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ST4S Assessment

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ST4S Assessment for Schools

ST4S (Safer Technology for Schools) is an assessment framework developed by Education Services Australia and the National Schools Interoperability Program (NSIP). It sets the standard for how education technology vendors are evaluated on security, privacy, interoperability, and online safety across Australian and New Zealand schools.

At Clearnet Labs, we help vendors prepare for and complete their ST4S assessments. We work through each category of the framework with you, identify gaps, and provide clear guidance on what needs to change before submission. If you already have a product in the education space or you are looking to enter it, getting ST4S right is essential.

Our team has hands-on experience with the ST4S supplier guide and understands what assessors are looking for. We do not just tick boxes. We test your product, review your documentation, and make sure your controls actually work the way they should.

ST4S Assessment for Schools

Assessment Categories

The ST4S framework covers the following areas. We test and review each one as part of our assessment service.

  • Security - Hosting and location, technical controls, logging, access management, HR practices, processes and testing, incident handling, data deletion and retention, compliance, and governance.
  • Privacy - General privacy controls and product-level privacy functionality. Covers how your product collects, stores, and processes personal information.
  • Interoperability - Data standards compliance and technical integration capabilities, making sure your product works well within school environments.
  • Safety - Online safety controls relevant to school environments, including content filtering, reporting mechanisms, and age-appropriate design.
  • Desktop and Mobile Applications - Security review of native applications and browser extensions, covering platform-specific risks and permissions.
  • AI Module - If your product uses AI, this covers AI-specific security, privacy, safety, and governance requirements introduced in the 2025.1 release.

How We Work With You

Our ST4S assessment process is straightforward. We start by understanding your product, then work through the framework with you step by step.

1. Product Review

We get to know your product, its architecture, how it handles data, and where it is hosted. This gives us the context we need to assess it properly.

2. Gap Analysis

We go through each ST4S category and identify where your product meets the requirements and where it falls short. No surprises later on.

3. Remediation Support

For any gaps we find, we give you specific, practical advice on what to fix and how. We can also help with implementation if needed.

4. Assessment and Reporting

We compile the full assessment, prepare your documentation, and make sure everything is ready for submission. You get a clear report covering every category.

What You Get

Every ST4S engagement includes:

  • Full Category Assessment - Detailed review across all ST4S categories relevant to your product.
  • Gap Analysis Report - Clear documentation of what meets the standard and what needs work.
  • Remediation Guidance - Specific recommendations for closing any gaps, with priority levels.
  • Evidence Preparation - Help gathering and organising the supporting evidence required for submission.
  • AI Module Review - If applicable, a dedicated review of AI-specific requirements.
  • Ongoing Support - We are available for questions and follow-up after the assessment is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

ST4S stands for Safer Technology for Schools. It is an assessment framework used across Australian and New Zealand education sectors to evaluate technology products used in schools. If you are a vendor selling or planning to sell technology products to schools, you will likely need to complete an ST4S assessment.
It depends on the size and complexity of your product. A straightforward assessment for a single product typically takes two to four weeks. Products with AI features or complex integrations may take longer.
Only if your product uses artificial intelligence or machine learning features. The AI module was introduced in the 2025.1 release and covers additional requirements around AI-specific security, privacy, and governance.
Yes. We provide detailed remediation guidance for every gap we identify. If you need hands-on help making changes to your product or documentation, we can assist with that too.