Category: RM

Mar 25 2020

SSL Connect Update

We reported yesterday that some of our customers have been experiencing difficulties when using SSL Connect Remote Working (VPN). The network is under an immense amount of strain at the moment due to the large volumes of people working from home. In order to ensure this remains as accessible as possible to all, please follow the guidance below:

–          Only log into SSL Connect when needing to access school-hosted resources (e.g. SIMs servers) and log off immediately after using them.  Accessing cloud-based resources (e.g. Microsoft Office 365 and Google G-suite won’t need a VPN connection)

–          Ensure that you proactively log out of SSL Connect when you do not need remote access to ensure that your session terminates immediately without leaving it to time-out

–          If your school is likely to have more than 10 concurrent users at any one time, please let us know via the Service Desk, so that we can do all we can to ensure the correct resources are allocated to you

Mar 24 2020

SSL Connect – Service Issue

Customers using SSL Connect may face a “session could not be established” error page. This is due to unprecedented demand causing connection issues for some customers. RM are actively working on this to get the matter resolved as quickly as possible.

Aug 29 2019

HfL Firewall Maintenance

RM are planning to perform important maintenance to the HfL firewall on 30th August 2019 between 4.00 AM and 7.00 AM UK time. We are not anticipating any service interruptions during this change but should you experience any issues, please contact the Service Desk.

Jenny Collins – Service Desk Manager

Feb 20 2019

Google issue from 29th January

Following on from the Google search issues that occurred last month, RM have provided HfL with a report on this incident.

Report Summary 

On 29th January 2019, users reported issues accessing Google search results when using SSL proxies (wf3.thegrid.org.uk etc.). While trying to access search results, users were not receiving the desired webpage, instead they were getting a filtered message.

When dealing with a non-Herts eSafety query, the RM Service Desk added a new deny rule into the RM Global List (RM Pornography) within RM SafetyNet. This resulted in denying all the Google URL’s containing the rule. The change was applied to the live environment after being tested. Whilst the initial rule was overly broad, it was implemented quickly with a safety first approach as the video on YouTube was of a highly offensive nature. Following analysis and fault detection, this entry was updated to a more surgical approach, allowing for normal google search access to resume.

Follow-On Actions: The RM Management Team will discuss and finalise further safety measures that needs to be taken when staff amend the RM Global Lists. RM Management will also review the current testing scenarios and propose amendments if required.  Additional training will also be delivered to the RM Service Desk and they will be reminded of the importance when amending rules on the RM Global Lists.  HfL have requested RM keep us updated on developments.

Dec 12 2018

New NAT IP address range

Collectively we have exhausted the subnet  that RM have previously set aside for NATs: 185.192.228.0/22.  RM have now provided us with this additional range: 62.171.224.0/22.

Please note that these IPs will only be used by RM when creating firewall rules on behalf of HICS schools – and not for their ‘core customers’. Further information can be found here: https://hfl-broadband.co.uk/ip-addresses/public-facing-ip-addresses/

Thanks for your ongoing support and if I do not post again before Christmas, I hope you all have nice break.

Regards,

The HICS Team

 

Jun 29 2018

HICS Case Study

Herts for Learning has put together the following case study to illustrate the impact of the implementation of the new HICS service, in delivering both a tailored service and savings to schools:

HICS case study