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News regarding ICT4C/YHGfL?

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enbiggen

enbiggen

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Our post hasn't arrived yet today, so the the email looks to have arrived before the official communications from the company.

 

We host our own Smoothwall box, so we wouldn't need additional hardware from the council, but we're concerned about (for example) the Sophos licence, which comes via them, and has been paid for in advance. (We get the updates from one of their servers.) I've noticed that their support portal appears to be down, and the YHGfL site seems to be down for us too...

 

(Obviously the broardband service is important too, but it looks like they're going to offer to take that on at the same price.)

Edited by enbiggen
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enbiggen

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Confirmed: It definitely isn't a scam.

 

Addition: Just thought I'd post saying that everyone we dealt with at ICT4C when we had issues were always helpful, and I wish them well.

Edited by enbiggen
Archipelego1

Archipelego1

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Yep, we have our letter too. Spoken to Kirklees who have provided a bit more information. My advice would be contact the relevant person on the back of the letter, who can provide you with more information and options.
enbiggen

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What happened to them?

 

They've got into administration - the original email from our council suggested that we might lose broadband connection in the next few days, although they've since clarified that it won't be that immediate. From the website, it appears that my council will also endeavour to try and keep Sophos and VPN going too. (We purchased Sophos through ICT4C/YHGfL, and keep it up-to-date from their servers, similarly we use their VPN solution - and had hoped to extend it for use by more staff.)

 

I'm not 100% sure if YHGfL is a slightly different entity (given that ICT4C was set up from it) but I suspect that's gone with it too.

chrisakak9

chrisakak9

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just received our letter luckily I only have sophos from them but would be great to know where we stand interms of this and future licencing.

Just moved everyting to sophos cloud so at least im also not relying on their upstream server for updates too.

every council barring Leeds has given a new phone number to ring so im now waiting on emails.

Edited by chrisakak9
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IrritableTech

IrritableTech

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We purchased our current sophos licence through ICT4C so I hope one way or another we'll be able to see out our subscription. I believe YHGfL is owned by the local authorities and ICT4C was a commercial entity built on the side of YHGfL. I suspect YHGfL are ok but they have chosen to close ICT4C.

 

I hope things can be resolved quickly for all involved.

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hallb15

hallb15

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I'm also waiting for an email reply as we purchased our Sophos licence through ICT4C. They were always very helpful when I contacted them. I hope the staff are looked after.

The update URL is still live, http://sophos.yhgfl.net/libraryv5 but I note this is a yhgfl address not ICT4C so I'm hopeful it will continue...

hallb15

hallb15

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Just received an email from Leeds City Council:

 

Apologies of you have received this email more than once, I wanted to ensure I didn’t miss anyone out. If you are not the best person in your school to receive this email can you please pass it on as a matter of urgency to the person who is.

 

I’m writing to you with an update as I believe you may be affected by the news that ICT4Collaboration has gone into administration. At this moment there are some questions which we are still trying to get answers to, and will update you as soon as we know. Hopefully this will be within the next few days. In Leeds this is only a small number of schools.

 

In the meantime, we have been told that broadband connectivity will continue for the foreseeable future as an interim package is being put in place. Enquiries are being made in terms of the situation with Sophos antivirus and filtering. All other services such as training, on/off site support will most likely cease by the end of the week.

 

I should also add that ICT4Collaboration has NO connection to ICT4Leeds – they are two separate providers not connected to each other in any way. If you purchase services from ICT4Leeds these will continue uninterrupted.

 

We would encourage you to check exactly which services in your school are provided by ICT4C and we will endeavour to advise you where we can of any issues you may need to consider, and update you where relevant. I’m aware that next week is half-term holidays but please feel free to contact me if you feel you need an answer to anything and I’ll try my best to do so.

 

You may also be contacted by other service providers in the meantime. We have no connection to these communications, although I have spoken to some service providers who have stated their intention to contact the schools they support to offer either advice or products.

 

 

Regards

Andrew Callaghan

Lead Applications Officer (Children and Families)

Digital and Information Service

Leeds City Council

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philm13

philm13

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A helpful post from hallb15. All other schools taking services from ICT4C should follow the advice from Leeds - but contact the appropriate person/helpdesk identified in the letter you received. Despite any other notices you get from other suppliers, you will not be cut off and, if you want uninterrupted service (which a new provider could not offer), wait until your LA has put together the continuity offer which will run until 31/3/18.

 

If you are taking other services from ICT4C such as reverse proxy, vpn etc, there should be advice/guidance available when you get back from half-term.

Wave9_Lee

Wave9_Lee

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Appreciate this is early days but with ref to any offer to continue to supply the current service, it's likely to include a commitment for the school to sign up for future years. This is fair enough because it will no doubt cost the 'interim' provider to run the service to March, even though no monies may be received for that period. There should be some caution exercised that the school isn't caught in a long-term contract that is poor value.
chrisakak9

chrisakak9

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hi guys I had a call directly from sophos this afternoon, I expect they are making the rounds and will be in contact.

the basics from what was discussed, at present the licences are still valid but as they still technically belong to ICT4C and could in theory be sold off to a third-party. They are not sure at the moment of what happens in terms of renewal.

As for updating ect I cant help with that as I migrated my setup to sophos cloud so I don't go via ICT4C/YHGFL again i guess they will either give you new update servers or get you to migrate.

Edited by chrisakak9
Nemsys

Nemsys

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Posted
ICT4C ceased trading on Wednesday 18th. The broadband vultures are gathering and there are rumours that schools have around one week to get alternative connectivity and filtering solutions in place if you take a managed service. Exa Networks have made an offer to all schools of free broadband until the end of March 2018. https://blog.exa.net.uk/post/ict4c-shutdown/
chrisakak9

chrisakak9

Posted
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ICT4C ceased trading on Wednesday 18th. The broadband vultures are gathering and there are rumours that schools have around one week to get alternative connectivity and filtering solutions in place if you take a managed service. Exa Networks have made an offer to all schools of free broadband until the end of March 2018. https://blog.exa.net.uk/post/ict4c-shutdown/

Exa is alright, i left them about a year ago and went to schools broadband after i had some issues with filtering and speed though (im still in an adsl only area so im limited for speed) if you have your own filtering away from them it shouldn't be an issue. I do know that they were developing a better onsite firewall so things may have improved. (FYI schools broadand hasn't exactly been plain sailing either)

SchoolsBroadband

SchoolsBroadband

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Hi everyone,

 

I've done a lot of chatting to people on this including the administrators, Vapour Media (wholesale connectivity provider outside of Kirklees for ICT4C), a number of other IT companies and schools.

 

 

It would appear that Kirklees are going to leave the lights on for schools for a reasonable amount of time so schools can decide what they want to do (move to another provider or contract direct with Kirklees / YHGF).

 

Vapour are wanting all schools to re-sign as quickly as they can as they've essentially been left with a bill to continue to leave the lights on as they were not paid upfront a year in advance for services as ICT4C were from each school. So they're wanting all schools to re-sign with them for 3 years to allow them to continue service until the end of March.

 

I have another call with the administrators on Monday booked in so can update people as of then further.

 

We have also offered FOC Internet and filtering service for schools until the end of March so they don't have to pay for their Internet connectivity twice. This is available direct or via our IT support partners who we can put you in touch with if you wish to take a full IT support and broadband package.

 

We are also paying for expedite installs on ADSL, FTTC, EoFTTC and leased lines so we can get replacement services in quick. We've already some FTTC installs booked in for Tuesday this coming week so we can do a really quick turnaround where necessary.

 

Feel free to send me a PM if I can help at all.

 

Thanks

 

Dave

round2it

round2it

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+1 for exa I moved last year and the process was very easy.

 

Surf protect filtering is ok

 

Support is very good.

 

Best thing I have done since moving from ict4c

chrisakak9

chrisakak9

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+1 for exa I moved last year and the process was very easy.

 

Surf protect filtering is ok

 

Support is very good.

 

Best thing I have done since moving from ict4c

are you using surfprotect fusion?

broadld

broadld

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I would be interested to see what happens in terms of the Sophos licensing. We bought this a while ago but it was meant to be a 5 year license. If they stop the update location a lot of people will not receive new virus signatures.

If anyone gets to find out any information on this can you please pass this on. If i find out anything i will post it on here!

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