School ICT News Bulletin No. 326 - 07/10/2024 Published by ICT Solutions eBulletin Items October is Cyber Security Awareness Month Windows 10 support ends in October 2025 - Plan your upgrade to Windows 11 today! Bromcom MIS webinars for schools - October 14th and 15th Arbor MIS demonstrations for Norfolk Primary schools - October 17th Minimum iOS system requirements for Outlook for iOS MIS contracts - does yours expire in March 2025? 1. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month Cyber Security Awareness Month is an international initiative to raise awareness about digital security and remind us that there are simple ways to protect yourselves from online threats. Cyber security should be high on the agenda for any school with a reliance on IT and online systems. Falling victim to cyberattacks can result in disruption to teaching and learning, financial loss, data breaches and can affect staff wellbeing. This month we are focusing on ways to stay safe and secure; these are: Practical resources for schools Use of strong passwords Turning on multifactor authentication Recognise and report phishing Keep up to date with learning Reporting a school cyber incident Cyber security and cyber resilience both have an equal part to play in reducing the cyber risk to organisations: Cyber security focuses on preventing hackers penetrating your IT systems Cyber resilience is the ability of an organisation to protect itself from, detect, respond to and recover from a cyber attack Taking a methodical and proactive approach to cyber security and putting in place basic safeguards can greatly reduce the risk to your organisation. Free resources to help keep you safe National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – Cyber security in schools toolkits for Boards https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/board-toolkit Passwords Your laptops, computers, tablets and smartphones will contain a lot of your own education-critical data, the personal information of your students, and details of the online accounts that you access. It is essential that this data is available to you, but not available to unauthorised users. Passwords - when implemented correctly - are a free, easy and effective way to prevent unauthorised users accessing your devices. This link outlines 5 things to keep in mind when using passwords. https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/small-business-guide/using-passwords-protect-your-data Avoiding Phishing attacks Phishing is a type of cyber-attack designed to trick you into 'doing the wrong thing', such as disclosing sensitive information like your username and password or clicking on a link that may download malicious content to your computer. Email is currently the most common delivery method for phishing attacks. Phishing emails are becoming more and more sophisticated and often look genuine at first glance, but some can still be identified by poor spelling and grammar. https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/small-business-guide/avoiding-phishing-attacks Staff Training The NCSC has produced free cyber security training to raise awareness and help school staff manage some of the key cyber threats facing schools. https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/cyber-security-training-schools 2. Windows 10 support ends in October 2025 - Plan your upgrade to Windows 11 today! After October 14th, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for Windows 10. Without regular updates, your device will be more susceptible to malware, viruses, and other cyber threats. Staying on an unsupported OS (Operating System) may lead to compliance issues with industry standards and regulations. Some applications may also no longer work due to the increased security risk. Plan your upgrade to Windows 11 today! More details can be found at the following link - Windows 11 upgrade information 3. Bromcom MIS webinars for schools - October 14th and 15th Bromcom have made us aware that they are putting on some webinars (via Microsoft Teams) for schools who are thinking of potentially switching MIS. There are two sessions available – one for Primary schools and one for Secondary schools. Although they are aimed at SIMS schools, anyone is welcome to attend. More details can be found in the links below: Primary MIS (October 14^th at 09:30 – 11:00) Sign up here: https://bromcom.com/event/bromcom-open-morning-webinar-primary Secondary MIS (October 15^th at 09:30 – 11:00) Sign up here: https://bromcom.com/event/bromcom-open-morning-webinar-secondaries 4. Arbor MIS demonstrations for Norfolk Primary schools - October 17th 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 hour long demonstrations available on Thursday, October 17th, and details how to join, via Microsoft Teams, can be found at the following two links: 11:00 hours demonstration 14:00 hours demonstration If you are thinking of joining a session, we would greatly appreciate it if you advised us in advance. For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or email ict@norfolk.gov.uk 5. Minimum iOS system requirements for Outlook for iOS We have received the following update from Microsoft below, that will impact Apple devices: With iOS 18 currently in beta, Outlook for iOS is preparing to drop support for iOS 16. After iOS 18 is generally released, Outlook devices running iOS 16, or lower will no longer receive Office app updates. At that time, customers will be able to continue to use the older version of Outlook for iOS. Once they update their device to iOS 17 or above, they will receive the newest version of Outlook. Over time, Outlook for iOS on iOS 16 devices will eventually stop synchronizing email and calendar data, unless they have a supported version of iOS. This change does not affect anyone using Outlook for iOS apps on iOS 17 or above. For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk 6. MIS contracts - does yours expire in March 2025? Are you one of the many schools whose MIS (Management Information System) renewal is due in March 2025? Whilst it might seem quite a way off, once you factor in cease notification timescales required, it isn’t. If you are thinking of changing provider, you need to give yourself enough time to look at the market and see what’s available to meet your needs. As a reminder, we are accredited to support the following MIS platforms: Arbor * Bromcom ESS SIMS * We do also currently support Integris and Scholarpack, part of the same group as Arbor. Arbor is the MIS that will be promoted moving forward, as it has greater functionality than the other two. If you are interested in coming to us for your MIS support, we can liaise with the suppliers to put on webinars, as we have done previously. For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk

School ICT News Bulletin No. 326 - 07/10/2024

Published by ICT Solutions

eBulletin Items

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month
Windows 10 support ends in October 2025 - Plan your upgrade to Windows 11 today!
Bromcom MIS webinars for schools - October 14th and 15th
Arbor MIS demonstrations for Norfolk Primary schools - October 17th
Minimum iOS system requirements for Outlook for iOS
MIS contracts - does yours expire in March 2025?

1. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month

Cyber Security Awareness Month is an international initiative to raise awareness about digital security and remind us that there are simple ways to protect yourselves from online threats.

Cyber security should be high on the agenda for any school with a reliance on IT and online systems. Falling victim to cyberattacks can result in disruption to teaching and learning, financial loss, data breaches and can affect staff wellbeing.

This month we are focusing on ways to stay safe and secure; these are:

Practical resources for schools
Use of strong passwords
Turning on multifactor authentication
Recognise and report phishing
Keep up to date with learning
Reporting a school cyber incident

Cyber security and cyber resilience both have an equal part to play in reducing the cyber risk to organisations:

Cyber security focuses on preventing hackers penetrating your IT systems
Cyber resilience is the ability of an organisation to protect itself from, detect, respond to and recover from a cyber attack

Taking a methodical and proactive approach to cyber security and putting in place basic safeguards can greatly reduce the risk to your organisation.

Free resources to help keep you safe

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – Cyber security in schools toolkits for Boards

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/board-toolkit

Passwords

Your laptops, computers, tablets and smartphones will contain a lot of your own education-critical data, the personal information of your students, and details of the online accounts that you access. It is essential that this data is available to you, but not available to unauthorised users.

Passwords - when implemented correctly - are a free, easy and effective way to prevent unauthorised users accessing your devices. This link outlines 5 things to keep in mind when using passwords.

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/small-business-guide/using-passwords-protect-your-data

Avoiding Phishing attacks

Phishing is a type of cyber-attack designed to trick you into 'doing the wrong thing', such as disclosing sensitive information like your username and password or clicking on a link that may download malicious content to your computer.

Email is currently the most common delivery method for phishing attacks. Phishing emails are becoming more and more sophisticated and often look genuine at first glance, but some can still be identified by poor spelling and grammar.

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/small-business-guide/avoiding-phishing-attacks

Staff Training

The NCSC has produced free cyber security training to raise awareness and help school staff manage some of the key cyber threats facing schools.

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/cyber-security-training-schools

2. Windows 10 support ends in October 2025 - Plan your upgrade to Windows 11 today!

After October 14th, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for Windows 10. Without regular updates, your device will be more susceptible to malware, viruses, and other cyber threats.

Staying on an unsupported OS (Operating System) may lead to compliance issues with industry standards and regulations. Some applications may also no longer work due to the increased security risk.

Plan your upgrade to Windows 11 today! More details can be found at the following link - Windows 11 upgrade information

3. Bromcom MIS webinars for schools - October 14th and 15th

Bromcom have made us aware that they are putting on some webinars (via Microsoft Teams) for schools who are thinking of potentially switching MIS.

There are two sessions available – one for Primary schools and one for Secondary schools. Although they are aimed at SIMS schools, anyone is welcome to attend.

More details can be found in the links below:

Primary MIS (October 14^th at 09:30 – 11:00)

Secondary MIS (October 15^th at 09:30 – 11:00)

4. Arbor MIS demonstrations for Norfolk Primary schools - October 17th

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 hour long demonstrations available on Thursday, October 17th, and details how to join, via Microsoft Teams, can be found at the following two links:

If you are thinking of joining a session, we would greatly appreciate it if you advised us in advance.

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

5. Minimum iOS system requirements for Outlook for iOS

We have received the following update from Microsoft below, that will impact Apple devices:

With iOS 18 currently in beta, Outlook for iOS is preparing to drop support for iOS 16. After iOS 18 is generally released, Outlook devices running iOS 16, or lower will no longer receive Office app updates.

At that time, customers will be able to continue to use the older version of Outlook for iOS. Once they update their device to iOS 17 or above, they will receive the newest version of Outlook.

Over time, Outlook for iOS on iOS 16 devices will eventually stop synchronizing email and calendar data, unless they have a supported version of iOS.

This change does not affect anyone using Outlook for iOS apps on iOS 17 or above.

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

6. MIS contracts - does yours expire in March 2025?

Are you one of the many schools whose MIS (Management Information System) renewal is due in March 2025? Whilst it might seem quite a way off, once you factor in cease notification timescales required, it isn’t. If you are thinking of changing provider, you need to give yourself enough time to look at the market and see what’s available to meet your needs.

As a reminder, we are accredited to support the following MIS platforms:

Arbor *
Bromcom
ESS SIMS

* We do also currently support Integris and Scholarpack, part of the same group as Arbor. Arbor is the MIS that will be promoted moving forward, as it has greater functionality than the other two.

If you are interested in coming to us for your MIS support, we can liaise with the suppliers to put on webinars, as we have done previously.