ICT Services 4 Education

School ICT News Bulletin No. 291 - 26/03/2021

Published by ICT Solutions

eBulletin Items

  1. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Staying Safe Online
  2. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Contract renewals for 2021-22
  3. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Hosted SIMS Unavailability - 26th March to 28th March 2021
  4. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Anycomms Plus Unavailability - April 9th, 09:00 to 12:00 hours
  5. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Service Desk opening hours over the Easter holiday period
  6. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Powering Off Core Network Equipment Over The Easter Period

1. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Staying Safe Online

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) are becoming increasing concerned about ransomware attacks on schools in the past couple of months.

 

This week they added a news article on their website and also shared an infographic to remind staff to remain vigilant.

 

The article can be found at  - https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/alert-targeted-ransomware-attacks-on-uk-education-sector and we have added the infographic on our website - https://icteducation.norfolk.gov.uk/page.aspx?id=1349 with tips on how staff can stay safe online.

 

For more information please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk

 

 

2. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Contract renewals for 2021-22

Just a reminder that for some schools contracts are due to expire 31/03/2021, so please ensure that you have logged on to SLA Online and renewed them. These include items such as –

 

  • Technician support
  • MIS and support
  • NSIX accounts 
  • O365 accounts 
  • Chromebook management
  • Anti-Virus
  • Back-up solutions
  • GDPR software/training

 

Thank you to everyone who has renewed their contracts already, as well as those who have joined us, and we look forward to providing our services/supporting you in the coming year.

 

 

 

3. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Hosted SIMS Unavailability - 26th March to 28th March 2021

Capita have notified us that they will be performing an upgrade to the Norfolk hosted SIMS platform to ensure that your database is updated with the latest functionality and error fixes. During this time there will be a period of unavailability.

 

This work will begin at 18:00 on Friday, 26th March to 23:59 on Sunday, 28th March

 

We apologise in advance for any inconvenience that this may cause.

 

For more information please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk

4. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Anycomms Plus Unavailability - April 9th, 09:00 to 12:00 hours

We have been advised by AVCO that planned maintenance will be carried out during the Easter holiday period. On Friday, April 9th there will be a three hour period of unavailability (between 09:00 to 12:00), whilst this completed.

 

We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.

 

For more information please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk

5. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Service Desk opening hours over the Easter holiday period

To reflect the reduced demand on the Service Desk over the Easter holiday period, we will be changing the hours of the Service Desk accordingly.

 

From 29th March to 9th April, the hours will be as follows -

 

09:00 to 16:00. 

 

Normal opening hours of 08:00 to 16:30 will resume on Monday, April 12th.

 

For more information please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk

6. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Powering Off Core Network Equipment Over The Easter Period

We would like to ask schools to refrain from turning off the power to the core networking equipment over the forthcoming Easter holiday period. Core networking equipment includes routers, switches and servers, often in a wall or floor cabinet. These devices are monitored by ourselves and Updata and turning off the power results in false alarms. This could potentially result in your school incurring a charge for an engineer visit.

 

Services Affected:                           Schools Internet, email and any service accessed via the internet

 

Services Not Affected:                    All other school systems which do not access the internet

 

When:                                               26th March 2021 - 11th April 2021

 

What You Need To Do:

If there is no alternative to powering off the communications cabinet and core equipment then please contact the Service Desk to advise us in advance

 

For More Information:

Please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk

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