ICT Services 4 Education

School ICT News Bulletin No. 301 - 25/05/2022

Published by ICT Solutions

eBulletin Items

  1. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Changes to Google Workspace search history from June 14th 2022
  2. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: SLA Online contract cancellations for Academies
  3. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Powering off core network equipment over the half-term period
  4. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: End of Year MIS Support Sessions Available To Book
  5. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Microsoft Basic Authentication is being disabled from October 1st 2022
  6. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Service Desk opening hours over the forthcoming half-term holiday period
  7. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Action to take if you still use Internet Explorer (IE) as your web browser

1. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Changes to Google Workspace search history from June 14th 2022

We have received the following notification from Google -  

 

Starting June 14th, 2022 we’ll introduce a Google Workspace search history setting on the My Activity page. It will control search data storage from core Google services.

 

To get to My Activity, within your Google account go to - Data and Privacy > History > My Activity

 

Existing and new Google Workspace for Education users under 18 will have Google Workspace search history OFF by default. However, users can turn the setting ON if they choose to do so. Web & App Activity will be disabled from their account and they will be unable to turn it on.

 

Searches performed in Google Workspace products like Gmail and Drive before June 14th, will appear in Google Workspace search history when it launches.

 

Google Workspace search history control will enable users to:

  • Store and use search data only for core Google Workspace services
    • Users can get faster and more relevant email and file searches in Google Workspace services like Gmail and Drive only when Google Workspace search history is enabled.                                                                       
    • Currently, when any of the Web & App Activity settings is enabled (admin or end user), we collect search data from both Google Workspace core and additional services. When Workspace search history launches, it will only store search data from Workspace core services, and the Web & App Activity setting will only store search data from Google’s additional services.
  • Enable or disable Google Workspace search history from their My Activity page.                                         
    • Users can also change their Workspace search history retention preferences at any time and configure automatic deletion periods of 3, 18, or 36 months.

Google Workspace search history will be available in Gmail and Drive at launch; more Google Workspace services may be added in the future.

 

Note: Data stored in Google Workspace search history is only used across Google Workspace core services to improve the Google Workspace user experience.

 

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

 

2. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: SLA Online contract cancellations for Academies

Information for Academies regarding cancelling an annual contract for items such as Google NSIX/Microsoft emails, Chromebook Management or ICT support contracts etc. 

 

If you do not wish to renew an annual contract for any services, please email details of the contracts you wish to cancel to ict@norfolk.gov.uk and we will remove the relevant item from SLA Online.

 

Please ensure that you notify us in writing of any cancellation of ICT support (Basic or Enhanced) contract by 31st May 2022 and all other services by 31st August 2022, before the contract renewal is rolled forward to the next 12 months. 

 

Please note that unticking any items under 'Annual order', will not cancel the contract renewal.

 

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

3. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Powering off core network equipment over the half-term period

We would like to ask schools to refrain from turning off the power to the core networking equipment over the forthcoming half-term 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:                                               27th May 2022 - 5th June 2022

 

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

4. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: End of Year MIS Support Sessions Available To Book

With the end of the Academic year approaching, if you wish to book an end of year MIS session, they are available on SLA Online – s4s.norfolk.gov.uk

 

Sessions are available for -

 

  • Bromcom
  • ESS SIMS
  • RM Integris
  • Scholarpack

 

And the proposed dates would be during weeks commencing -

 

  • 27/06/2022
  • 04/07/2022
  • 11/07/2022

 

As per previous years, they will be on a one-to-one basis, via Microsoft Teams, so no travelling will be required. Once we have received confirmation, we will be in touch to arrange a convenient time/date with you. 

 

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

 

5. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Microsoft Basic Authentication is being disabled from October 1st 2022

Microsoft have announced that from October 1st 2022, they will be disabling “Basic Authentication” to the M365 platform. This means any client (user app, script, integration, etc.) using Basic Auth for one of the affected protocols will be unable to connect.

 

What is basic authentication?

 

In simple terms, it’s gaining access from an application in a less secure way. An example being your email account.

 

Why are they making these changes?

 

Basic Authentication is an outdated industry standard, and threats posed by it have only increased in the time since Microsoft originally stated that this change was being implemented. 

 

What will happen after October 1st?

 

The app will receive an HTTP 401 error: bad username or password.

 

What do I need to do?

 

In preparation for the change, please check to make sure none of your users are using basic authentication. For schools who have an ICT Solutions technician, we will be working with you to identify any potential affected users.

 

 

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

 

6. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Service Desk opening hours over the forthcoming half-term holiday period

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

 

From May 30th - June 1st, the hours will be as follows -

 

08:30 to 16:00 

 

June 2nd and June 3rd are Bank Holidays and we will be closed both days.

 

Normal opening hours of 08:00 to 16:30 will resume on Monday, June 6th.

 

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

7. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Action to take if you still use Internet Explorer (IE) as your web browser

From June 15th 2022,  the Internet Explorer (IE) 11 desktop application will no longer be supported and will redirect to Microsoft Edge if a user tries to access it. The IE icon will appear as a blue letter ‘e’ with a gold ring around it and enables you to access the internet.

 

More information can be found on the Microsoft website here

 

In the meantime, you may wish to start using an alternative browser, such as Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. If you need to display any websites in IE mode, please follow the steps below:

 

  1. Open Microsoft Edge on Windows 10.
  2. Click the Settings and More (ellipsis) button on the top-right corner.
  3. Select the Settings option.
  4. Click on Default browser.
  5. Under the “Internet Explorer compatibility” section, turn on the “Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode” toggle switch.

 

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

 

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