check now

Two serious PHP security flaws can put websites at risk, even when the pages look normal. Here is how to find out whether you are affected, what to ask your provider and which warning signs to watch for.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts, Businesses, IT providers

Published 24 October 2026Reviewed 24 October 20265 min read
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Two miniature school colleagues review a clipboard, paperwork and a laptop at an office desk. Heading: “DfE digital standards: where to start”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Article

DfE digital standards: where should a school start?

The Department for Education's digital standards cover many parts of school IT. You do not need to understand every technical detail before using them. Start with a school need and involve the colleagues who can check it.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 7 August 2026Updated 26 October 20262 min read
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Two miniature school colleagues check a plain clipboard and paper beside a monitor in a small mint and cream office. Heading: “Cyber Security and Resilience Bill: what to ask”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Article

Cyber Security and Resilience Bill: what should schools ask their IT suppliers?

News about a proposed cyber-security law can sound as though every school must act immediately. First check the current official position. Then ask useful questions about the IT services the school already buys.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts, IT providers, Businesses

Published 6 August 2026Updated 27 October 20262 min read
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Miniature school office colleagues compare devices and paperwork across desks with folders and a calculator. Heading: “Explain the need as well as the price”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

How to plan school IT costs for the next three years

A three-year IT budget should help colleagues understand what the school needs, when it needs it and what the likely costs include. It can do that without a complicated scoring model or a list of unexplained specifications.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Updated 29 October 20263 min read
Read guide
A miniature school IT technician checks an open laptop beside a cupboard of equipment and coiled cables. Another adult works in the background. Heading: “Start with a room and a real task”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

How to start a useful school IT check

An IT audit is a structured check of what the school has and how it supports its work. Staff can contribute useful observations without testing technical settings themselves. Start with a clear question and involve IT where needed.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Updated 30 October 20262 min read
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Four miniature school colleagues review laptops, a room plan and papers around a round meeting table. Heading: “Use DfE standards in your school IT plan”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

How to use the DfE digital standards in your school plan

The Department for Education's digital standards can help schools in England ask the right IT questions. To use them in a school plan, connect the guidance to a real need, the right colleagues and a practical action.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Updated 31 October 20262 min read
Read guide
Two miniature adult colleagues compare illustrated service documents beside a closed laptop and small telephone on a meeting table. Heading: “Compare the agreement with everyday support”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

The Independent IT Review: How to Audit the Organisation That Supports You

A constructive framework for reviewing your Managed Service Provider's performance, separating operational metrics from strategic assurance.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20269 min read
Read guide
Two miniature colleagues compare laptop chargers and a folder in an IT workroom. Heading: “Share what works, allow for different needs”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Standardising IT Across a MAT Without Ignoring School Context

Centralisation is crucial for MAT efficiency, but imposing identical IT on every school can fail. How to build a central baseline that respects local educational needs.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20267 min read
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Miniature school scene. A school business manager and technician compare two laptops using green and red condition cards. Heading: “Show the problem caused by the old setup”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

How to Model Technical Debt Without Inventing False Precision

Technical debt is rarely one large obvious problem. Learn how to convert technical evidence into a costed, prioritised decision model for school leaders.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20266 min read
Read guide
A miniature IT colleague compares two plain tags for one laptop at a desk. Heading: “Find the laptop, find the right answer”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

The True Cost of Inaccurate IT Asset Data in Schools

Ghost assets, missing warranties, and inflated budgets. Why spreadsheets fail as IT asset registers and how dynamic syncing solves the reconciliation nightmare.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20266 min read
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Two miniature adult colleagues review a plain card and a thick mint binder beside an office laptop. Heading: “Give governors a clear school picture”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

What Should Governors Actually Receive in an IT Report?

Moving from operational ticket metrics to strategic board-level assurance. A guide to designing an IT report that empowers governors to govern, not manage.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20267 min read
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Two miniature school colleagues discuss an app request card beside a laptop in a mint-trimmed office. Heading: “Make the AI rules easy to follow”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Building an AI Governance Approach Without Resorting to Blanket Bans

Blanket bans on Generative AI do not work. How schools can establish a practical governance framework that manages risk while embracing innovation.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20267 min read
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Three miniature adult school colleagues discuss a coloured chart and folders around a table, with desktop computers behind them. Heading: “Give each finding a next step”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Turning an IT Audit into an Achievable Improvement Plan

An audit report is only the diagnosis. Learn how to translate technical findings into a sequenced, funded, and managed remediation project.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20267 min read
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Two miniature school colleagues review an illustrated online-safety note beside a computer and printer. Heading: “Know what staff should report”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Preparing for Your Annual Filtering and Monitoring Review

The DfE's KCSIE guidance mandates annual filtering and monitoring reviews. How to gather the technical evidence to prove your systems are effective.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20267 min read
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A miniature technician sorts blank device-record cards into three trays while a colleague looks on. Heading: “Ask what the device can still do”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Asset Age is Not the Same as Replacement Priority

Why replacing laptops just because they hit 'five years old' is a wasteful strategy. How to prioritize IT replacements based on user impact and security risk.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20266 min read
Read guide
Five miniature school colleagues compare recovery-priority cards around a table with a laptop and mugs. Heading: “Help the trust understand the school's setup”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

A Practical IT Due Diligence Framework for Schools Joining a MAT

Acquiring a school means acquiring its technical debt. How MATs can conduct thorough IT due diligence before the transfer is finalized.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20268 min read
Read guide
Miniature school scene. Two IT colleagues check a restored document on one laptop beside a second laptop, external drive and timer. A small painted mint asitplan arrow mascot stands on the workbench, with its original friendly face and limbs, holding one palm open. Heading: “Bring it back and check it opens”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Testing Backup Recovery: Gathering the Evidence That Actually Matters

A green 'backup successful' email is not proof of resilience. How schools can implement rigorous restore testing to survive a ransomware attack.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20267 min read
Read guide
Miniature school scene. An IT technician sets a laptop beside an admin notebook and distinct access cards as colleagues look on. Heading: “Check who has the powerful accounts”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Privileged Access: Who Can Make Irreversible Changes to Your Network?

Global Admin accounts hold the keys to the kingdom. Why schools must strictly audit and restrict privileged access to prevent catastrophic data loss.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20266 min read
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A miniature technician checks a tagged laptop beside a stack of untested laptops while a colleague works behind. Heading: “Get the technical answers checked”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Cyber Essentials: Readiness Without Treating it as a Certificate

Earning a Cyber Essentials badge means nothing if the controls are turned off the next day. How to build continuous compliance rather than passing a static test.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20267 min read
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A miniature office colleague holds a folder beside a laptop. Heading: “Know the app, contact and renewal date”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Building a Practical Software and SaaS Register (That Actually Gets Used)

Schools use hundreds of undocumented web apps. How to discover Shadow IT, build a usable software register, and regain control of data privacy.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20267 min read
Read guide
Two miniature school colleagues discuss papers, folders and a tablet at a desk. Heading: “Compare similar school tasks”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Comparing Schools Fairly: Standardising IT Metrics Across a MAT

You can't manage what you can't measure consistently. How MATs can establish objective IT metrics to compare performance and prioritize funding across academies.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20267 min read
Read guide
Two miniature colleagues review coloured responsibility cards beside laptops in a tidy IT office. Heading: “Share the information, keep help easy to reach”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Central Visibility Without Central Bottlenecks: A MAT IT Model

How MATs can achieve total oversight of their IT estate without stripping autonomy from local schools or creating a massive central bureaucracy.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20267 min read
Read guide
Miniature school equipment room. A technician sorts retired laptops and chargers between separate trays while a business manager checks a clipboard. A mint recycling symbol appears on one tray. Heading: “Choose the next use from the actual need”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Repair, Retain, Replace, or Repurpose? A Hardware Decision Framework

Stop throwing away functional hardware and stop repairing obsolete devices. A practical framework for making cost-effective IT lifecycle decisions.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20267 min read
Read guide
Miniature school scene. Three school colleagues practise an incident discussion around a table with a blank scenario card and telephone. Heading: “Talk through the first few steps”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Running a Cyber Tabletop Exercise: A Practical Guide for Schools

You cannot learn how to respond to a cyberattack during a cyberattack. How to run a realistic, stress-tested tabletop exercise with your leadership team.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20268 min read
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Two miniature colleagues review an application permission checklist beside a desktop computer. Heading: “Ask about the task, then check the tool”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Discovering Shadow AI Constructively (Without Punishing Staff)

Staff are using unapproved AI tools to manage their workload. How to audit this 'Shadow AI' usage constructively to improve security without alienating teachers.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20267 min read
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Two miniature school colleagues review a short policy card beside a telephone and plain paperwork. Heading: “Write rules staff can use on a busy day”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Acceptable Use Policies That Actually Work (And Protect the School)

Most AUPs are copy-pasted legal jargon that staff never read. How to write an AUP that is enforceable during an HR dispute or cyber incident.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20267 min read
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A miniature school manager compares service documents beside a telephone, clock and folders. Heading: “Ask what the school gets and who helps”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Practical guide

Supplier Technology Due Diligence: Vetting the Vendors

Your security is only as strong as your weakest supplier. A framework for auditing the cyber security and data privacy posture of third-party vendors.

For Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts

Published 6 August 2026Reviewed 6 August 20267 min read
Read guide
A miniature colleague considers separate coloured cards beside a laptop, with no passwords shown. Heading: “Cyber Essentials: check the current rules”. asitplan, audit strategise achieve.

Article

Cyber Essentials in 2026: check which rules your application uses

Cyber Essentials is a certification scheme for basic protection against common online threats. Before starting or renewing an application, ask which version of its requirements applies and who will check the technical answers.

For Schools, IT providers

Published 5 August 2026Updated 28 October 20262 min read
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