Telecommunications, Computing and Network Services to merge
by F. Damkroger, Computing and Telecommunications Services,
and E. Unger, Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Services and Technology
published Oct. 31, 2006
Effective Nov. 1, Telecommunications and Computing and Network Services will become one unit
known as Computing and Telecommunications Services. CTS will manage the infrastructure layer of K-State's
information technology organization, including the voice and data network, servers, and the data center.
Reorganization under the Vice Provost for Academic Services and Technology has been under discussion
for more than three years. The goal of reorganization is to align functional units, eliminate duplication,
streamline the reporting structure, and provide improved service to the campus community. Visit
www.ksu.edu/cts to learn more about CTS, which is under the direction of Fred Damkroger.
Network access blocked for Windows PCs still running Symantec AntiVirus
by H. Townsend, interim IT security officer
published Oct. 31, 2006
The deadline has arrived for Windows computers at K-State to switch from
Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition (SAVCE) to Trend Micro OfficeScan
and ServerProtect. Thirteen computers still running SAVCE had their network access
blocked this morning, a move required by the expiration of K-State's SAVCE
license agreement for Microsoft Windows. Apple Macintosh
computers will continue to run Symantec's Norton Antivirus software.
K-State maintains the
list of blocked computers online
(which requires a K-State eID/password).
The normal procedure for removing a network block will be followed, so
only a SIRT representative can request to have a block removed once the computer has
had SAVCE removed and Trend Micro installed.
Daily scanning and blocking of Windows computers still running SAVCE will continue
indefinitely until every computer has been converted. K-State no longer has the legal
right to run this software, so we must be diligent in our efforts to complete the conversion.
Personal/home Windows computers owned by faculty, staff, or students must also remove the K-State-supplied
SAVCE due to the expired license with Symantec.
Trend Micro OfficeScan is available to K-Staters as a replacement at no charge and may be
downloaded at antivirus.k-state.edu.
Electronic Grade Submission training begins Nov. 13
by S. Silva, R. Gould, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Oct. 31, 2006
Electronic Grade Submission will be available beginning
8 a.m. Dec. 11 and ending 11:30 a.m. Dec. 20. More than 200 faculty
submitted grades electronically in the spring of 2006. We would like more
faculty to use this system. To use the Electronic Grade Submission system,
faculty and graduate teaching assistants must attend an orientation session or complete an online
tutorial before access will be granted. Orientation sessions begin the week of Nov. 13. See the
registration page for details.
TechBytes Nov. 3: Designing PowerPoint for eLearning
by C. Rodriguez, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Oct. 31, 2006
Kathy Wright will discuss Designing PowerPoint for eLearning at
this week's TechBytes session, 1:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, in 501 Hale Library.
Say "PowerPoint" and responses range from groans to cheers. As
listeners or learners, we've all been both enervated and
energized by presenters. When used well, presentations
applications are mighty, multi-purpose tools. But different
purposes require different approaches. In this session, we'll
look at how we can use PowerPoint -- to be converted to Flash --
for the purpose of online learning. We'll talk about working
with the mechanics of PowerPoint as well as some of the
research-based rules of slide design for elearning.
TechBytes seminars are free and open to the K-State community.
This series also will be video streamed live for off-campus
viewers. Visit the TechBytes website for:
- additional details, handouts, and resources from previous seminars
- a downloadable schedule for this semester
- links to both live and archived videos of TechByte programs
IT Help Desk website updated
by A. Hagedorn, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Oct. 31, 2006
The IT Help Desk website at www.k-state.edu/infotech/helpdesk
has been revised to better serve K-Staters. Visitors
will find hours of operation, answers to commonly asked questions, and
helpful information about popular IT resources. A link to the IT Help Desk
has been added to the top of the InfoTech website so users can find it more
quickly.
Web browser upgrades planned in technology classrooms
by N. Brown, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Oct. 31, 2006
Last week Microsoft released its new Internet Explorer 7.0 browser, and a few days later the Mozilla foundation
released Firefox 2.0. These new browser versions will be installed in K-State's technology classroom environments after
they have been extensively tested. This step is necessary to ensure compatibility with the existing tech classroom
systems as well as other K-State resources.
SIRT antivirus recommendations for Linux computers
by H. Townsend, interim IT security officer
published Oct. 31, 2006
With K-State's transition from Symantec AntiVirus to Trend Micro
OfficeScan for antivirus software, there has been some confusion about
antivirus requirements for computers running Linux.
K-State IT policy (PDF)
requires that "any university-owned computer must use the
university-supplied antivirus software configured in a managed mode".
This includes Linux workstations and servers, since Linux systems are
not immune to attack and may also function as file servers for Windows
computers.
Currently, Trend Micro does not have a version of the OfficeScan client
software for Linux, but they are working on one. K-State will offer it
as soon as it is available. Until then, Linux workstations (i.e., those
functioning as a personal computer, not a server) must run an antivirus
software. SIRT recommends using the freeware product ClamAV
(www.clamav.net).
For Linux servers, administrators are expected to run Trend Micro
ServerProtect per K-State IT policy (PDF). The software is downloadable from
Trend Micro's
ServerProtect
page. The license key can be obtained from Shea McGrew at slmcgrew@k-state.edu, 532-4925. In
addition, server administrators must join K-State's
ANTIVIRUS-L mailing list
to participate in communications about K-State's malware protection program.
The list of Linux kernels supported by ServerProtect is available at
Trend Micro's
Kernel Support
page. If you are running a version of Linux not supported by Trend or need
more time to thoroughly test ServerProtect in your Linux environment,
SIRT again recommends you run ClamAV to provide malware protection.
Save files on personal USB drives in labs, InfoCommons
by E. Dover, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Oct. 31, 2006
When using a university computing lab or K-State InfoCommons computer, please remember to save any and all
of your work-in-progress to an external storage device such as a USB thumb drive. If you should save a file to a
university computing lab or InfoCommons computer, it is possible that it would not be recoverable should there be
a rare computer glitch. Also, software has been installed on these computers to assist in keeping patrons' private data
off of the computers for personal safety reasons. This software removes all stored data after 30 minutes of inactivity,
so please remember to
- Save your files often.
- Save your files to an external media device.
Previous provost lectures on Channel 8
by R. Gould, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Oct. 31, 2006
If you missed Vinton Cerf's presentation in the Provost Lecture Series last week, there is still an opportunity to
view that lecture and other past lectures on Channel 8. To locate dates and times for the Provost Lecture Series and
other Channel 8 programs, see the KST8 - Cox Cable Channel 8 webpage. For the
provost lectures, click the "Provost Lecture Series Broadcasts".
IT award nominations now being accepted
by the IT Awards and Recognition Committee
published Oct. 31, 2006. updated 10:47 a.m. Nov. 1, 2006
The 2007 IT Awards and Recognition nomination process for central IT staff is now OPEN!
All K-Staters can submit nominations through Dec. 1. Take a minute to nominate a colleague or IT team for
their outstanding contributions to the university.
To access the nomination form, go to the IT Awards and Recognition website
and click on the word "Nominations" at the top of the page. A nomination can represent an activity, service, or
contribution considered "above and beyond the call of duty". Staff who are eligible for most nominations are
employees in the central IT units of
CTS,
DCE,
DIA,
ECC,
ISO,
iTAC,
KSRE, and
OME.
Who can nominate? Any university staff, including IT employees, faculty, and students. Award winners will be
announced and recognized at the All IT Unit Retreat in early 2007. Questions should be sent to
ITAWARDS-L@k-state.edu.
Cyber Security Awareness Quiz winners
by A. Hagedorn, Information Technology Assistance Center
published Oct. 31, 2006
Congratulations to K-Staters Shannon Castleberry and Patty McKenna,
the winners of brand new computer speakers, thanks to their completion of
the Cyber Security Awareness Quiz hosted this month. Both Castleberry and
McKenna qualified for the drawing by correctly answering questions about
basic cyber security awareness. Thanks to the K-State Student Union Computer Store for
donating the speakers in support of the event.
Autodesk software open forum Thursday, Nov. 2
by K. Leonard, Computing and Network Services
published Oct. 31, 2006
John Olson, Avatech Solutions, will give a presentation 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, in Union 203
on Autodesk software. This event is open to all K-Staters and is an opportunity for questions/answers.
K-State's site license covers most Autodesk products (see the
Autodesk Design Institute page)
through a consortium of K-State colleges and departments. Units contribute annually to the $29,995 renewal fee.
Those interested in joining the consortium should contact Kathy Leonard
(kantink@k-state.edu, 532-4926).
Security tip: New federal guidelines for information disposal
by H. Townsend. interim IT security officer
published Oct. 31, 2006
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently produced an excellent publication
on how to properly dispose of data to protect its confidentiality. Read
"Guidelines for Media Sanitization"
(PDF) for the most comprehensive and thorough treatment of the subject to date.
Use the table in Appendix A to guide your decisions on how to properly handle different types of media.
IT by the numbers: Spooky U.S. security breaches
by H. Townsend. interim IT security officer
published Oct. 31, 2006
If you think the goblins and ghouls knocking on your door tonight are scary, take a look at this number --
95,668,529. That's the total number of sensitive, personal information records involved
in known security breaches since Feb. 15, 2005. The vast majority occurred in the United States.
See the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse's
Chronology of Data Breaches
for an up-to-date running total.
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