Weekly Tech Update: Your what's what of IT news
Welcome to the twice-weekly newsletter dedicated to everything IT! News, fun, informational content—get your quick digest of tech content and then go about your day.
Check for updates here every Monday and Thursday.
MiamiOH.edu/ITHelp
December 20, Monday
Weekly Tech Update: Log4J Edition
IT Services, along with our campus technology partners, is still in the process of actively patching systems and software to combat the Log4J vulnerability (which the security community is calling Log4Shell).
Thank you for helping us keep Miami systems safe. Here are some tried-and-true information security tips that you can use to secure your own systems:
- Put two-factor authentication (TFA or 2FA) on everything. Online bank accounts, shopping sites, social media profiles. You name it. If it has TFA capabilities, you need to use them. If it doesn’t have TFA, you should seriously reconsider allowing it to know any of your personal information.
- Make sure you’re updating programs and devices. Software developers are working hard to release patches for the vulnerability, but that won’t do you any good if you need to manually update and haven’t done so already.
- Read this fun and accessible article about Log4Shell, which gives a non-technical audience an overview of the issues.
Reminder: Winter Break Updates List 2021-2022
This year, as always, IT Services will be performing several upgrades and conducting routine maintenance on various systems to ensure they are ready for the return of the students in January. Some of these updates are also necessitated by Log4Shell.
Check out all the updates coming your way.
Previous Updates: 2021
December 13
Announcement about the Log4J vulnerability
IT Services, along with our campus technology partners, is in the process of actively patching systems and software to combat the Log4J vulnerability.
Read the official announcement.
Winter Break Updates List 2021-2022
This year, as always, IT Services will be performing several upgrades and conducting routine maintenance on various systems to ensure they are ready for the return of the students in January.
Check out all the updates coming your way.
Reminder: Users/Units/Orgs sites
Miami is getting ready to turn off the Users/Units/Orgs servers. If you have a website on these servers, your site will no longer be reachable. This means that if you want to keep your content, you will need to move it before December 17, 2021. After this date, your site will no longer be public.
If this is the first time you’re reading about this, please reach out to MiamiOH.edu/ITChat or 513-529-7900. We have sent several reminders about this -- check your inbox!
December 6
Welcome to exam week! It’s been a busy semester, and we’ve got a lot to be thankful for as we move into exams and through the end of the semester.
News about Winter Break changes coming this week
At the end of this week, we will be publishing a news item about the changes IT Services will be doing during the winter break and winter term. It’s important to make sure you are aware of any work going on and plan accordingly -- or let us know if it's going to be an issue for you.
Important update: IAM progress
The IAM Program continues apace! Our partners at Moran Technology Consulting have been conducting the data-gathering workshops required for painting an accurate picture of the computing environment at Miami. When these workshops are done, they will be able to recommend an IAM solution that will help us visualize and manage the access and identity of everyone associated with Miami.
Reminder: Users/Units/Orgs sites
Miami is getting ready to turn off the Users/Units/Orgs servers. If you have a website on these servers, your site will no longer be reachable. This means that if you want to keep your content, you will need to move it before December 17, 2021. After this date, your site will no longer be public.
If this is the first time you’re reading about this, please reach out to MiamiOH.edu/ITChat or 513-529-7900. We have sent several reminders about this -- check your inbox!
Featured photo: Prodesse Award Winners
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November 29
Welcome back to campus from a hopefully relaxing holiday weekend! We are gearing up for the end of the semester and preparing to do some work over the long winter break. Good luck on your exams and end-of-semester shenanigans from your friends in IT!
Phishing notice: OneStop Email Scam Targets Miami Accounts
IT Services and the Information Security Office have received reports that a particularly nefarious new scam email has been making the rounds. This email looks like it’s coming from OneStop@MiamiOH.edu. The sender claims that the recipient’s bursar account has an outstanding balance.
This is a scammer trying to get people to click a link to an unknown site outside of the University. This is not from OneStop. Do not click the link, and do not respond to this message.
Please visit the IT News site for an example of what the text of this email looks like.
News spotlight: Miami Wi-Fi continues to evolve
The Wi-Fi at Miami has enjoyed many years of robust and broad service. In order to keep up with the rapid pace of technology, new Wi-Fi capabilities, and increased demand, we are expanding and enhancing our infrastructure. As we reported in late July, IT Services is in the midst of a significant, two-year upgrade to Miami’s entire Wi-Fi system. It is being done in phases, and when completed, it will provide a faster and more personalized experience for users.
As much of the work as possible was performed during the summer months to minimize disruption, but some work continues in the background and during off-hours this semester. There have been a few hiccups along the way, but overall the project continues to move forward.
Read more about the Wi-Fi work that will continue in the coming months!
Featured photo: Our table to yours
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November 22
Phishing notice: OneStop Email Scam Targets Miami Accounts
IT Services and the Information Security Office have received reports that a particularly nefarious new scam email has been making the rounds. This email looks like it’s coming from OneStop@MiamiOH.edu. The sender claims that the recipient’s bursar account has an outstanding balance.
This is a scammer trying to get people to click a link to an unknown site outside of the University. This is not from OneStop. Do not click the link, and do not respond to this message.
Please visit the IT News site for an example of what the text of this email looks like.
Planned maintenance reminder: Laravel migrations
A project team has been hard at work migrating our Laravel applications at www.apps.miamioh.edu to run on virtual machines in the AWS cloud.
On November 24, 2021, at approximately 7 am, our production applications will begin to be accessed through this new infrastructure. Though this switchover should be seamless, some applications may experience a session reset. This means that after the change, users may need to log back into the applications they’re using.
If you experience any issues after the migration, please contact IT Help at 513-529-7900 or MiamiOH.edu/ITChat.
Featured photo: Taco Thursday
Last week, the Enterprise Operations group got together to express thanks for this decidedly odd year and break bread with one another. The return of the traditional Taco Tuesday was a success!
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November 18
Lots of work happening this week and next. Let’s take a look:
Planned maintenance: Laravel migrations
A project team has been hard at work migrating our Laravel applications at www.apps.miamioh.edu to run on virtual machines in the AWS cloud.
On November 24, 2021, at approximately 7 am, our production applications will begin to be accessed through this new infrastructure. Though this switchover should be seamless, some applications may experience a session reset. This means that after the change, users may need to log back into the applications they’re using.
If you experience any issues after the migration, please contact IT Help at 513-529-7900 or MiamiOH.edu/ITChat.
Planned maintenance: Oracle patching
Oracle patching will take place this weekend at 12:00 am on Sunday morning. This is the first of the scheduled regular patching dates announced. For reference:
In an effort to keep our Oracle installation and databases current and free from bugs and vulnerabilities identified and fixed by Oracle, we are working to make patching the Oracle environment a more regularly scheduled event rather than an as-needed event when issues are found. The goal will be to have this occur roughly four times a year to coincide with Oracle’s quarterly release of bundled patch sets.
Our proposed production patching dates through the 2022 calendar year are:
- November 21, 2021
- April 3, 2022
- August 7, 2022
- December 4, 2022
Reminder: Zoom security settings
We have been receiving an uptick of notices lately about Zoom meetings that do not have adequate security settings enabled. For your future meetings, please enable the following settings to reduce the risk of a malicious meeting interruption:
Please also change meetings to requiring "authenticated users only."
To enable this setting when creating a meeting:
- Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
- Schedule a meeting or webinar.
- Under Meeting Options or Webinar Options, click Only authenticated users can join.
- Choose Sign in as MiamiOH.edu user.
November 8
First-generation college student celebration today
This morning at Lewis Place, President Crawford and Doctor Renate Crawford celebrated first-generation college students with coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies. It was the kickoff to the National First Generation College Celebration, held annually to honor students who are first in their families to go to college.
Celebrate #NationalFirstGenDay with many events happening around Miami's campuses today! Every day Miami looks to recognize and celebrate the success and achievements of our first-generation students.
— Miami University (@miamiuniversity) November 8, 2021
🎫 🔗 : https://t.co/dTHI38miCU#LoveAndHonor pic.twitter.com/cbXsHSP9GN
Work Continues to Progress with Banner 9 Self Service
In 2017 Miami began an epic journey to upgrade Banner from version 8 to version 9. The next phase was to implement the self-service part of Banner, a project that is currently in process.
College Tour: Miami University
The show The College Tour did a spotlight on Miami, and the videos are spectacular. From the description of the episode:
“Miami University is the ideal setting for learning and self-discovery. It’s the kind of place that inspires and motivates students to achieve their dreams. The people you’re about to meet have amazing stories to tell about their achievements at Miami and what makes Oxford, Ohio, such a special place.”
November 4
Work Continues to Progress with Banner 9 Self Service
In 2017 Miami began an epic journey to upgrade Banner from version 8 to version 9. The next phase was to implement the self-service part of Banner, a project that is currently in process.
Cyberbullying 101: What is it, and how can we stop it?
With the focus last month on cybersecurity, we would be remiss if we didn’t spend some of our time talking about cyberbullying. The internet is a marvelous place full of new information and social interactions; however, negativities of the physical realm have followed us into the digital world in the form of cyberbullying.
Read more about cyberbullying and how to pinpoint and stop it.
Reminder: Google Updates: NCSAM edition!
It’s a day that ends in ‘y,’ so we have more Google updates for your reading pleasure. In this issue we have security updates, some reminders, and a new look and feel for your Gmail experience.
November 1
Happy November! It’s officially getting colder outside, and Daylight Savings is imminent. We hope that everyone had a great Halloween and celebrated National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) accordingly.
On to the updates!
IT Profile: Daniel Lewis and Parlad Chhetri
Our student workers offer a different perspective, and they help us incorporate that perspective into the services we provide. They also help us with regular work around the office, and they learn a lot along the way. Since October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it’s only appropriate that we highlight the students working with the Information Security Office.
Google Updates: NCSAM edition!
It’s a day that ends in ‘y,’ so we have more Google updates for your reading pleasure. In this issue we have security updates, some reminders, and a new look and feel for your Gmail experience.
Happy Halloween from IT Services!
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October 21
NCSAM: Strong Passwords Lead to Peace of Mind
The first line of defense for a solid cyber security profile is strong passwords for all online accounts. Why is that? Because often that is all that stands between all of your online information and the “bad guys” who spend their days trying to get to that information.
Read more about how to create a good password.
Reminder: Local Calls Will Require 10-digit Dialing Beginning this Weekend
Beginning on Sunday, October 24, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will require us to dial the full 10 digit phone number for all calls outside of the University, including those within the same area code. For example, on a call from a Miami phone to another phone within the 513 area code, you will need to dial 88 + 513 and the 7-digit number.
Callers can still dial just three digits to reach 711 relay services or 911 emergency services. Any 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, or 811 services can also still be reached by dialing their three-digit codes.
According to the FCC this change is being made to support 988 as the new 3-digit code to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. That change won’t officially go into effect until July 16, 2022. Until then, customers must continue to dial 1-800-273-TALK to reach the Lifeline.
Additional details can be found in this Cincinnati Bell article.
Featured Photo: IT involvement in Expect Respect campaign
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October 18
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is underway!
Thank you all for helping us make this month special and informative for our user base. Each week, we are highlighting a different way to make sure you’re prioritizing your security posture, as an individual and as a representative of your organization.
NCSAM: Top 3 Ways to Avoid Phishing Scams
It’s NCSAM, and that means it’s time to review some common ways scammers try to get your personal information -- and how to spot them so you don’t experience the heartache of falling for a phishing scam.
Announcing: New Duo Mobile experience
Last week, Duo Security launched their new mobile app. If you have automatic updates turned on for your mobile device, you will have received this update already (no matter whether you are on iOS or Android). It was redesigned to “enhance the login experience while improving end-user awareness of the purpose and value of two-factor authentication,” according to the Duo site.
You may have noticed that the “approve” and “deny” buttons on your mobile application have switched places. This handy video walkthrough will help you understand the differences in the old and new design.
NPHC: Dunking on David
We did it, folks. If you missed Friday’s festivities, the National Pan-Hellenic Council hosted a dunk tank event to raise money for Black Greeks at Miami. Our very own David Seidl got dunked… by (also our very own) Sean Poley. Four times.
Check out the video on Twitter:
Once again, @davidseidl is the champion we need, and @AccessMU’s Sean Poley proves that he should have been scouted by the MLB. #MiamiOH #LoveAndHonor @miamiuniversity pic.twitter.com/hxDDOce9NL
— IT Services @MiamiOH (@miamiuit) October 15, 2021
September 23
Phishing warning: TRIO Student Support Services
IT Services has received reports of a fraudulent email message that appears to offer employment for students with TRIO Student Support Services.
Read more about how to avoid these messages.
September Google updates
Like clockwork, Google releases updates for our Education domain. This season, they’ve made some changes to Calendar, Gmail, and Sites.
Featured KB article: Change your passwords
The easiest way to change your password at Miami is to use the Password Utilities tool at MiamiOH.edu/password. We’ve put all the instructions in an easy-to-follow KB article.
September 20
IAM Roadshows: Coming soon to a meeting near you!
As we announced previously, IT Services is embarking on a journey to facilitate identity and access management at Miami. We have partnered with advisory company Moran Technologies, and they are looking to begin their assessment of our systems soon.
To facilitate that assessment, we are reaching out to key individuals in each department and division at Miami to ask for some of their time.
The IAM Program team will also be interested in visiting department meetings, Senate meetings, and management gatherings to bring you information about IAM, how we use it at Miami, and why a comprehensive solution will be good for us.
Read more in the Miami Matters announcement.
Reminder: Google Sites
Google is also changing some things in the background of their Sites interface. By September 30, 2021, you will need to convert your Google Site to the new Sites interface by the end of September. After that time, no one will be able to view your content on the old sites, so make sure to migrate it!
Featured photo: Data center tour!
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September 9
We hope you had a productive Labor Day weekend and got to spend some time outside. Here in southwest Ohio, it has been sunny and warm -- perfect weather for a long weekend.
What is IT Services up to this week? Let’s find out.
Top 4 Miami apps you didn’t know you needed
For this week’s Miami Matters article, we took a look at some Miami smartphone and web apps that you may find useful.
IAM roadshows coming to an office near you
As we announced previously, IT Services is embarking on a journey to facilitate identity and access management at Miami. We have partnered with advisory company Moran Technologies, and they are looking to begin their assessment of our systems soon.
To facilitate that assessment, we will be reaching out to key individuals in each department and division at Miami to ask for some of their time. Please be on the lookout for these messages.
The IAM Program team will also be interested in visiting department meetings, Senate meetings, and management gatherings to bring you information about IAM, how we use it at Miami, and why a comprehensive solution will be good for us. Stay tuned!
Read more about IAM at MiamiOH.edu/IAM.
Featured KB article: Find your Banner+ number
You will need to know your Banner+ number for various reasons even if you’re not a student at Miami. This is how our Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system (which is called Banner) knows who you are!
September 2
Reminder: Google Sites
Google is also changing some things in the background of their Sites interface. By September 30, 2021, you will need to convert your Google Site to the new Sites interface by the end of September. After that time, no one will be able to view your content on the old sites, so make sure to migrate it!
Featured KB article: Top 5 Move-in Checklist
IT Services provides key systems and technical support to all Miami students, faculty, and staff. Here’s a sneak preview of the recommendations we give students when they get here each fall:
Featured photo
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August 30
The sun shone bright on Mega Fair yesterday, and IT Services was there to help students with questions about technology. The class of 2025 is ready to blast through this semester and reach their goals!
Today's update is full of Google news and reminders. Let's get started!
Upcoming changes: Google restrictions
On Wednesday, September 1, 2021, Google will be making some changes to services for users under 18 years of age. Essentially, some services may not be usable or may have certain restrictions involved. Since Miami is a Google school, this will impact the subset of users under 18 within our systems. This will include high school students taking classes here, degree-seeking students who have not yet turned 18, and potentially some others.
Please read this Google support article carefully to determine if you or someone you know will be affected by this change.
Reminder: Google Sites
Google is also changing some things in the background of their Sites interface. By September 30, 2021, you will need to convert your Google Site to the new Sites interface by the end of September. After that time, no one will be able to view your content on the old sites, so make sure to migrate it!
Featured photo: Mega Fair
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August 19
It’s the first day of Move-In! The #MoveInMiami campaign is going strong. Follow us on Twitter for more information about how you can support the various departments at Miami.
IT Reminders for a Stellar Semester Start
We know that many of us are in the office for the first time in quite a while for the start of a semester. With that in mind, IT Services would like to make you aware of several technology situations that you might encounter upon your return.
Featured KB article: Top 5 Move-In Checklist
First things, first! Miami University IT Services provides key systems and technical support to all Miami students. Just follow our move-in checklist to get connected, get service, and get support.
Peep the checklist and follow along.
Photo of the day: John Virden in his natural element!
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August 2
IT Services Diversity Film Fest: Feeling Through
The IT Diversity Committee is bringing in our partners from the Miller Center for Student Disability Services to help us discuss this year’s film: Feeling Through.
Feeling Through is a short, Academy Award nominated, coming-of-age film about the unlikely connection between a teen in need and a DeafBlind man. It is the first film ever to feature a DeafBlind actor in a lead role. Read more on the IT News site and register now!
Duo change coming soon: AppPortal
This is a preliminary notice that Duo will be enabled on the AppPortal for all resources this month. This includes Full Desktop resources like CSE 148 Desktop and STA Desktop.
When you launch a RemoteApp in the AppPortal, you will need to click the “Show Details” option in order to authenticate via Duo and continue opening the app.
Duo has already been enabled in STA resources and will be added to CSE resources later this week. All other resources will be enabled on Aug. 15.
In short: As of Aug. 16, all AppPortal resources will require Duo.
Miami ranked #2 in 2021 CodeSignal University rankings
This annual report ranks universities based on their students’ performance on CodeSignal’s General Coding Assessment (GCA), a standardized skills assessment measuring the fundamental computer science and programming ability with interactive code writing tasks.
July 12
We have so much great news to share this week. Get ready!
Miami University: Best Places to Work in IT
We are beyond excited to announce that Miami University has been chosen as one of Insider Pro and Computerworld’s 100 Best Places to Work in IT for 2021. This is a huge honor, and obviously would mean nothing without the folks in IT working hard every day to provide quality service to the Miami community.
Read more about this prestigious award.
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John Virden: Top 100 CISO
Our own John Virden was named one of the top chief information security officers in the U.S. by Security Current.
We’re truly proud of John and the work he has done so far at Miami. He has helped make us a more secure, more engaged environment. Not to mention he is just an all-around great person and supportive leader.
“It is a true honor to be recognized,” John said. “Looking forward to continued contributions to Miami University, higher education, and our cybersecurity community.”
Thanks so much, John!
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July 6
Welcome back to campus after what for some has been a long time away! We hope you enjoyed the holiday weekend and got to spend at least some of it resting.
This update is a short one thanks to the holiday.
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Welcome back: Summertime IT reminders
IT Services is once again excited to welcome you back to campus in July.
We put together some reminders about the web conferencing platforms and technology you will most likely continue to use as Miami gets back to normal.
UPAC and CPAC Hosting Dog Therapy Day on July 9
As a welcome back to campus for all staff and faculty, the Unclassified Personnel Advisory Committee (UPAC) and the Classified Personnel Advisory Committee (CPAC) will be sponsoring time with therapy dogs on Friday, July 9 between 10:30 am and 12:30 pm. The event will be located in the middle of campus near MacMillan Hall. Just look for the big red tent.
June 24
IT Services Diversity Film Fest: Feeling Through
The IT Diversity Committee is bringing in our partners from the Miller Center for Student Disability Services to help us discuss this year’s film: Feeling Through.
Feeling Through is a short, Academy Award nominated, coming-of-age film about the unlikely connection between a teen in need and a DeafBlind man. It is the first film ever to feature a DeafBlind actor in a lead role. Read more on the IT News site.
(Zoom information and date/time forthcoming. The originally scheduled date needs to be revisited in light of the rescheduled day of the Data Summit.)
Congratulations to David Schaefer!
Please join IT Services in congratulating David Schaefer. David has been named the new Business Intelligence Center Director and will play a key role in promoting and executing the use of data at Miami University.
Welcome back: Summertime IT reminders
IT Services is excited to welcome you back to campus in July after what for some has been a long time away.
We put together some reminders about the web conferencing platforms and technology you will most likely continue to use as Miami gets back to normal.
June 21
Upcoming: WordPress migration beginning in July
IT Services, in partnership with University Communications & Marketing, is getting ready to take another step forward in our cloud-focused journey.
Right now, our WordPress environment runs on machines in our on-campus data center. This month, however, that is going to change. IT Services is getting ready to move our WordPress instance to a hosted environment -- in other words, the cloud.
Important: This does NOT mean that your site will be deleted. We are simply moving things on the back end!
Read more about this work.
Featured photo: Happy Summer!
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Photo by Mark Chouteau
June 14
Reminder: Windows File Server updates
Each Sunday through June we plan to upgrade two out of the eight servers (for a total of four maintenance windows). There will be a brief outage as the servers are rebooted after the upgrade. These updates will take place each Sunday from 7 am to 9 am.
During each two-hour window, there will be a short disruption in accessing MUFiles and MyFiles.
Don't forget that you can see all upcoming work, current application status, and major outages at: MiamiOH.edu/ITStatus.
Featured KB article: Clear cookies, cache, and history
It never hurts to brush up on one of the basic troubleshooting steps we use whenever you’re having login issues, search boxes won’t load properly, or downloads keep crashing. Often, clearing cookies and cache in your browser serves as kind of a ‘reset’ button to give you a clean attempt. Many problems can be solved with this simple click!
Read how to clear cookies and cache in several different browsers.
Upcoming: WordPress migration beginning in July
IT Services, in partnership with University Communications & Marketing, is getting ready to take another step forward in our cloud-focused journey.
Right now, our WordPress environment runs on machines in our on-campus data center. This month, however, that is going to change. IT Services is getting ready to move our WordPress instance to a hosted environment -- in other words, the cloud.
Important: This does NOT mean that your site will be deleted. We are simply moving things on the back end! Please stay tuned for more information about this work! An announcement will be coming in Miami Matters on Friday, June 18.
June 10
FYI: Webex logo change
As we have gotten used to over the last year and a half, more things are changing than not. In the next couple of months, you may see a new Webex logo in the iOS and Android app stores. We will have more information about when we’ll see it in our desktop applications soon!
Read more about the new Webex logo and updates.
Reminder: Windows File Server updates
Each Sunday through June we plan to upgrade two out of the eight servers (for a total of four maintenance windows). There will be a brief outage as the servers are rebooted after the upgrade. These updates will take place each Sunday from 7 am to 9 am.
During each two-hour window, there will be a short disruption in accessing MUFiles and MyFiles.
Don't forget that you can see all upcoming work, current application status, and major outages at: MiamiOH.edu/ITStatus.
Tech Fee call for proposals coming in August
This year we are returning to our normal, competitive process for distributing a portion of the Student Technology Fees to innovative or significant technology projects that benefit students.
Read about the incoming call for proposals.
Featured KB article: Change your password
With the Fall 2021 semester only a couple months away, we’ve seen an uptick in password reset requests. Here is your friendly reminder that you can change your own password or reset it from our password utilities page!
June 7
Reminder: Update your Zoom client
This is just a regular reminder to update your Zoom application if you haven’t done that in a while. The latest Zoom client is version 5.5.6.
If you are on a University computer, chances are that your machine has already been updated to the latest version, but it can’t hurt to check! Just choose the “Check for Updates” option in the main menu of the application.
Windows File Server updates
Each Sunday through June we plan to upgrade two out of the eight servers (for a total of four maintenance windows). There will be a brief outage as the servers are rebooted after the upgrade. These updates will take place each Sunday from 7 am to 9 am.
During each two-hour window, there will be a short disruption in accessing MUFiles and MyFiles.
Don't forget that you can see all upcoming work, current application status, and major outages at: MiamiOH.edu/ITStatus.
IAM Program: You can’t spell Miami without IAM!
We launched the IAM Program last Friday, June 4!
IT Services is embarking on a new journey to improve account access controls, strengthen our already robust security posture, and, ultimately, make your job easier.
Identity and Access Management (IAM) will help streamline the account creation process and help people get access to the tools and applications they need—when they need it.
June 3
Welcome back to campus from IT Services
We know that many of you have been back on campus already, but there are a lot of us that will be heading back through June and early July. With that in mind, IT Services would like to make you aware of several technology situations that you might encounter upon your return.
Upcoming: WordPress migration beginning in June
IT Services, in partnership with University Communications & Marketing, is getting ready to take another step forward in our cloud-focused journey.
Right now, our WordPress environment runs on machines in our on-campus data center. This month, however, that is going to change. IT Services is getting ready to move our WordPress instance to a hosted environment -- in other words, the cloud.
Important: This does NOT mean that your site will be deleted. We are simply moving things on the back end! Please stay tuned for more information about this work!
IAM Program: You can’t spell Miami without IAM!
We are launching the IAM Program tomorrow, Friday, June 4!
IT Services is embarking on a new journey to improve account access controls, strengthen our already robust security posture, and, ultimately, make your job easier.
Identity and Access Management (IAM) will help streamline the account creation process and help people get access to the tools and applications they need—when they need it.
June 1
This week’s first update comes on Tuesday, as we celebrated Memorial Day yesterday! We hope you all took some time yesterday to reflect on the immense sacrifice of the people in the Armed Forces who have lost their lives serving the U.S.
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Reminder: Orientation ongoing
Virtual Orientation for the Class of 2025 is underway! Throughout the month of June, IT Services communications representatives will be available during 30-minute blocks to answer questions about technology at Miami. While these sessions are intended for parents and incoming students, if you have a pressing question, feel free to drop in.
View the full schedule at MiamiOH.edu/ITOrientation.
Welcome back to campus from IT Services
We know that many of you have been back on campus already, but there are a lot of us that will be heading back through June and early July. With that in mind, IT Services would like to make you aware of several technology situations that you might encounter upon your return.
Featured KB article: Connect to Wi-Fi after Winter Break 2020
As more faculty and staff return to campus after what for some has been a long time away, you may need to re-accept the wireless certificate on your phone and laptop. More information about how to do that can be found in the Knowledge Base!
May 27
Welcome back to campus from IT Services
We know that many of you have been back on campus already, but there are a lot of us that will be heading back through June and early July. With that in mind, IT Services would like to make you aware of several technology situations that you might encounter upon your return.
Featured KB article: Reactivate my Duo mobile app
Did you get a new smartphone recently? Did you transfer your Duo information to the new one before getting rid of the old one? If not, no worries! Our helpful Knowledge Base is here to save the day.
Available now: Access For All presentation recordings
The recordings for all of the symposium sessions are now available on our symposium website.
We hope you will be able to join us next year for our 7th Annual symposium which will take place on Thursday, April 7, 2022. More information about this event will be posted on our website later this year. If you have any suggestions for future symposiums, contact us at AccessForAll@MiamiOH.edu.
May 24
Stay tuned: Return to campus
Later this week, we will have more information about what to expect from your technology when we return to campus full-time in July. Keep your eye on the Miami Matters column for more information!
Available now: Access For All presentation recordings
The recordings for all of the symposium sessions are now available on our symposium website.
We hope you will be able to join us next year for our 7th Annual symposium which will take place on Thursday, April 7, 2022. More information about this event will be posted on our website later this year. If you have any suggestions for future symposiums, contact us at AccessForAll@MiamiOH.edu.
View the presentations from 2021 now!
Wayne Embry Day Celebration
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May 20
Reminder: Oracle 19c patching this weekend
On Saturday, May 22, 2021, beginning at 10 pm, IT Services will be installing a patch to the production Oracle grid infrastructure (specifically on the databases that are on 19c).
For more information about this work and a full list of databases impacted, please visit the IT News article.
Available now: Access For All presentation recordings
The recordings for all of the symposium sessions are now available on our symposium website.
We hope you will be able to join us next year for our 7th Annual symposium which will take place on Thursday, April 7, 2022. More information about this event will be posted on our website later this year. If you have any suggestions for future symposiums, contact us at AccessForAll@MiamiOH.edu.
View the presentations from 2021 now!
Wayne Embry Day Celebration
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May 13
ShredFest Success!
We had a great time shredding your sheets and getting rid of almost 7,500 pounds of paper that had been hidden in the offices and cars of folks in Middletown, Hamilton, and Oxford. Thanks for coming out and supporting a great way to be secure!
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Upcoming upgrades: Oracle 19c patching
On Saturday, May 22, 2021, beginning at 10 pm, IT Services will be installing a patch to the production Oracle grid infrastructure (specifically on the databases that are on 19c).
For more information about this work and a full list of databases impacted, please visit the IT News article.
April 26
We’re rounding out the unofficial-official “Accessibility Month” with some reminders about Zoom, more information about accessible technology and how the AT office at Miami works hard to make accessibility possible for everyone. For more about that, look for the monthly newsletter coming out later this week!
Notice: Reauthorize Zoom in G Suite
On Sunday, April 25, Zoom made some changes to the Zoom for GSuite Add-On. You may have noticed this morning that if you tried to schedule a Zoom meeting within Google Calendar, you would be asked to reauthorize Zoom.
This is expected behavior! You can go ahead and reauthorize Zoom in your account. (If you don’t reauthorize, you will no longer be able to schedule Zoom meetings from your Google Calendar.)
You will only need to reauthorize once.
Please contact IT Help at 513-529-7900 for any questions or concerns.
Behind the Scenes: DEI in IT
The IT Diversity Committee was invited to speak about their efforts in the IT division. Join them for a webinar at 12pm on April 29, 2021 with the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion.
April 22
In case you missed it: Access for All
Last week’s Access for All Accessible Technology Symposium wrapped up on Friday with an engaging discussion of virtual reality technologies and how xR (extended reality) can improve quality of life for people with disabilities and make the impossible possible and the difficult doable. Throughout the week, we had great discussions with folks about all kinds of assistive technologies.
Behind the Scenes look at DEI in IT
The IT Diversity Committee was invited to speak about their efforts in the IT division. Join them for a webinar at 12 pm on April 29, 2021 with the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion.
Looks like winter came back...
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April 19
In summary: Access For All
Last week, we gathered to learn more about the technologies, standards, and tools available to the Miami community as stewards of accessibility in higher education. We will have more about that later this week, but for now, don’t forget to fill out your surveys and let us know how you liked it!
Speaking of accessibility…
April is (un)officially accessibility month here at Miami University! We are excited to host the Access For All Accessible Technology Symposium later this month, and as we gear up to learn more about accessible tech and its importance in higher education, we’ll be exploring topics like accessible tech procurement, the technology itself, and the important services AccessMU provides to the University.
Last week’s article is all about accessible technology.
Save the Date: ShredFest 2021
ShredFest is your opportunity to bring confidential office and personal documents for secure, on-site shredding. The dates have been finalized for ShredFest 2021, and the Oxford date has changed, so make sure you have them in your calendar.
April 5
Save the Date: ShredFest 2021
ShredFest is your opportunity to bring confidential office and personal documents for secure, on-site shredding. The dates have been finalized for ShredFest 2021, and the Oxford date has changed, so make sure you have them in your calendar.
Reminder: Accessible Technology Symposium
Miami's 6th annual Accessible Technology Symposium will be held virtually from Mon., April 12, 2021, through Fri., April 16, 2021. Each afternoon at 2:00 pm we invite you to attend a live daily webinar presentation on a variety of topics related to accessible technology. This year the sessions include social media, virtual reality, built-in accessibility features, and Ally.
For more info and to register, visit the site.
Speaking of accessibility…
April is (un)officially accessibility month here at Miami University! We are excited to host the Access For All Accessible Technology Symposium later this month, and as we gear up to learn more about accessible tech and its importance in higher education, we’ll be exploring topics like accessible tech procurement, the technology itself, and the important services AccessMU provides to the University.
First up: An introduction to AccessMU!
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April 1
Reminder: Accessible Technology Symposium
Miami's 6th annual Accessible Technology Symposium will be held virtually from Mon., April 12, 2021, through Fri., April 16, 2021. Each afternoon at 2:00 pm we invite you to attend a live daily webinar presentation on a variety of topics related to accessible technology. This year the sessions include social media, virtual reality, built-in accessibility features, and Ally.
For more info and to register, visit the site.
Save the Date: ShredFest 2021
ShredFest is your opportunity to bring confidential office and personal documents for secure, on-site shredding. The dates have been finalized for ShredFest 2021, so make sure you have them in your calendar.
Get ready, Class of 2025!
IT Services is gearing up for Orientation and we’re working hard to put together content and experiences that will be helpful for incoming students. Your technology is important to you, and we want to support your experience throughout your time at Miami.
Check out our Orientation website for more information!
March 29
In case you missed it: Spring cleaning tips for your machine
Give yourself a fresh start this spring by revitalizing your devices and taking charge of your technology.
Get the (figurative) Windex ready.
Reminder: Accessible Technology Symposium
Miami's 6th annual Accessible Technology Symposium will be held virtually from Mon., April 12, 2021, through Fri., April 16, 2021. Each afternoon at 2:00 pm we invite you to attend a live daily webinar presentation on a variety of topics related to accessible technology. This year the sessions include social media, virtual reality, built-in accessibility features, and Ally.
For more info and to register, visit the site.
Save the Date: ShredFest 2021
ShredFest is your opportunity to bring confidential office and personal documents for secure, on-site shredding. The dates have been finalized for ShredFest 2021, so make sure you have them in your calendar.
It’s finally spring around here...
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March 11
Upcoming maintenance: VMware patching
This coming Friday, IT Services will begin patching the production VMware environment (Cluster P).
This maintenance will take place over several days, beginning at 8 am on March 12 and lasting until 8 am Friday, March 19.
We are not expecting any downtime. However, we will be closely monitoring the status as the maintenance takes place and will alert the community of any issues. Visit MiamiOH.edu/ITStatus for more information.
Upcoming maintenance: Banner update
The database administrators will be switching Banner to use Hugepages. The TEST and DEVL environments are already running Hugepages, so PROD is up next.
This maintenance will take place on Saturday, March 27 at 10 pm. We are not expecting any Banner downtime, but you may be required to log out and log back in, and some apps will need to be restarted by Application Operations.
This configuration change was recommended by Ellucian and will allow Oracle/Linux to use large pages of memory instead of the standard 4KB page size. This lowers the amount of page mapping needed, therefore reducing overhead for maintaining and accessing these pages.
OAS Training opportunities
Are you or someone you know interested in using BI data? Do you want to learn how to go beyond using pre-existing dashboards? There are opportunities for training coming up.
March 8
Welcome back (after a short hiatus) for another exciting installment of the Weekly Tech Update!
Upcoming maintenance: VMware patching
This coming Friday, IT Services will begin patching the production VMware environment (Cluster P).
This maintenance will take place over several days, beginning at 8 am on March 12 and lasting until 8 am Friday, March 19.
We are not expecting any downtime. However, we will be closely monitoring the status as the maintenance takes place and will alert the community of any issues. Visit MiamiOH.edu/ITStatus for more information.
OAS Training opportunities
Are you or someone you know interested in using BI data? Do you want to learn how to go beyond using pre-existing dashboards? There are opportunities for training coming up.
Check the news article for more info.
Take advantage of wellness days with technology and virtual events
Tomorrow (March 9) is the second wellness day of the Spring term. Read our recommendations list for making sure you’re taking care of your body and mind.
Board of Trustees callout
IT Services received some strongly worded kudos a couple weeks ago during the Board of Trustees meeting. David Budig noted that IT has been essential during this time, and thanked the division for the hard work they have done. Thank YOU!
February 15
Reminder: Zoom security options
Please remember to be vigilant when it comes to turning on security options in your Zoom meetings and events. A recent rash of Zoom bombings has reminded us all that we need to stay on top of these things. Please visit the IT Services Zoom security site to view our recommendations on how to keep these unwanted actors out of your meetings:
Tomorrow: DNS change
The shifting of our external domain name service (DNS) infrastructure to AWS Route53 is moving along successfully.
On Tuesday, Feb. 16, we will be moving the DNS address for the main MiamiOH.edu domain. Website users should not notice this change.
This is a win for our cloud migration efforts!
Happy snow day!
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February 8
Security notice: iPhone users should update to iOS 14.4 right now
The Security, Compliance, and Risk Management group wants to remind iPhone and iPad users in the Miami community to update their devices to the latest version (iOS and iPadOS 14.4).
Please see the notice in IT News for more information.
DNS work continues
The shifting of our external domain name service (DNS) infrastructure to AWS Route53 is moving along successfully. (Read about the project in the IT News.)
On Wednesday, Feb. 16, we will be moving the DNS address for the main MiamiOH.edu domain. Website users should not notice this change. Stay tuned for more information about this shift.
Featured photo: Snow!
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February 1
Happy February! We will have all the tech content you know and LOVE available here throughout the month. Don’t forget to check out the Remote Tools Blog for updates about the collaboration tools you use every day.
Speaking of which…
Great news: Automatic transcriptions available in Zoom!
Just like the title says: We now have access to automatic transcriptions in Zoom. For instructions on how to turn it on, check out the update in the Remote Tools Blog.
Phishing awareness campaign kicking off in February
This month, the Security, Compliance, and Risk Management group is kicking off an awareness campaign in the hopes to educate the Miami community about phishing scams. Be on the lookout for suspicious-looking emails in the next few weeks…
January profile: Naomi Cole (and Rhu!)
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January 28
We hope the semester is off to a good start for everyone!
Reminder: Connections to Wi-Fi
The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate Miami uses for its wireless network was updated on Wednesday, January 20. SSL certificates are used to establish an encrypted connection between a browser or user's computer and a server or website. The SSL connection protects sensitive data from being intercepted from non-authorized parties.
Following the update, when connecting to the Wi-Fi network on Miami's campuses, users may be asked to re-authenticate to MU-WIRELESS and eduroam on their various devices, and some users will also have to “forget” the networks and re-add them. For instructions on how to do this, please visit the article in the IT Services Knowledge Base: Unable to connect after Winter Break 2020.
Planned maintenance: Domain Name Service to be migrated to AWS Route53
We are still working hard on migrating our Domain Name Service (DNS) infrastructure to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Route53 service.
This is being done to replace aging hardware and bring us closer to infrastructure-as-code standards.
Bit by bit, in a victory for cloud efforts, our domains are being moved to AWS! This means, at a high level, that Miami domains will now be managed through Route53. In practice, you will not notice this change.
Featured photo: A Knight’s Tale
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January 25
Monday morning web app issues
Thank you for sticking with us as we worked through some issues with Miami web apps this morning. Everything should be back up and working as normal, but please let us know if you continue to have issues.
Important: Webex update
Your favorite colorful Webex apps (Teams and Meetings) are getting some much-needed attention. Webex Teams, which was made available to all Miami faculty, staff, and students in 2020, is getting some new branding. Teams will now just be Webex. Just… plain Webex!
The other side of this coin is that Webex Meetings is also going away. The “new” Webex app (pictured above) will now fulfill the main functions of both the Webex Meetings and Webex Teams apps — essentially, they have been collapsed into one app.
Please view our post on the Remote Tools Updates blog for more information, including what you should be doing about this update.
Data center power upgrade
This Wednesday, Nov. 27, from 7 am to 12 pm, we will be performing one of several planned upgrades to the data center Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems located in Hoyt Hall.
During this work, there will be periods of time when there will be an interruption of power to the data center; however, it is expected that during these times access to Miami systems should continue. Please be advised that whenever power supplies are being worked on, there is always the possibility of a disruption of service.
January 11
Lots of activities happening this week! Take a look and don’t forget to let us know if you have any questions.
Planned maintenance: January 2021
Please bookmark MiamiOH.edu/ITStatus or follow us on Twitter (@MiamiUIT) for real-time notifications of any disruptions that may occur during these maintenance windows.
If you have any questions about any of this work, please contact IT Help at 513-529-7900 or MiamiOH.edu/ITChat. Once again, to view the full calendar of planned IT activities and the current status of major systems and services, please visit our dashboard at MiamiOH.edu/ITStatus.
Take a look at the list of activities we planned for January.
Planned maintenance: Domain Name Service to be migrated to AWS Route53
We pulled this one out of the above list just to make sure you see it!
IT Services will be migrating our Domain Name Service (DNS) infrastructure to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Route53 service. This is being done to replace aging hardware and bring us closer to infrastructure-as-code standards.
This means, at a high level, that Miami domains will now be managed through Route53. In practice, you will not notice this change.
The cutover has been scheduled to begin on Jan. 15, 2021. We do not expect any outages to occur.
Coming soon: Webex update
In the coming weeks, IT Services will be sending information about an upcoming change that will be made to the Webex apps you know and love. Stay tuned!
January 7
Planned maintenance: January 2021
Please bookmark MiamiOH.edu/ITStatus or follow us on Twitter (@MiamiUIT) for real-time notifications of any disruptions that may occur during these maintenance windows.
If you have any questions about any of this work, please contact IT Help at 513-529-7900 or MiamiOH.edu/ITChat. Once again, to view the full calendar of planned IT activities and the current status of major systems and services, please visit our dashboard at MiamiOH.edu/ITStatus.
Take a look at the list of activities we planned for January.
Important: Data center failover testing
Breaking this out from the above list, as it’s coming up on Saturday: We will be completing the annual network failover testing on Saturday, January 9 from 7 to 8 am.
This regular testing enables IT Services to exercise the resiliency of our network systems to provide highly available and stable core communications systems for the University.
During this work, there is the possibility that access to the internet and the Miami Data Center could be disrupted intermittently, from both on and off campus. This will impact various applications, including OAS. Technicians will be actively be engaged and will have everything back online by noon.
Coming soon: Webex update
In the coming weeks, IT Services will be sending information about an upcoming change that will be made to the Webex apps you know and love. Stay tuned!
IT Holiday party recap!
Our first-ever virtual holiday party represented the culmination of a year in which we not only surmounted challenge after challenge, but one in which we all came together as a team and as a family to support one another and the University.
January 4
Welcome back to campus, whether it be virtual or on the physical campus. We had a bit of a hiccup to the January working month, with Slack being down for much of the day. But we're back in business now, and ready to get to work in 2021!
Planned maintenance: XMedius Fax update
IT Services will be updating the XMedius Fax servers to version 9. This update will take place tomorrow, January 5, throughout the day.
This is a planned upgrade and we do not expect any issues.
NetApp Upgrade
The NetApp storage device in the Hoyt Hall data center will be upgraded on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 from 6 to 8 pm.
No disruptions are expected. However, some University applications may experience brief outages during the maintenance window, and some applications may need to be restarted after the work is complete. Services that might be impacted include: Banner, Windows File Servers, and Oracle databases. Technicians will be on hand to resolve any issues, and we will provide updates as necessary during the work.
VMware Upgrade
There will be planned upgrades on the physical VMware infrastructure, as well.
Starting Thursday, Jan. 7 at 8 am, technicians will begin the upgrade of the production VMware cluster (Cluster P). The work will continue over the course of the next two weeks, ending on Friday, Jan. 22.
We expect that all virtual machines (VMs) will continue to run without interruption. However, we will be closely monitoring the status of the production cluster. If you experience a dramatic difference in performance when accessing Miami resources, please contact IT Help.
In case you missed it: IT Holiday video!
We had a blast putting this video together to celebrate 2020. It was a wild year, and a challenge, but the amazing folks in IT Services stuck it out and made it through—together.
Check out our video and have a great new year!
Bonus: Meet all of our pets!