The growing threat of cyberattacks on schools puts pressure on IT managers to batten down the hatches, and school information systems are the first line of defence.

Filled with information about students, fundraising, finance, transactions, and even credit card details, the vast amount of data they hold is a gold mine for cybercriminals.

Your school information management system must be designed for maximum security. But not all school software is created equally. You need a system with an end-to-end approach to school data security, privacy, and control – a system that is secure by design. 

Our Zunia next-generation student information platform is built upon a robust security infrastructure to keep your school’s data safe and secure while still being functional and easily accessible for authorised staff.  

Here are the top reasons why Zunia is the gold standard in school security:

1. Zunia uses Amazon Web Services

Zunia is hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS), a global leader in cloud infrastructure security, which means schools benefit from the highest security level AWS offers.

Here’s how AWS ensures the safety of your data:

  • Network Firewalls – state-of-the-art firewalls filter incoming and outgoing traffic, keeping intruders at bay.
  • DDoS Mitigation Technologies – advanced tools protect your system from DDoS attacks, ensuring smooth, uninterrupted access.
  • End-to-End Encryption – all data transmission is automatically encrypted, safeguarding your information at every stage.
  • Database-Level Encryption – data is encrypted within the database itself, adding another layer of protection.
  • Security Monitoring and Logging – detailed logs track access and activity, allowing for comprehensive security reviews and analysis.
  • Automated Threat Detection – sophisticated systems identify and flag malicious activity or unauthorised behaviour in real-time.
Artist impression of cloud hosting centre

2. Zunia is ISO 27001 certified

Education Horizons has been awarded ISO 27001 certification, the internationally recognised standard for information security management systems, and is committed to ensuring that all areas of the business align with the ISO 27001 framework.

ISO certification is the global gold standard. To achieve ISO 27001, organisations must complete rigorous risk assessments and audits to prove they are taking every precaution necessary to limit the risk of a security breach.

The ISO 27001 framework determines whether an organisation has built an information security management system capable of protecting sensitive data.

Education Horizons’ approach to ISO 27001 underscores our dedication to security. Our top-down strategy ensured certification of our corporate services, extending coverage across our functions. The inclusion of Zunia in our initial scope speaks to our commitment to aligning our latest solutions with rigorous ISO 27001 standards. Collaborations with reputable partners, such as ES2 and British Standards Institute (BSI), fortified our implementation.

In a broader context, our commitment to information security extends through our organisational fabric. We safeguard customer data’s confidentiality, integrity, and access, bolstered by our team’s Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and ISO 27001 certifications. Collaborative endeavors with internal teams ensure that security considerations are deeply embedded in our decisions, particularly within product and engineering domains.

3. Zunia is regularly penetration tested

With cybercriminals constantly evolving their techniques, security must continuously adapt to keep them out.

To ensure the highest level of security, Zunia undergoes quarterly penetration tests conducted by a reputable external provider.

These tests ensure that Zunia’s security and safeguards are always one step ahead of the latest malware and bad actors. Amazon AWS also provides real-time automated threat detection to identify and flag malicious activity or unauthorised behaviour.

4. Continually updated on school security best practice

We know that cybercriminals don’t stand still. That’s why we’re dedicated to defining new security controls and refining our existing ones.

That’s why Zunia’s development team utilises Secure Code Warrior, an innovative platform that fosters secure coding practices and keeps our team updated on the latest security trends.

This ensures our team is always writing code with security in mind, prioritising it from the very start of the software development lifecycle so that we build our applications and systems to be as safe as possible.

5. Zunia ensures the secure removal of school PII data

The Personal Identifiable Information (PII) that your school stores is highly attractive to would-be attackers who can sell it or use it for identity theft, fraud, and social engineering attacks.

To assist school compliance with data regulation and adherence to privacy policies, Zunia ensures the secure deletion of PII when it is no longer needed.

6. Granular and role-based permissions for all school users

Zunia enables school management, finance, student well-being and learning in one student information platform. But not every user needs access to all the data.

With Zunia, you can tailor access levels and permissions according to each user’s role, granting them the exact access level needed to complete their job.

Put your school data security first with Zunia

Cyber security has never been more critical for school IT teams. Zunia gives you the peace of mind of knowing your school’s data is secure, compliant, and in good hands. Book your demo – please call us on +61 1800 498 642 or +44 1935 403 020 or complete the form below.