Technology Updates: Google Domain, Email Security, Laptop Power Settings & Reimaging

Posted on by
ACPS Logo

Welcome to Quarter 2! We hope you have had a productive beginning of the school year. The Department of Technology has some updates for you:

Google Domain Updates

Chrome extensions and Google add-ons are powerful tools that unlock the functionality of G Suite applications. To help ensure safe behaviors online, the Department of Technology has vetted a list of extensions for students that support a wide range of learning needs. Based on the administrative setting in the ACPS Google Domain, teachers will have access to the entire list of Chrome extensions and should use their best judgement when adding extensions to Google Chrome. Google add-ons within Google Docs are accessible in the Google Marketplace. We have several Google add-ons available in the ACPS Vetted Tech Resources library. If you need a Google add-on vetted, please be sure to submit that request using our ACPS Technology Resource Vetting Tool.

Keeping Your Email Safe

The Department of Technology takes email security very seriously. In an effort to keep you and your personal information safe, we would like to share best practices.

Phishing is a fraudulent practice of sending emails pretending to be from reputable companies in order to get individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.

Spoofing is another way to fraudulently get access to your information. That is when an unknown person sends an email pretending to be someone you know.

To avoid falling for these fraudulent acts, be sure to watch for the [EXTERNAL] label, present in the subject line of any email that comes to your inbox from outside our ACPS network. Remember, when in doubt, delete the email!

If you are unsure if an email is legitimate or have questions, please forward the questionable email to spam@k12albemarle.org.

Locking Your Laptop & Power Settings

The Department of Technology will be changing the power settings on ACPS-issued laptops. The new ACPS Power Profile will be:

  • While using battery: Screen will turn off with 30 minutes of inactivity. The computer will go to sleep with 60 minutes of inactivity.
  • While plugged into power: Screen will turn off with 60 minutes of inactivity. The computer will go to sleep with 120 minutes of inactivity.

Users also have the ability to personalize the power settings on their assigned laptop by following these directions.

Quick tip: Best practice is to lock your laptop when leaving it open. The quick keystroke to do this is the Windows key and the letter L.

Reimaging Computers

Last spring, the Department of Technology announced an updated computer image for this school year. Currently, about 50% of our employees have had their laptop reimaged. We applaud those who have had it done!

Because it is vital for the security of the laptops, as well as our ACPS network, we need everyone to have their ACPS-assigned laptop reimaged. We appreciate your support of our efforts to ensure each person’s laptop is safe and up to date with virus protection measures.

We encourage you to schedule an appointment with your assigned TSS so that your computer can be reimaged in a timely manner. Thank you for your support!