What's Happening in IT Services

Microsoft 365 replaces legacy information technology services with modern, cloud-based communication and collaboration services such as OneDrive, Teams, and SharePoint.  The University continues to review services to improve user experience, remain efficient and agile, and secure your data.   

The Web Storage (W: drive) service provides users with personal data storage via the W: Drive.  This storage space was designed and intended for users to develop and host a personal web site.  By default, all files stored on W drives are available publicly on the internet, unless permissions were altered by the W drive’s account owner.  The service is considered legacy and is no longer provisioned on new accounts.   

Our records indicate that you currently have data stored on your W: drive.   

What do you need to do? 

1. Review Your Data 

Please review the files stored on your W: Drive (instructions for connecting to your w: drive can be found here: Using your W Drive 

2. Complete the short Web Storage W:Drive Review  form before Friday January 31, 2025 to let IT Services know if you require this service and what actions may be required. 

As a follow-up to the wireless network update on November 1st , IT Services is continuing to work with engineers and technical support teams from Aruba Networks to address remaining issues with Wi-Fi.   

Since the last update, additional issues have been identified and resolved resulting in service improvements in some areas, however further adjustments are required to continue improvements across campus.   This is scheduled over the next several days.  IT Services will closely monitor the results and provide further updates to campus when available.    

If you continue to experience connection problems or limited network coverage and have not yet informed the IT Services Helpdesk, we want to hear from you.   Please contact the IT Services Helpdesk with your location information and details of your experience.

Network Updates
 

Phone Migration
The migration to MS Teams calling is now complete for all phones on campus. In total over 1000 phones were converted to the new technology. Feedback to date has been very positive and new features such as voice mail to email and the Teams mobile calling features have been very well received. There are lots of additional features available, you're encouraged to find out more on the ITS web site.

Wi-Fi Upgrade

The campus Wi-Fi network is being replaced with a new system. Almost 800 wireless access points are being changed to the latest Aruba Networks technology.  The new system will have more capacity and improved speed and will work with newer Wi-Fi technologies including Wi-Fi 6.  No configuration changes are required for most devices to use the new network, they will connect using your current settings as the upgrades progress.  

Network modernization

Modernization of the university's data network is underway and will continue into the future. Improvements include increasing redundancy, capacity, and availability of core network services such as firewalls, routers, and internet/research networks.   

Network Security  

New security enhancements for the fall include improved intrusion detection capabilities, increased network scanning for cyber threats and dividing the network into smaller sections to protect assets and reduce overall risks.

Your Devices
 

Windows 11 

In October 2025, Microsoft will end support for Windows 10, meaning it will no longer release new security patches or updates. To ensure secure and up-to-date systems, all institutionally owned Windows computers will need to be upgraded to Windows 11. Systems under the Computer Replacement Program incompatible with Windows 11 will be replaced. The program is underway and to date, 920 (80%) computers have been upgraded, with the remainder scheduled for completion by the end of October 2024.

Computer Replacement Program 2024

The Windows 11 upgrade has also impacted this year’s 2024 deployment plan. Some computers were unable to upgrade due to hardware limitations. As a result, 120 faculty and staff laptops, along with 70 lab computers, have been replaced. This included modernizing labs in Music and Modern Languages, the Nursing Simulation labs, and upgrading older computers in the Schwartz computer labs. Planning is already underway for the 2025 Computer Replacement.

Return of Assets

To ensure we are fully utilizing our computer inventory it's important that computers from former employees are returned to IT Services. This allows devices that are less than five years to be redistributed to incoming employees. IT Services also supports students through a computer loaner program via the Angus L. Macdonald Library. This program loans older, end of service life computers to students who do not have access to their own devices. Additionally, IT Services has provided older laptops to be sold to students through a partnership with the Students' Union. To continue supporting these initiatives, we request that any unused institutionally owned devices be returned to IT Services.

Classroom Upgrades 

During the summer, the Audio-Visual team was busy upgrading outdated classroom technology. The primary goal was to remove some older VGA switching technology, which limits the quality of the displayed image. As a result, ten classrooms received upgraded switching including rooms in Schwartz, J. Bruce Brown, Annex, Camden, and Marguerite.

Endpoint Security

Protecting the university’s critical, sensitive data is the primary focus of the cyber security program.  Ongoing initiatives which support this goal include regularly and automatically changing passwords for administrative accounts on university-owned computers, updating to the latest supported operating systems, and regularly patching with critical security updates. Hard drives on these computers are also now being encrypted to safeguard data in the event of loss or theft.

Applications Update
 

Moodle/ILP Sync

Ellucian Intelligent Learning Platform (ILP), a new and improved sync technology between Banner and Moodle, has been rolled out.  ILP enables the exchange of data between the systems virtually instantaneously providing a better experience for users and has resulted in a reduction in the number of tickets related to the sync at startup by improving the speed of course adds and drops in Moodle.

Banner server and applications upgrades, security improvements

The university’s academic and student information system, Banner, is undergoing several major upgrades to keep up with new features and functionality and to ensure long-term supportability and security.   Recent improvements have allowed Banner Admin Pages users to use their WebFX credentials and existing MFA methods to securely authenticate. 

IT Services wants you to have some fun while learning about cybersecurity.  We’re holding campus-wide raffles to both enhance your cybersecurity awareness and give you a chance to win great prizes!  Participants will have the chance to win weekly gift cards from Sobeys, Superstore, The Curious Cat, Tall and Small, and the Farmer's Market, along with two grand prizes of HEADPHONES and AIRFRYER! These contests are open to students and staff who complete short cybersecurity courses in Terranova.

The theme of this year’s cyber security awareness month is Generation Cyber Safe: Because online security knows no age. Each week, IT Services will be launching a new course in Terranova on the following schedule:
 
Week 1: Phishing: helping all generations avoid floundering
Week 2: Passwords: keep your passwords from being 'fail'words
Week 3: Updating for security: updating is important, like, should we still say demure?
Week 4: Protecting Information: safe sharing is not a bad gig

Any Team or Group that has been inactive for 365 days will be marked for expiration. Owners will be notified by email and will have 30 days to renew the Team or Group.

MS Teams and Group Data Retention Info