As part of an ongoing effort to enhance the security of the University’s computing environment, information services will enable two new email security features. The new features, “safe links” and “safe attachments,” will help reduce the spread of malware due to malicious links or infected attachments which are often associated with email phishing attempts. These features will be enabled on October 16. Once enabled, when a user clicks a link or opens an attachment in an email, it will be carefully inspected and access allowed only after it is deemed safe. Any link or attachment that is identified as malicious will be blocked and the user will see a pop-up warning message. If you have any questions or concerns about the new features, please contact the help desk (help@up.edu or x7000).
Information Services
Coming Sept. 14: New Office365 Sign On and Self-Service Password Reset
As part of an ongoing effort to simplify the password reset process and provide a more seamless login experience for webmail and Office365 web apps, information services will release a new Self-Service password reset tool and update the sign on process for Office365. These changes are scheduled for 7 a.m. on Thursday September 14. Once the changes are applied, users will be prompted to verify alternate contact methods needed for self-service password reset. Learn more about what to expect here. If you have any questions please contact the help desk at x7000 or help@up.edu.
September Cybersecurity Focus: Defending against Ransomware and Identity Theft
Do you know how to lock down your account to prevent hackers from accessing your information? What is ransomware and how can you avoid it? What happens if you become a victim of identity theft? These are some of the important questions and topics addressed in this month’s cybersecurity blog. Learn more about how to stay secure online here courtesy of the information services office.
Technology Services Update: It’s Been A Busy Summer
As the University starts a new academic year, information services is proud to provide an update regarding technology services on campus, according to Curt Pederson, chief information officer. Information services staff have continually worked to modernize technology infrastructure and application layers to support growing campus needs. With expanded networks, a new website, innovative technology in the classroom, On The Bluff Studios, Banner upgrades, and Office 365 cloud services, faculty and staff can get a sense of what IS staff have been doing. For details of all the updates, go to this link.
The goal of information services is to make everyone’s working life easier in the classroom, in the office, and on the move. They are grateful to have the support they need from campus to maintain existing services and improve upon those already put in place.
For more information contact information services at x7000 or help@up.edu.
Grand Opening of New Maker Space, Shiley Summer Project Showcase: Sept. 8
All faculty and staff are invited to celebrate Shiley School of Engineering student and faculty accomplishments on Friday, September 8, at 3 p.m., in Shiley Hall. Engineering dean Sharon Jones and the Shiley School of Engineering community will join generous supporters and industry partners to celebrate the creative projects of our students, faculty, and campus community with the dedication of the Maker Space in Shiley Hall room 110, followed by a poster showcase from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on the third floor.
Attendees can tour the new Maker Space—this “Pilot Space” allows students from across the University to work on projects outside of the classroom, furthering their innovation mindset. The Shiley Summer Project Showcase will proudly feature student and faculty projects presented through posters and one-on-one sessions at individual tables. Engineering students have been hard at work this summer solving real-world projects in areas like solar thermal energy production, natural gas compressors, and eco-roofs.
Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Kim Spir at x7314 or spir@up.edu. We look forward to seeing you!
Network Security Upgrade – Monday, Aug. 21
As part of Information Services ongoing efforts to improve the University’s network security posture, we will be deploying a new service to dynamically block outbound connections to Internet resources known to host malware, phishing sites, and botnets. If you are attempting to access a website and receive a “website blocked” message, the website is being blocked in an attempt to keep the community safe. If you believe the website you are trying to reach is being incorrectly labeled as a threat, please contact the Help Desk at help@up.edu or x7000 , and be sure to include all information found at this link.
Please refer to the UP knowledge base for more information.
Temporary Change for In-Person Technical Support Appointments
As information services personnel work to complete summer efforts to prepare classroom and computer labs for the fall semester, campus technology users are asked for their patience in scheduling in-person technical support appointments. Beginning Monday, August 7, all are asked to contact the help desk for phone and remote workstation assistance at x7000. Technicians will resume a full schedule by Monday, August 28. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
New Anti-Virus Software: SCEP
Over the next several weeks, information services will be transitioning university-owned computers from Symantec Endpoint Protection to Microsoft’s System Center Endpoint Protection (SCEP) for virus prevention and detection.
UP’s license for Symantec will end in late July 2017, so every university-owned computer will need to be upgraded to SCEP. Not upgrading the anti-virus software will potentially expose computers and university data to unnecessary and preventable threats.
Information Services will be updating most university-owned systems automatically. For more information about this transition and recommendations for updating personal computers currently using Symantec from UP’s software download center, please see this Knowledge Base article.
If you have questions or need more information, please contact the help desk at x7000 or help@up.edu.
Banner Drive Moving on May 30
Information services is moving the Banner (W:) drive on the morning of Tuesday, May 30. The new location is: \\shared\Banner . Once the files are moved to the new location, you will need to log off your computer and back on if you are on Windows, or you will need to re-map to the new location if you are on a Mac. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact the Technology Help Desk at x700 or help@up.edu.
Web Team Nominated for Innovation Award for New UP Website
The interdepartmental Web Team has been nominated for the “Best Innovation” award by Hannon Hill. The University of Portland’d website was nominated against those from Washoe County Nevada and Sarah Lawrence College. The winner will be announced at the annual Cascade Server Conference in Atlanta later this fall.
The new UP website was launched last summer with a brand new look and content management system (CMS). The new CMS, Cascade Server, was installed last spring and has replaced Sherpa for all content management on UP’s main website, up.edu.
The University’s interdepartmental web team includes Lisel Stancil (web and enterprise services), Amy Shelly (marketing), Ryan Benedetti (web and enterprise services), Jacob Caniparoli (web and enterprise services), John Carleton (web and enterprise services), Adam Murakami (web and enterprise services), Anna Lageson-Kerns (marketing), and Roya Ghorbani-Elizeh (marketing).
For more information, contact Amy Shelly, marketing, at shelly@up.edu or x8232 or Lisel Stancil, web and enterprise services, at stancil@up.edu or x7481.