School ICT News Bulletin No. 314 - 30/06/2023Published by ICT Solutions eBulletin Items- IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 reaching end of support
- IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Cyber Security Webinars - July 5th/6th 2023
- IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Arbor MIS Webinars
- IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Rydal Communications Webinars
- IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Primary schools - Register for your free BBC micro:bits
- IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Broadband Update
- IMPORTANT INFORMATION: New ICT Equipment Purchasing Portal Available - June 20th, 2023
- IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Google Classrooms - Transferring ownership of a class
- IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Removal of 0845 Service Desk contact number from September 1st, 2023
1. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 reaching end of support
When does support for Windows Server 2012 end?
Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 support will end on October 10, 2023
What does end of support mean?
After this date, these products will no longer receive security updates, non-security updates, bug fixes, technical support, or online technical content updates.
What happens if I continue to use Windows Server 2012?
Whilst you can continue to use Windows Server 2012, after support has ended, your network will become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses.
Some of the applications dependent on you using a later version of Windows Server will cease to operate or be able to be updated.
What if I can’t afford to upgrade my server?
Contact ourselves to discuss our Refresh Enhancement Programme. More details can be found at the link here
You may wish to consider going serverless, and store files to the cloud, rather than host them on site.
For more information
Please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk
2. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Cyber Security Webinars - July 5th/6th 2023
Are you interested in improving your cyber security knowledge?
Join Secure Schools to learn simple ways to help protect your school from cyber-attacks and watch a demonstration of their new online platform. Secure Schools are pleased to host four webinars for schools and trusts in Norfolk County Council at the following dates and times next week.
Wednesday, 5th July 2023
10:30 - 11:15 am
14:30 - 15:15 pm
Thursday, 6th July 2023
10:30 - 11:15 am
14:30 - 15:15 pm
To sign up for one of the sessions, click the link below and complete the short registration form:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/4958455925251032412
The webinars will be recorded and available to watch afterwards.
About Secure Schools
Secure Schools is based in Suffolk and helps schools protect themselves against cyber-attacks. They offer an online platform that includes staff training, a phishing simulation tool and a library of cyber security policies. Secure Schools also offer internal cyber security audits and system security testing.
To learn more about Secure Schools, click the link: https://www.secureschools.com/uk/
3. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Arbor MIS Webinars
Arbor have advised us that they are holding some webinars next week. For anyone interested, the dates/times and joining information can be found in the links below.
When registering, please can you mention ICT Solutions in the box that asks how you heard about the sessions.
Primary schools - Tuesday 4th July, 10am
https://www.bigmarker.com/arbor-education-webinars/Discover-Arbor-MIS-for-Primary-Schools-89be1585feb756129f7584f4
Secondary schools - Wednesday 5th July, 10am
https://www.bigmarker.com/arbor-education-webinars/Discover-Arbor-MIS-for-Secondary-Schools-fdb2e7a2a7992f28ad6fa896
MATs - Thursday 6th July, 10am
https://www.bigmarker.com/arbor-education-webinars/Discover-Arbor-MIS-for-MATs-bed685ede5b63d62f48b7b11
Special schools - Friday 7th July, 10am
https://www.bigmarker.com/arbor-education-webinars/Arbor-MIS-demo-for-special-schools-and-APs-211e4facf5d6bd373f217c2a
For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk
4. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Rydal Communications Webinars
In preparation for the termination of the Capita network in March 2024, Rydal Communications have announced that they will be hosting webinars on a Wednesday, over the next four weeks. This gives you an opportunity to see their services and ask any questions that you may have.
If you are interested in joining, more details can be found at the following links:
5th July 2023 – https://bit.ly/CIE-050723
12th July 2023 – https://bit.ly/CIE-120723
19th July 2023 – https://bit.ly/CIE-190723
Once you have registered, you will be sent an email with a link to the webinar, which will be carried out via Teams. If it does not come through to your inbox, please ensure you check your ‘junk’ mail folder.
For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk
5. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Primary schools - Register for your free BBC micro:bits
The BBC micro:bit is a pocket-sized computer that can be used to teach primary school children about coding.
Currently, the BBC are offering 30 free of charge to primary schools. More details, and how to register, can be found here
6. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Broadband Update
All Schools/Academies/Trusts currently on the Capita network have now been provided with their quotes for Broadband from Rydal Communications and Schools Broadband.
Both suppliers have offered to help with the Capita termination fees as follows:
-
Rydal have advised that they will pay the termination fees upon receipt of proof of payment to Capita
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Schools Broadband have offered six months free of charge if a site signs up for a five-year contract, instead of a three-year contract
Both suppliers have arranged webinars to show their service offering and give people the opportunity to ask questions.
Regarding the Capita exit plan, it has been confirmed that 45 days notice needs to be given and the process is outlined here (see ‘How do I go about switching suppliers?’). On the same page we have also created a FAQs section, which you might find useful.
Although next March may seem a long time away, with lead times for provisioning the services, guaranteeing networking resources, sign off from Governors and change freezes around Christmas time, you need to start preparing to move now.
If you have any questions, please contact our Broadband project mailbox - educonnectivity@norfolk.gov.uk
7. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: New ICT Equipment Purchasing Portal Available - June 20th, 2023
ICT Solutions, in partnership with Getech, are pleased to announce a new way for Education establishments to request quotes and procure ICT equipment via our new Purchasing Portal from Tuesday, June 20th.
Utilising Government Frameworks, this store has been put together to provide Education establishments with a trusted platform to purchase ICT Equipment and is managed by ICT Solutions (Norfolk County Council). The procurement framework enables direct award procurement and we have completed a full evaluation of products/pricing and have awarded the supply contract to Getech.
An example of what the portal looks like can be viewed here
To register for access, please click on the following link and then the ‘Register’ button - portal.getech.co.uk/ncc
For any help or further advice regarding the new portal, please contact us via email - ictcontractsteam@norfolk.gov.uk
8. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Google Classrooms - Transferring ownership of a class
It is important to ensure that a current teacher with an active Google NSIX account is always the owner of your classes in Google Classroom. If the primary teacher/class owner leaves your school and their Google NSIX account is deleted, then it will no longer be possible to transfer ownership of that class to another current staff member. This means that no one will have full access to manage the class going forward and some class features will stop working. For this reason, it is important that you always know who owns your Google classes and include the transfer of Google classes into your staff leavers procedure.
The following Google help page provides guidance on how to transfer ownership of a class to another teacher at your school - https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/7449476?hl=en
For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk
9. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Removal of 0845 Service Desk contact number from September 1st, 2023
From September 1st, our Service Desk contact number 0845 303 3003 will be switched off, with our only contact number being 01603 475603. Whilst the 0845 number has been in operation since the inception of ICT Solutions, with people frequently contacting us via mobile telephones, not all providers include 0845 numbers in their free call bundles. Typically, numbers beginning 01 and 02 are.
At present, if you call the 0845 number, you will receive a message that it is being switched off but will still be routed through to the Service Desk.
For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk
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