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Manage cyber security at your service#
Cyber security should be treated as a risk for your whole organisation. To keep your information safe and protect children from harm, you should regularly discuss cyber security with your staff.
There are 2 main areas to focus on.
Protect children from harm#
Make sure:
- your network has content filtering (or equivalent) in place
- children at your service know how to keep themselves safe online.
Protect your information and systems#
You can strengthen your information security and reduce the risk of cyber attacks by:
- using complex, hard to guess passwords – a combination of numbers, upper- and lower-case letters, and symbols and/or phrases with a minimum of 8 characters
- use separate passwords for work and personal systems
- back up important data regularly, and store it securely
- update your software and devices as soon as patches become available
- install antivirus software on your organisation’s devices.
If you are part of a larger organisation with more complex information technology (IT) systems, there may be a wider range of information and cyber security risks for you to consider.
Ask your network provider how they can help you manage network safety and security.
Report a cyber incident or get support#
If you have an incident to report or need support, contact Netsafe or CERT NZ.
Netsafe
Phone: 0508 NETSAFE (0508 638723)
Email: [email protected]
CERT NZ
Freephone (NZ only): 0800 114 115
Mōhiohio anō
More information
Our digital security advice for schools and kura can also apply to early learning services.
Choosing safer technologies for schools and kura - Ministry of Education
Safe and responsible use of digital technology in schools guide - Ministry of Education
The Netsafe kit for young people has free resources about creating a safe online environment.
Netsafe kit for young people – Netsafe
Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) NZ has information on strengthening your service’s cyber security and advice for reporting cyber security incidents.