ITS has been in the process of transitioning our VPN service from our legacy Pulse Secure to our new Cisco AnyConnect. Continue reading
Author: Mattingly, Ashley
Upgrades Completed in UConn Data Center
The UConn primary data center is an access-controlled location with the specialized support, equipment, and facilities needed to properly house the servers, storage, and key network elements for much of the University’s critical cyber infrastructure. Continue reading
Upcoming Improvements to Remote Desktop Support
ITS, in collaboration with UConn IT partners, began a software review this past spring of products used to remotely access and troubleshoot client computers. Continue reading
Expansion of Duo 2FA Protection
2FA greatly protects data and applications from compromise by using a second source of validation, like a phone or token, to verify user identity before granting access. Continue reading
Kuali Financials
UConn has initiated the project to move Kuali Financials from on-premise to a cloud-hosted solution. Continue reading
Changes to Legacy Messaging Protocol Authentication
Modern authentication uses OAuth, a widely adopted framework that provides a secure user authentication workflow and includes support for interactive multi-factor authentication and risk analysis. Continue reading
Changes to UConn Wireless Networks
ITS is implementing two changes to the UConn wireless (Wi-Fi) networks at the beginning of August. Continue reading
Fourth Phase of Wired Access Layer Refresh (WALR) Project
WALR is a multi-year infrastructure initiative to upgrade the data network on every campus to a contemporary engineered standard. Continue reading
Updates to Storrs High Performance Computing (HPC) Facilities
HPC gives researchers the power and capacity to process large amounts of data (big data) and solve complex computational problems. It is fundamental to the university mission of research and figures prominently in many proposals.
Microsoft Office 365 Security Update
Criminals use stolen credentials to attack accounts and cause harm to organizations and individuals, but there are multiple, complimentary strategies that offer protection. Continue reading
Dropbox and Filelocker
We will be deprecating the ITS-provided Dropbox and Filelocker services. Continue reading
Deployment of Microsoft Windows 11
Windows 11, the latest version of Microsoft’s client operating system, was released on October 5, 2021. Continue reading
Personal Storage Changes
ITS will be retiring the personal (P) drive. Continue reading
Updates to ITS-Managed Computer Labs
ITS deploys, operates, and maintains the equipment in computer labs located in the libraries on all UConn campuses. Continue reading
Update on Network Refresh Project
WALR is a data network refresh initiative to upgrade the infrastructure on every campus to a contemporary engineered standard. Continue reading
Annual Disaster Recovery Test
DR is a critical operational IT capability designed and intended to quickly restore and deliver key services from a remote location in response to the catastrophic loss of our production facilities in Storrs. Continue reading
Update on Remote Desktop Support
We communicated with you in early April that ITS was pursuing strategies to reduce risks to university desktops. Continue reading
Email Safety and Security Feature
Links are often included in email messages because they deliver additional information or provide an avenue for action. Continue reading
Microsoft SharePoint
ITS is shifting to Microsoft SharePoint as a strategic technology for services. Continue reading
Management of Wireless Data Network
ITS is updating how we will support our wireless data network. Continue reading
Changes to Remote Desktop Support
Desktop support is performed by specialized technicians who directly access individual computers and other devices to resolve technical and other operating issues. Continue reading
Improvements to the University’s Data Center
The transition to cloud-based IT solutions is an industry wide trend that continues unabated. Continue reading
Seamless Single Sign-On (SSO)
ITS is enabling Seamless Single Sign-On (SSO) for all domain-joined Windows workstations on April 18, 2022. Continue reading
Kuali Financials Upgrade
Kuali Financials is a comprehensive software suite that serves as the University’s financial system of record for accounting and other fiscal operations. Continue reading
CEN’s 2022 Annual Member Conference
CEN, an open access Internet service provider, is hosting its annual conference at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT on May 5, 2022. Continue reading
2FA Service for Students
Duo two-factor authentication (2FA) service is now formally available to students. Continue reading
Changes to Transition Plans for VPN service
The University’s legacy Pulse Secure VPN infrastructure was inadequate to meet growing needs, and we chose industry leading Cisco AnyConnect as its successor. Continue reading
Update on Firewall Migration Project
The legacy Fortinet OPS firewall protects the servers and applications housed within the University data center from malicious traffic. Continue reading
Changes to Office 365 Email
Office 365 is a Microsoft cloud product that includes Office and other services. Continue reading
University PC Refresh Program
ITS periodically coordinates a bulk purchase of Windows and Mac workstations that meet our recommended performance, security, and maintenance standards. Continue reading
Updates to the UConn Knowledge Base
We maintain the Knowledge Base (KB) on Confluence, Atlassian’s collaboration tool. Continue reading
Happy Holidays
This year continues to be one of transition for our community. Continue reading
Financial Aid Data Mart
The University’s Office of Student Financial Aid Services produces numerous reports that are required to comply with federal and state statutes. Continue reading
New University Data Integration Strategy
UConn has a substantive collection of applications that share information as a normal and useful part of their operation. Continue reading
Transition to Managed Mobility Provider
ITS selected Motus as the new service provider for university-issued cellular phones that will manage all aspects of the process and deliver the extended, 24-hour support that has long been requested by our community. Continue reading
Cybersecurity Awareness Month Wrap-Up
Throughout October, ITS engaged in activities consistent with the national campaign’s overarching theme of individual and organizational responsibility. Continue reading
New Form and Workflow Tool
The new Kuali Build integrated forms and automated approval workflow tool is now generally available. Continue reading
Update on New VPN Service
AnyConnect is an industry leading and widely used VPN service that ITS selected to replace our legacy Pulse Secure VPN service. Continue reading
Updated University IT Security Policies
Regular review and revision of policies is part of evolving a mature information security program that protects systems and data for both our community and the institution. Continue reading
Cybersecurity Awareness Month
ITS is kicking off a communication series for Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Continue reading
New Tuition Waiver Tool
A new employee and spousal tuition waiver tool was launched on the first day of classes. Continue reading
New Concurrent Enrollment App
UConn Early College Experience provides opportunities for non-matriculated high school students to take UConn courses at their school. Continue reading
Updates to Digital Signage
ITS offers Carousel Digital Signage service for the University that includes both large signs, frequently displayed in lobbies, and smaller room signs. Our vendor announced that their on-premise system would be end-of-life by 2022, at which time our existing service would stop receiving updates. Continue reading
Launch of New On-Campus Printing Service
ITS launched Wepa at the start of the semester as a replacement for HuskyPrint. Continue reading
Registration of Wireless Devices
The internet protocol (IP) addresses for devices on the UConn network are overwhelmingly dynamic and are issued automatically by the network for specified durations. Continue reading
Changes to the University Virtual Private Network (VPN) Service
The current VPN service is offered using Pulse Secure. Increased demand attributed to telecommuting and other remote activities exposed limitations in its deployed capacity and ability to manage higher loads effectively. Continue reading
Parking System Upgrade
TickeTrak is the University’s parking system. Continue reading
Adding Cisco Umbrella to Administrative Computers
Cisco Umbrella is a Domain Name System (DNS) filtering product that guards against threats on the internet, such as malware, phishing, and ransomware. Continue reading
IT Support for Returning Employees
University employees will begin returning to their campus workspaces on or after August 16 after being away for nearly a year and half. Continue reading
Changes to On-Campus Printing
HuskyPrint is the current ITS on-campus for fee printing service designed primarily for students, but also open to the community. Continue reading
Changes to Cellular Services
ITS has been responsible for coordinating the purchase, provisioning, and support of university-issued cellular phones. Continue reading
Zero Day Vulnerability Mitigation
ITS is making an emergency change on July 1, 2021 at 5:00 pm on Windows workstations and servers in the UConn Active Directory. Continue reading
Classroom Technology Update
ITS has progressively equipped centrally-scheduled classrooms with capabilities that support remote teaching and learning. Continue reading
Cybersecurity Review
Substantive elements of the University’s information technology cybersecurity infrastructure will be reviewed by Deloitte, an external agency. Continue reading
Webinars in Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams previously offered two main web conferencing features that served two distinct use cases. Meetings was available for connecting one-on-one or with small groups and Live Events for broadcasting to a large audience. Continue reading
Update on Refresh of UConn Network
ITS continues our multi-year initiative to update networking for all campuses and bring the whole University to a contemporary standard. Continue reading
Changes to VPN Service
The University’s move to a mostly remote learning and working environment over the past year has put a strain on many of our capabilities. Continue reading
Improvements to Webex Events
Webex is a cloud platform used for on-demand collaboration, virtual meetings, web conferencing, and videoconferencing. Many faculty and staff have turned to it for hosting and participating in large presentations and conferences, which are common activities at universities. Continue reading
Training on Microsoft OneDrive
OneDrive is a Microsoft hosted cloud storage solution available to everyone at the university through our Microsoft 365 licensing agreement. Continue reading
Technology in Conference Rooms
ITS has released the latest standard design for the audio-visual technology in university conference rooms. Continue reading
Annual Disaster Recovery Test
ITS has scheduled disaster recovery testing of our tier 1 services for the week of June 6. Continue reading
Solution for Call Centers
ITS is formally introducing the Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (Unified CCX) service offering.
When UConn shifted to mostly work from home in March 2020, ITS quickly organized a solution to permit units to answer university phone calls remotely.
Updates to IT Status
ITS maintains the IT Status page to communicate information about planned and unplanned outages, service disruptions, and other community impacting situations. Continue reading
Electronic Payment Solution
ITS, Accounts Payable, and the Office of the Bursar are providing the University with flexible and secure vendor payment options. Continue reading
Patch Management
The companies that provide our software, such as Microsoft and Google, regularly release updates and patches to add features, fix bugs, and address vulnerabilities. It is our general operating position that all software should be properly maintained and all relevant patches applied. Continue reading
Transition to Microsoft Outlook Modern Authentication
We are currently using basic authentication at the University. It has security vulnerabilities that can be exploited by brute force or password spray attacks. Continue reading
File Storage Changes
ITS is introducing archiving to the ITS provided Q: and R: drives. Continue reading
Community Device Programs
ITS has engaged in a number of initiatives to help ensure that our community has access to contemporary devices of sufficient quality to facilitate their research, teaching, and learning success. Continue reading
Data Center Firewall
ITS is migrating networks and applications hosted in the UConn data center to a new firewall. Continue reading
Microsoft 365 Available to UConn Students
Microsoft 365, which is the rebadged Office 365 service, is a collection of communication, collaboration, and productivity applications that are available through our enterprise-wide education license to all active faculty, staff, and students. Continue reading
New Webex Functionality
Use of our supported videoconferencing solutions – Webex, Teams, and Collaborate – increased by over 400% at UConn when we went fully online in March 2020. Continue reading
New “Tech Check” Support Service for Instructors
Much of the university continues to teach, learn, and work primarily from home or other off-site locations. This has allowed the University to remain safely open, but it has changed the IT support landscape. Continue reading
Additional Protection from Web-based Threats
ITS will be implementing a Domain Name System (DNS) filtering product, Cisco Umbrella, to enhance protection against web-based threats. Continue reading
Results of Simulated Phishing Campaign
The ITS Security Office recently initiated a simulated phishing campaign at the request of the Joint Audit and Compliance Committee (JACC). UConn faculty and staff received test messages this past October that mimicked a common attack. Continue reading
Changes to Device Support
ITS is simplifying and streamlining individual support services. The Technology Support Center (TSC) is housed in Homer Babbidge Library (HBL) and provides general IT support to faculty, staff, and students. Continue reading
Remote Access Updates
ITS is implementing changes that will better secure remote connectivity to campus. Continue reading
Additions to myUConn
Since the release of the redesigned myUConn app this fall, ITS and our partners have leveraged features to better support community engagement during this unprecedented semester. Continue reading
File Sharing Services
File sharing gives others access to digital media and is a key mechanism for collaboration. In the past, this was limited to sending, receiving, or accessing information in files, but modern systems also support co-authorship, versioning, and concurrent editing. Continue reading
New integration between Webex and HuskyCT
Webex is a university supported videoconferencing application that allows people to meet and engage virtually. HuskyCT is the university supported and branded Blackboard learning management system (LMS). Continue reading
Pilot of VoIP-enabled Service
When the University began delivering services remotely, it became apparent that not all support practices transitioned effectively to this mode. Staff, particularly those who interact frequently with students and parents, needed a way to answer and respond to calls to their office numbers while working off-site. Continue reading
Upgrade of PeopleSoft System
ITS uses PeopleSoft Campus Solutions (CS) for our Student Administration (SA) system. This is the authoritative system of record for student academic data, the administrative environment supporting numerous academic processes, and a service portal for students. Continue reading
Security Awareness Training with KnowBe4
KnowBe4 is an IT security resource available to all faculty and staff at UConn. The integrated platform for security awareness training and phishing attack simulation covers an extensive range of topics and delivers content in varying and engaging formats, such as games, short videos, modules, and even sitcom-style shows. Continue reading
Upcoming Security Update
ITS is planning to install new security software, Windows Defender for Endpoint (formerly Windows Defender Advanced Threat Prevention), to the Windows workstations of administrative areas in the Managed Workstation program. Continue reading
Updated Classroom Directory Tool
ITS, Office of the Registrar, and the Center for Excellence in Teaching (CETL) collaborated this past spring to create and populate the classroom directory tool with new content and capability. Continue reading
Kuali Financial System Upgrade
KFS is a comprehensive software suite that serves as the University’s financial system of record for accounting and other fiscal operations. The upgrade includes enhanced usability with a redesigned interface, navigation, and search. Continue reading
New Webex Features and Use with Classrooms
Webex is an enterprise solution for video conferencing, online, meetings, and web conferencing. It is often utilized to deliver coursework virtually. Continue reading
Removal of Spirion (formerly Identity Finder)
ITS will be removing Spirion from university-owned computers. Continue reading
Device Requirements for Student Success
The University is announcing device requirements for new and continuing UConn students. Continue reading
ITS Mass Mail Service
Our community may need to send bulk email to hundreds or even thousands of people. Continue reading
Network Service
Between 12:10 am – 2:40 am on Thursday, February 13, there may be interruptions to internet connectivity while the Internet Service Provider performs planned network maintenance.
Latency issues with P: drive
ITS has received reports that access to the personal (P) drive is intermittently degraded. Continue reading
High Performance Computing
ITS announces recent investments in the Storrs High Performance Computing (HPC) facility. Continue reading
‘Tis the Season for Identity Theft
Cyber criminals notoriously exploit current events, like tax season, to mimic legitimate email messages. Continue reading
Status of ongoing system problem
The ITS major storage subsystem has been experiencing intermittent performance problems. Continue reading
New IT Community Site
ITS has created an IT Community site (itcommunity.uconn.edu) designed to provide our technical colleagues and stakeholders with information germane to their positions and professional interests at the University. Continue reading
Changes to University’s Student Adobe Contract
ITS is announcing upcoming changes to the University’s student-use Adobe contract. Continue reading
OneUConn IT Service Delivery Vision
ITS has been developing a vision for expanding and enhancing service delivery to all UConn campuses. Continue reading