School ICT News Bulletin No. 303 - 23/09/2022

Published by ICT Solutions

eBulletin Items

1. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Launch of new Refresh and Enhancement Programme
2. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Google Hangouts upgrade to Google Chat from November 1st 2022
3. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: New Broadband Framework in place from September 2022
4. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: FREE ICT Event on 16 November 2022
5. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Telephony framework now available for Schools and Academies
6. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Microsoft Basic Authentication is being disabled from October 1st 2022

1. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Launch of new Refresh and Enhancement Programme

ICT Solutions are pleased to announce the launch of a new 4 year Refresh and Enhancement Programme, which can act as a one stop shop to manage all your ICT Requirements.

This includes:

We recognise that with the constraints on budgets, not all of these items can be dealt with at once and being able to plan your budget for such items over a 4 year period is beneficial for managing finances, so that a full roll-out of services can be achieved.

If you would like to learn more, please visit here

For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 (option 2) or ict@norfolk.gov.uk

2. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Google Hangouts upgrade to Google Chat from November 1st 2022

We have been notified of an upgrade from Google Hangouts to Google Chat, commencing Tuesday, November 1^st, 2022. Should you try and access Hangouts after this time you will be redirected to Google Chat

If you have any conversations that you would like to keep a record of, we recommend you copy & paste them to a Google Doc or similar document as soon as you can. Furthermore, from January 1^st, 2023 all Google Hangouts conversations will be deleted by Google.

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

3. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: New Broadband Framework in place from September 2022

ICT Solutions have tendered for suppliers to be on a Multi Broadband supplier framework, effective from September 2022.  

The framework agreement is open to all education establishments (e.g., Schools, Academies, Trusts, Federations, Adult Learning centres, Nurseries, Preschools, Alternative provisions) to purchase from, within East of England (Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, Peterborough, and Southend).

The scope of this framework agreement includes the supply, installation, management, maintenance, technical architecture, system design and project management associated with the provision of the services.

As part of this tender process, we have assessed suppliers’ technical solutions, compliance against legislation, financial checks, and experience with working with educational establishments to meet your requirements and provide you with a Framework to call off from to meet procurement regulations.

We are pleased to announce the following four suppliers have been awarded a place on our Framework:

• Eastern Telephones Ltd T/A Eastern Voice and Data
• MLL Telecom Ltd
• Rydal Communications
• Talk Straight Ltd T/A Schools Broadband

All our suppliers will be present at our ICT Conference on 16^th November 2022 at the John Innes Centre, Norwich for you to discuss your requirements with.

For Schools, Academies and Trusts currently on the Updata Connection:

The Capita Updata contract is due to expire on 31^st March 2024, and due to infrastructure changes to the current network, it will not be possible to continue with Capita Updata services in its current format after this date.

ICT Solutions have set up a project team to support all Schools, Academies and Trusts in requesting new quotes and migration to new suppliers and services.   We will be requesting quotes from all our four Framework suppliers for you based on your current solution (or any upgrades that may now be possible in your area). 

There is no obligation to purchase from this Framework, and we have asked our Suppliers not to directly market you.

We have begun working with Capita Updata on exit planning and impacts of leaving the service early, as realistically we will need to start migrating services away during 2023.

We will be in contact with you directly about your services and future requirements.

For Schools, Academies and Trusts with a different supplier:

The Framework is free for you to use to carry out a direct award or run a mini competition against your requirements.

You do not need to come via ICT Solutions for quotes or support, your own teams can deal directly with the supplier.

If you would like to contact the suppliers for more information or quotations please see below, stating Norfolk Framework to get the agreed pricing:

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

4. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: FREE ICT Event on 16 November 2022

ICT Solutions are excited to be hosting a FREE ICT Event on Wednesday, 16 November, at the John Innes Centre in Norwich.

This event is suitable for all senior leaders, governors, business managers, ICT managers and leads, and teachers.

The agenda is still being finalised, but we have confirmed sessions from:

• Google for Education team
• Microsoft Education team
• Norfolk Police Cyber team
• Metropolitan Police Cyber Alarm advisor
• Secure Schools
• NCC Digital Inclusion work with schools
• NCC My Oracle project

There will be stands from some of our key suppliers for Broadband, Audio Visual, Telephony and key areas within NCC (i.e., IoT network, My Oracle, Digital Inclusion).

Please visit this web page for details and to book your place at this event. The closing date for booking is 2 November 2022.

5. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Telephony framework now available for Schools and Academies

We recently went out to tender for a 3 year telephony framework for Schools/Academies to purchase from to give you confidence in upgrading your telephone system, especially with the impending switch off of ISDN/PSTN in 2025.

Each supplier will have had due diligence carried out on them and met certain standards for technical, financial, health and safety and pricing. They are as follows:

• Comm-Tech Voice and Data
• Eastern Voice and Data
• Midland Telecommunications Management Ltd
• Tel Group Ltd

If you would like to learn more, please contact us on 01603 475603 or ictcontractsteam@norfolk.gov.uk

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

Microsoft have announced that from October 1^st 2022, they will be disabling “Basic Authentication” to the M365 platform. This means any client (user app, script, integration, etc.) using Basic Authentication 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