The Digital Download

Welcome to the Digital Download – your source of ICT-specific information from the Ministry of Education.

Switch on Safety filter

As the need for hybrid learning environments increase, more ākonga are learning from home. Remind your school community to stay safe online by using the free internet filtering service available. Switch on Safety internet filtering is supported by the Ministry of Education, Network for Learning and Netsafe.

Find out more about Switch on Safety

Safer Internet Day

This month we celebrate Safer Internet Day, a great opportunity to reflect on how we can support each other online under the theme of "Together for a better internet".
Our colleagues at Netsafe lead the New Zealand programme.

They have resources for parents and schools available in a range of languages including Te Reo Māori, Samoan, Tongan and Simplified Chinese, as well as new easy-read online safety guides for people with an intellectual disability.

Safer Internet Day resources - Netsafe

Antivirus software

Installing antivirus software and keeping it up-to-date is a great way to protect your devices against malware. The Ministry provides antivirus licences at no cost. If you haven’t yet requested your Microsoft Defender for Endpoint licences you can do so on the form below. Please note, if you have a Symantec licence from the Ministry, they are no longer supported and you should request Defender for Endpoint licences instead.

Schools that previously used Symantec for Endpoint on their servers are also eligible for Microsoft Defender for Server licensing through to 31 December 2022. If this applies to your school and you want to know more, please email nzschools@datacom.co.nz

Request Defender for Endpoint licences

Cyber Security in Schools

The Cyber Security in Schools programme is designed to help schools take simple steps to improve their cyber security with the support of the Ministry of Education. We’re keen to meet with individual schools to understand your cyber security concerns and how you stay up-to-date.

If you’re interested in finding out more, or would like us to come and talk to your school, principals group or Kahui Āko, email us

Spread the news

If you know someone else who would be interested in this newsletter, feel free to forward it to them and they can sign up using the link below.

View this email in your browser