School ICT News Bulletin No. 311 - 26/05/2023 Published by ICT Solutions eBulletin Items IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Cyber security - A reminder IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Schools Broadband Webinars - Wednesday, June 21st 2023 IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Service Desk opening hours over the forthcoming holiday period IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Powering off core network equipment over the forthcoming holiday period IMPORTANT INFORMATION: DfE Schools Gigabit Programme 1. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Cyber security - A reminder Cyber security is even more important than ever right now as there have been a number of high-profile cyber incidents/attacks through phishing attacks at various educational establishments throughout the UK. Phishing is when attackers attempt to trick users into doing 'the wrong thing', such as clicking a bad link that will download malware, or direct them to a suspicious website. Phishing can be conducted via a text message, social media, or by phone, but the term 'phishing' is mainly used to describe attacks that arrive by email. Phishing emails can reach millions of users directly, and hide amongst the huge number of benign emails that busy users receive. Attacks can install malware (such as ransomware), sabotage systems, or steal intellectual property and money. We have also been asked to feedback from our colleagues in the NCC Audit team that some school users are still writing passwords and /or PINs with their cards for the BACS system together. This is not best practise and would be a red flag during any cyber audit carried out. A reminder regarding passwords from the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) can be found here 2. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Schools Broadband Webinars - Wednesday, June 21st 2023 Further to their webinars earlier this month, Schools Broadband have announced further webinars on Wednesday, June 21st for Schools/Academies. Details of the webinar and joining details are as follows: Choosing the Right Broadband Partner for Education Capita Updata is ceasing all connectivity, filtering & security services to schools by March 2024, meaning you will need to organise a replacement service. We know for some, organising the service transfer is a daunting prospect. Attending this webinar will prove invaluable, whoever you choose as your new provider. The webinar will cover: Your Broadband options Why Safeguarding & Security is at the Heart of what we do DfE and Prevent Duty compliant Safeguarding Platform to support DSLs How our customers are fully protected from DDoS attacks How we give you control to make web filtering changes Why we have faster response & resolution times How our high availability & redundant systems keep you connected 24/7/365 How we can support any Capita Updata early termination fees with up to 6 months free Answering any of your questions The lead time for a replacement service in some cases can take up to six months. Ensure you allow plenty of time when ordering to allow for a seamless transfer of service. Schools Broadband provides services to over 2000 schools and 275 Multi Academy Trusts and is one of the most respected specialist providers of services to education. Places are limited so please register early using the session links below: 10-11am session 2-3pm session For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk 3. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Service Desk opening hours over the forthcoming holiday period To reflect the reduced demand on the Service Desk over the forthcoming holiday period, we will be changing the hours of the Service Desk accordingly. From May 30th - June 2nd, the hours will be as follows - 08:30 to 16:00 May 29th is a Bank Holiday and we will be closed. Normal opening hours of 08:00 to 16:30 will resume on Monday, June 5th. For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk 4. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Powering off core network equipment over the forthcoming holiday 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 Capita 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 May 2023 – 4th June 2023 What You Need To Do: If there is no alternative to powering off the communications cabinet and core equipment, 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 5. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: DfE Schools Gigabit Programme The Department for Education are beginning to contact schools in Norfolk about their gigabit broadband programme. Below is the background information provided by the DfE, so you know this is genuine should you be contacted. Please be aware that this is a separate programme of work to the Capita network cease by 31/03/2024. Which Schools Are We Contacting? We are using data from Building Digital UK (a part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) to identify schools that are not included in any of the commercial full fibre rollouts before the end of 2025. Our data suggests there are more than a thousand schools in this position across England. What Are We Asking? We need to get some basic information from schools about their current connection. We need to know whether they have a leased line or similar service (meaning that they do not need our help) or are on something like FTTC (where they do). For those schools without a high-speed connection, and without the chance of getting that connection commercially, DfE will centrally procure gigabit capable (typically FTTP) connectivity for them, allowing them to upgrade their broadband service. We are not asking them to change ISP – we are simply providing the new infrastructure. DfE are procuring these circuits centrally through a Crown Commercial Services framework and will manage the contract as civil works take place to bring the fibre to the school site.

School ICT News Bulletin No. 311 - 26/05/2023

Published by ICT Solutions

eBulletin Items

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Cyber security - A reminder
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Schools Broadband Webinars - Wednesday, June 21st 2023
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Service Desk opening hours over the forthcoming holiday period
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Powering off core network equipment over the forthcoming holiday period
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: DfE Schools Gigabit Programme

1. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Cyber security - A reminder

Cyber security is even more important than ever right now as there have been a number of high-profile cyber incidents/attacks through phishing attacks at various educational establishments throughout the UK.

Phishing is when attackers attempt to trick users into doing 'the wrong thing', such as clicking a bad link that will download malware, or direct them to a suspicious website.

Phishing can be conducted via a text message, social media, or by phone, but the term 'phishing' is mainly used to describe attacks that arrive by email. Phishing emails can reach millions of users directly, and hide amongst the huge number of benign emails that busy users receive. Attacks can install malware (such as ransomware), sabotage systems, or steal intellectual property and money.

We have also been asked to feedback from our colleagues in the NCC Audit team that some school users are still writing passwords and /or PINs with their cards for the BACS system together. This is not best practise and would be a red flag during any cyber audit carried out.

A reminder regarding passwords from the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) can be found here

2. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Schools Broadband Webinars - Wednesday, June 21st 2023

Further to their webinars earlier this month, Schools Broadband have announced further webinars on Wednesday, June 21st for Schools/Academies.

Details of the webinar and joining details are as follows:

Choosing the Right Broadband Partner for Education

Capita Updata is ceasing all connectivity, filtering & security services to schools by March 2024, meaning you will need to organise a replacement service. We know for some, organising the service transfer is a daunting prospect. Attending this webinar will prove invaluable, whoever you choose as your new provider.

The webinar will cover:

Your Broadband options
Why Safeguarding & Security is at the Heart of what we do
DfE and Prevent Duty compliant Safeguarding Platform to support DSLs
How our customers are fully protected from DDoS attacks
How we give you control to make web filtering changes
Why we have faster response & resolution times
How our high availability & redundant systems keep you connected 24/7/365
How we can support any Capita Updata early termination fees with up to 6 months free
Answering any of your questions

The lead time for a replacement service in some cases can take up to six months. Ensure you allow plenty of time when ordering to allow for a seamless transfer of service. Schools Broadband provides services to over 2000 schools and 275 Multi Academy Trusts and is one of the most respected specialist providers of services to education.

Places are limited so please register early using the session links below:

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

3. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Service Desk opening hours over the forthcoming holiday period

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

From May 30th - June 2nd, the hours will be as follows -

08:30 to 16:00

May 29th is a Bank Holiday and we will be closed.

Normal opening hours of 08:00 to 16:30 will resume on Monday, June 5th.

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

4. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Powering off core network equipment over the forthcoming holiday 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 Capita 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 May 2023 – 4th June 2023

What You Need To Do:

If there is no alternative to powering off the communications cabinet and core equipment, 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

5. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: DfE Schools Gigabit Programme

The Department for Education are beginning to contact schools in Norfolk about their gigabit broadband programme. Below is the background information provided by the DfE, so you know this is genuine should you be contacted.

Please be aware that this is a separate programme of work to the Capita network cease by 31/03/2024.

Which Schools Are We Contacting?

We are using data from Building Digital UK (a part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) to identify schools that are not included in any of the commercial full fibre rollouts before the end of 2025. Our data suggests there are more than a thousand schools in this position across England.

What Are We Asking?

We need to get some basic information from schools about their current connection. We need to know whether they have a leased line or similar service (meaning that they do not need our help) or are on something like FTTC (where they do).

For those schools without a high-speed connection, and without the chance of getting that connection commercially, DfE will centrally procure gigabit capable (typically FTTP) connectivity for them, allowing them to upgrade their broadband service. We are not asking them to change ISP – we are simply providing the new infrastructure. DfE are procuring these circuits centrally through a Crown Commercial Services framework and will manage the contract as civil works take place to bring the fibre to the school site.