What you need to know…
Complete the mandatory cyber security training to protect you, your team, and the ECC systems and data we use
If you haven’t already, please complete the Introduction to Security Awareness Training as soon as possible. It is an absolute must for those of us who use Essex County Council (ECC) systems and devices, connect to our network or access digital tools as part of our work.
The short online training is designed to help protect both your daily work and ECC’s wider digital infrastructure from potential breaches and increased risk of cyber threats especially from hackers targeting public sector systems. It also includes really helpful information you might not know that could protect you in your life outside of ECC. Access the short online course on My Learning.
Earlier this month, our Security Operations Centre (SOC) responded over a weekend to a significant cyber security risk that could have been avoided if the mandatory Cyber Security Awareness module had been completed and its guidance on recognising and avoiding threats had been understood when using ECC systems.
Cyber Security is relevant to all of us as ECC employees and anything we can do to help protect the systems and data we have access to, the better. Access ECC’s mandatory cyber security training: Introduction to Security Awareness for all ECC Employees. The online learning takes about 20/30 minutes.
Upcoming Change: Moving to Microsoft Cloud Updates
As part of our ongoing commitment to modernising our IT systems and improving efficiency, over the next few weeks we will begin our migration to Microsoft Cloud Updates.
This change is an important step forward in how we keep our devices secure and up to date. Cloud updates allow Microsoft to deliver updates directly from the cloud, helping us stay compliant and introducing new features with minimal disruption.
What are the benefits?
- Better security: Critical security updates are applied quickly, reducing risks
- Less manual work: Updates happen automatically, reducing the need for IT intervention
- Smoother experience: New features and improvements are introduced regularly with minimal interruption
- Future-ready: Keeps our systems aligned with Microsoft’s latest technology roadmap.
We will share more details in future communications.
Super User Community - we need you...
This is a reminder that the Super User Community is always open to welcoming new colleagues from across ECC.
The community serves as a dedicated space for digital upskilling and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing. It offers colleagues the opportunity to engage with one another, exchange best practices, and strengthen their understanding of the technology and applications used in our daily work.
Members benefit from early access to technology pilot and testing opportunities, exclusive Super User events, and virtual talk sessions designed to support continuous learning and innovation.
If you have not yet joined and would like to participate, please complete the form below to register your interest: Become a Super User today!
AI Talks: Explore the Power of AI in Public Services
The Essex Centre for Data Analytics (ECDA) is hosting AI Talks, a full day of virtual events taking place on Tuesday 30 September 2025, designed to explore the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in public services.
Whether you're a senior decision-maker shaping policy, a data and digital leader that's ready to supercharge your AI strategy, or you're looking for practical tools to help you harness the power of artificial intelligence to deliver frontline services, the AI Talks programme will deliver bold ideas, real-world insights, and game-changing inspiration.
Explore how AI is being used across public sector organisations by registering for these sessions:
- 11:30am to 12:30pm | Where Can AI Add Value?
Case studies on AI-driven service transformation. - 3:30pm to 4pm | AI Agents in action: Live demo of three solutions that work
Live use cases in customer service, housing support, and HR operations.
Want to increase your technical understanding of how AI is built? You may be interested in these sessions:
- 11:30 to 1pm | 60 Minute Challenge: AI From Concept to Model
Build a bespoke AI tool. - 1pm to 1:45pm | The AI Arc: History, Hype, and Horizons
Evolution of AI and future possibilities.
Discover how AI can help you to boost productivity and innovation in this session:
- 2pm to 3pm | Microsoft Copilot Chat AI Tools: Product Insights & Possibilities
Exploring how Copilot Chat is enhancing productivity and shaping AI adoption across Essex County Council.
Open to all and free to attend, the AI Talks schedule has something to suit everyone, whether you're new to AI or have technical know-how. Register with your work email address to secure your place at our sessions.
From Assyst to Alemba: A smarter way forward
Alemba will launch as our new ECC service management product by June 2026, replacing Assyst. This system will support many business-critical services that will allow us to work more efficiently and effectively – including logging IT helpdesk requests, HR queries, business support services i.e. meeting and event support, information governance and much more. Everything you need to know about the change.
Get more out of Teams with our top tips...
Learn how to add a Loop workspace tab to a Teams channel
Did you know you can now add a Loop workspace as a tab in a Teams channel? Adding a Loop to a Teams site channel is like giving your team a digital whiteboard that never runs out of space! With just a few clicks, you can drop in a Loop component such as a checklist, table, or paragraph to aid seamless collaboration. Here's how you can add it to your channel:
- Click the + icon in the Channel you wish to add a Loop to
- Click Loop (may be under See all)
- Click Save
- Type a Loop name
- Click Create and it's in
Discover more Loop guidance in My 365 > ‘Working Smarter’ pathway > ‘Achieve More With Less Effort’.
Access Chats while sharing your screen in a Teams meeting
Sharing your screen but need to easily access the meeting Chat in a Teams meeting? Here’s a quick tip on how you can do just that, using the new Chat pop-out feature:
When presenting your screen in a Teams meeting, hover your cursor near the top of the screen to show the Teams meeting toolbar
- Click the Chat icon (speech bubble), this opens the Chat panel on the right side of the meeting window
- Click the pop-out icon to open the Chat in a smaller separate window.
New Filters in MS Teams meeting
Microsoft Teams has had an update and there are now Discover, Mentions, and Tag Mentions tabs at the top left of the screen you can use as filters.
Discover: A personalised feed showing relevant posts from the Teams Channels you might not visit often. This option can highlight important updates you may have missed.
Mentions: Shows messages where you were directly @mentioned. Helps you quickly catch up on personal notifications.
Tag Mentions: Shows messages where a group tag you belong to was mentioned (for example @Managers, @ProjectTeam). Useful for team-wide alerts or role-based updates.
Adjusting the settings
You can enable and disable various mentions using the following steps…
- Click the '…' button at the top right of the Microsoft Teams window
- Click Settings
- In the Settings menu click General
- Click Chats and Channels
- Enable or Disable mentions using the Chats and Channels list section.
For more helpful information and tips just like these, visit My365