Amazon Web Services launches £5 million cyber education grant to boost security in the UK

Amazon Web Services (Amazon Web Services) today announced the launch of its first Amazon Web Services UK Cyber Education Grant Program, a £5 million initiative aimed at strengthening the cybersecurity capabilities of educational institutions across the United Kingdom.

The cybersecurity challenge in UK education

Recent data from the UK government reveals the significant cybersecurity challenges facing UK educational institutions. In 2023-2024, the research showed:

• 52 percent of primary schools, 71 percent of secondary schools, and 86 percent of further education colleges reported cyber breaches or attacks
• 97 percent of higher education institutions identified a breach or attack
• Higher education institutions are more likely to experience cyber incidents than the average UK business

These statistics underline the need for robust cybersecurity measures in the education sector. From protecting sensitive student data to safeguarding critical infrastructure, educational institutions require comprehensive security solutions to maintain their operations and trust with parents and students.

“I know how important it is that our nurseries, schools, colleges and universities are protected from online threats, and we stand ready to support settings that are victims of cybercrime” said Martin Sivorn, Chief Information Security Officer at the Department for Education (DfE). “Our work to help these settings improve their cyber security never stops. That is why we welcome this programme to boost the sector’s resilience to breaches – unlocking freedom to harness the potential of tech to drive high and rising education standards.”

Introducing the Amazon Web Services UK Cyber Education Grant Program

Building on similar initiatives in the US and Canada, Amazon Web Services is launching a program tailored to addressing the unique cybersecurity needs of UK educational institutions.

The grant program offers:

1. Amazon Web Services credits – Credits for new and existing Amazon Web Services customers to implement cloud-based cybersecurity solutions
2. Amazon Web Services Skill Builder access – Over 600 free courses, including more than 40 security-focused trainings
3. Security well-architected reviews – No-cost reviews for government agencies and education technology (EdTech) companies

How the program works

Eligible institutions include state and private schools, colleges, multi-academy trusts, higher education institutions, and the DfE. The program aims are to improve security capabilities across UK educational institutions, advance ransomware protection capabilities, upskill IT workforce in crucial cybersecurity competencies, and provide immediate incident response support when needed.

Amazon Web Services commitment to education security

This initiative is part of the broader commitment by Amazon Web Services to support education organisations throughout their cybersecurity journeys, by providing secure-by-design infrastructure and comprehensive security services. We have a shared responsibility model with the customer; Amazon Web Services manages and controls the components from the host operating system and virtualization layer down to the physical security of the facilities in which the services operate, while educational customers using Amazon Web Services are responsible for building secure applications.

“We are delighted to launch the Amazon Web Services UK Cyber Education Grant Program, and help UK educational organisations to enhance their cybersecurity capabilities,” stated, John Davies, Managing Director, UK, Germany, and International Organisations, Worldwide Public Sector at Amazon Web Services. “Strong security at the core of an organization enables customers to innovate, and accelerate their digital transformation journeys.”

How to get involved

If you’re an educational institution in the UK looking to enhance your cybersecurity capabilities, we invite you to apply for the Amazon Web Services UK Cyber Education Grant Program. Together, we can build a more secure and resilient future for education in the UK.

To learn more, contact your Amazon Web Services Account Manager or email edu-grant@amazon.co.uk.

Join us in our mission to create secure, innovative learning environments across the UK. The future of education depends on it.

Ken Harley

Ken leads the UK Education business for Amazon Web Services (Amazon Web Services). He and his team support a wide range of educational institutions, from schools and colleges to universities, research institutes, central bodies, and educational technology (EdTech) companies. They work tirelessly to enable customers to harness the transformative power of cloud technology to enhance learning, drive innovation, and expand access to knowledge and resources.