Renewal of Microsoft agreement for schools

Issue: Volume 100, Number 14

Posted: 1 November 2021
Reference #: 1HAQt7

Schools can continue empowering ākonga in Aotearoa New Zealand to achieve more, as Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga renews its Microsoft agreement for another three years, with an additional focus on boosting cybersecurity.

child learning at computer

The agreement identifies the issues that matter most to schools and teachers and provide the tools they need to deliver the best educational outcomes.

State and state-integrated schools and kura will continue to have access to Microsoft 365 A3 licences, including Windows 10 & 11 OS, Microsoft Office 365, M365 Apps, Enterprise Mobility and Security, and Minecraft Education Edition. The new agreement also includes M365 A5 licences and Defender for Endpoint for school-owned devices, and limited access to Microsoft Windows Server software. 

The agreement with Microsoft takes effect from 1 January 2022 and runs until 31 December 2024. However, the Defender for Endpoint security features will be available to eligible schools from today. More details can be found on the Ministry’s website(external link) andthe Microsoft website(external link).

M365 A5 Licences offer everything in A3, plus more intensive security management and advanced compliance, with additional analytics tools (through Power BI). A5 makes security a priority with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (for staff only), a cloud-based solution that helps protect school identities from multiple types of advanced targeted cyberattacks.  

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a product feature of A5 and provides an enterprise endpoint security platform designed to help school networks prevent, detect, investigate, and respond to advanced threats. Schools using A3 licences will have an option to apply for Ministry-funded Microsoft Defender for Endpoint upgrades for school-owned devices. 

Both security products better align to the Ministry’s proposed security strategy for creating safe learning environments. Microsoft is also working with the Ministry to provide free security training and certifications to its technology partners, to help schools roll out enhanced cybersecurity faster. 

Lydia Kronawetter, Education Industry Executive at Microsoft New Zealand, says they have worked together with the Ministry to identify the issues that matter most to schools and teachers and provide the tools they need to deliver the best educational outcomes. 

“With today’s online and blended learning models, security is a top priority. It’s vital to ensure not only that digital education is useful and engaging, but that schools’ data is protected and teaching continues to happen in a safe and secure environment,” she says.   

Microsoft Teams, OneNote, Forms and more will allow teachers to build a collaborative, hybrid classroom that empowers learners to work together, access resources and for teachers to quickly assess their learning and provide individualised feedback. 

The additional licences for A5 and Defender for Endpoint enable schools to further protect their students, teachers, devices and data. Schools will be empowered to provide secure access, defend their digital landscape, safeguard sensitive student data, and respond to and manage risk.   

Teaching Scenario  Microsoft Product  Core Suite 
Hybrid learning Microsoft Teams for cloud storage, real time chat, video conferencing  M365 A3/A5 
Student device for online/offline learning Windows 10  Windows 10 Student Licensing 
Device management  Microsoft Endpoint Manager (Intune) to manage Windows 10, MacOS, iPadOS, Android devices from the cloud  Enterprise Mobility and Security Suite A3 
STEM teaching and skills Minecraft: Education Edition  M365 A3/A5 
Livestream large school-wide events, internally or with the community  Microsoft Teams Live Events  M365 A3/A5 
VoIP Telephony services for landline and mobile calling  Microsoft Teams for Voice  M365 A5 
Data analytics and visualisation  Microsoft PowerBI  M365 A5 
Student running records  Teams Reading Progress  M365 A3/A5 
Accessibility features for diverse learners  Immersive Reader  Microsoft Edge 

Schools can contact Datacom at nzschools@datacom.co.nz to get more information and assistance to access Microsoft software.  

Online update sessions

School IT administrators and leaders can attend a joint Ministry/Microsoft/Google online update session to learn more about the benefits and the details of the two new agreements, with an opportunity to ask questions and find out what support is provided.  

A registration form is available online(external link). 

Online session dates and times are:  

Thurs, 28/10/21, 11am-12pm. 

Weds, 3/11/21, 3.30pm-4.30pm.   

Futher resources

Learn more(external link) about Microsoft’s tools for teaching and learning. 

Learn more(external link) about Microsoft’s zero trust approach to privacy and security for schools. 

Access PLD(external link) courses ranging from STEM to accessibility from Microsoft. 

BY Education Gazette editors
Education Gazette | Tukutuku Kōrero, reporter@edgazette.govt.nz

Posted: 2:17 pm, 1 November 2021

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