Our Commitment to Digital Safety – ST4S Certified

Edge is proud to be one of the first Student Management System (SMS) providers in Aotearoa to be officially awarded the Safer Technologies 4 Schools (ST4S) Vendor Badge. This certification recognises our commitment to providing a secure, trusted, and future-ready digital platform for schools, students, and whānau.

The Ministry of Education supports and encourages schools to use ST4S to inform decisions on software by understanding privacy and security risks. This is especially important when it comes to protecting student data.

The Safer Technologies 4 Schools initiative is a standardised approach to evaluating digital products and services used by schools across Australia and Aotearoa against a nationally consistent security and privacy control framework. The ST4S program helps educators make informed choices about the digital tools they adopt - ensuring safer, more secure learning environments for students, staff, and whānau.

Below, you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about what this certification means and how it benefits your school.

What is Safer Technologies 4 Schools (ST4S)?

The Safer Technologies 4 Schools (ST4S) service is a national standardised approach to evaluating digital products and services used by schools across Australia. It is supported by the state and territory governments and the Catholic and independent school sectors.

While the Safer Technologies 4 Schools (ST4S) framework was developed in Australia, its relevance extends to Aotearoa schools as well. As digital tools and platforms become increasingly embedded in the education system, it’s critical that schools have confidence in the safety, privacy, and security of the technologies they adopt.

 Why was the ST4S established?

ST4S was established in collaboration with all Australian state, territory, Catholic and Independent school sectors to develop a nationally consistent security and privacy control framework to help schools reduce risks when choosing digital products and services.

How does ST4S benefit schools?

ST4S equips educators with the information to make informed decisions about the privacy and safety of the products and services used in their schools. By aligning with this internationally recognised framework, Aotearoa schools can better protect student data, reduce cybersecurity risks, and ensure a safer online learning environment for students, staff, and whānau.

What does usage of the ST4S badge mean?

Vendors in the program have undergone a rigorous assessment that indicates the product does not present a significant safety or privacy risk to schools. Ongoing use of the badge requires vendors to perform annual ST4S Readiness Checks to help ensure continued compliance with the most important ST4S Assessment Framework requirements.

How does the ST4S badge benefit schools?

The badge helps educators easily identify vendors for which comprehensive information is available to assess how it can be used in their schools. It provides a recognisable symbol that a product or service has been assessed through the ST4S framework and has committed to supporting student and school online security and safety.

You can find out more about ST4S here: https://st4s.edu.au/badge-program/ and also here: Choosing safer technologies for schools and kura - Ministry of Education