School ICT News Bulletin No. 323 - 23/05/2024 Published by ICT Solutions eBulletin Items Service Desk opening hours over the half-term period ICT Equipment Purchasing Portal Available Powering off core network equipment over the half-term period Arbor MIS demonstrations for Norfolk primary schools Cyber security and introduction to Cyber Choices session for UK Education Staff Cyber Security Awareness Session for UK School Governors 1. Service Desk opening hours over the half-term period To reflect the reduced demand on the Service Desk over the half-term holiday period, we will be changing the opening hours to reflect this. Our opening hours will be as follows: May 27^th – Closed May 28^th – May 31^st - 08:30 to 16:00 Normal opening hours of 08:00 to 16:30 will resume on Monday, June 3^rd. For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk 2. ICT Equipment Purchasing Portal Available Are you aware that we have a purchasing portal available to request quotes and procure ICT equipment? 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 the portal has been created in collaboration with Getech. 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 3. 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 May 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 Rydal/Schools Broadband and turning off the power results in false alarms. This could potentially result in your school incurring a charge for an engineer visit. If there is no alternative to powering off the communications cabinet and core equipment, because of planned work, for example, please advise us in advance. For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk 4. Arbor MIS demonstrations for Norfolk primary schools We would like to make Norfolk primary schools aware of two Arbor demonstrations available to schools who are potentially looking to switch over to a new MIS when their existing contract expires. There are two demonstrations available on Tuesday, June 11th, and details how to sign up can be found at the following two links: 11:00 am demonstration 1:30 pm demonstration They will be carried out on the BigMarker platform and we recommend that to ensure there are no issues if you sign up that you run the system check page and check the network requirements prior to the date of the event. For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or email ict@norfolk.gov.uk 5. Cyber security and introduction to Cyber Choices session for UK Education Staff Next session is July 3rd 2024 This one hour webinar is designed and delivered by a former teacher to highlight basic cyber security advice that will help individuals improve their personal cyber security and by extension that of their school. The session will : Highlight current trends and provide actionable steps that attendees can take. Highlight nationally approved resources like those created for the education sector by the National Cyber Security Centre. Introduce the National Crime Agency's Cyber Choices Programme. Highlight free local and national Police resources that can support the school further in this area. This event is free and you can book your ticket via - https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ersou/1041685. In one session alone last year there were over 195 attendees! 6. Cyber Security Awareness Session for UK School Governors Next session is July 11th 2024 This two-hour webinar is designed to bring governors up to speed around threats facing individuals and schools as well as highlighting more strategic areas that school management / governors should be aware of. The session will : Highlight current trends against individuals and the education sector and provide actionable steps that attendees can take. Raise awareness of the school's duties around cyber security. Inform the attendees around the questions to ask to ensure schools are fulfilling their duties. Highlight free local and national Police resources that can support the school further in this area. The event is free and you can book your ticket via - https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ersou/1045976.

School ICT News Bulletin No. 323 - 23/05/2024

Published by ICT Solutions

eBulletin Items

Service Desk opening hours over the half-term period
ICT Equipment Purchasing Portal Available
Powering off core network equipment over the half-term period
Arbor MIS demonstrations for Norfolk primary schools
Cyber security and introduction to Cyber Choices session for UK Education Staff
Cyber Security Awareness Session for UK School Governors

1. Service Desk opening hours over the half-term period

To reflect the reduced demand on the Service Desk over the half-term holiday period, we will be changing the opening hours to reflect this.

Our opening hours will be as follows:

May 27^th – Closed

May 28^th – May 31^st - 08:30 to 16:00

Normal opening hours of 08:00 to 16:30 will resume on Monday, June 3^rd.

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

2. ICT Equipment Purchasing Portal Available

Are you aware that we have a purchasing portal available to request quotes and procure ICT equipment?

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 the portal has been created in collaboration with Getech.

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

3. 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 May 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 Rydal/Schools Broadband and turning off the power results in false alarms. This could potentially result in your school incurring a charge for an engineer visit.

If there is no alternative to powering off the communications cabinet and core equipment, because of planned work, for example, please advise us in advance.

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

4. Arbor MIS demonstrations for Norfolk primary schools

We would like to make Norfolk primary schools aware of two Arbor demonstrations available to schools who are potentially looking to switch over to a new MIS when their existing contract expires.

There are two demonstrations available on Tuesday, June 11th, and details how to sign up can be found at the following two links:

They will be carried out on the BigMarker platform and we recommend that to ensure there are no issues if you sign up that you run the system check page and check the network requirements prior to the date of the event.

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

5. Cyber security and introduction to Cyber Choices session for UK Education Staff

Next session is July 3rd 2024

This one hour webinar is designed and delivered by a former teacher to highlight basic cyber security advice that will help individuals improve their personal cyber security and by extension that of their school.

The session will :

Highlight current trends and provide actionable steps that attendees can take.
Highlight nationally approved resources like those created for the education sector by the National Cyber Security Centre.
Introduce the National Crime Agency's Cyber Choices Programme.
Highlight free local and national Police resources that can support the school further in this area.

This event is free and you can book your ticket via - https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ersou/1041685. In one session alone last year there were over 195 attendees!

6. Cyber Security Awareness Session for UK School Governors

Next session is July 11th 2024

This two-hour webinar is designed to bring governors up to speed around threats facing individuals and schools as well as highlighting more strategic areas that school management / governors should be aware of.