OIT News – June 2015

OIT News
Monthly news briefs, information and announcements
Office of Information Technology, NC State University
Issue 92, June 2015

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Follow OIT on Twitter @NCStateOIT
For up-to-the-minute reports on OIT systems, see SysNews
For help with computing problems, contact the NC State Help Desk

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01: Google rolls out new sign-in process and privacy and security tools
02: What’s the hype about 2-factor authentication?
03: ESRI ArcGIS License Manager 10.3 available
04: WolfTech Active Directory service owner and coordinator announced
05: University IT Accessibility Office announces GAAD Challenge winners
06: Request your daily agenda via Google Calendar
07: OIT Google Apps workshops are filling up fast this summer!
08: SAR training scheduled for July 15
09: Kaspersky Lab investigates internal breach

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01: Google rolls out new sign-in process and privacy and security tools
To log in to Google Apps @ NC state, you will now have to enter your username and password on two separate sign-in screens. Google implemented the new authentication process to create a consistent log-in experience for all of its products and to reduce confusion for users with multiple accounts.

You may also encounter Google’s new Login Challenge for suspicious sign-ins that asks you to enter personal information (e.g., a code, telephone number, location) to verify your identity. To prevent access issues, keep your profile up-to-date in My Account, Google’s new consolidated security hub. Please be advised that the Login Challenge is not Google’s 2-Step Verification. If you enable 2-Step, you will NOT be presented with the Login Challenge screen.

New privacy and security tools
Once you’ve logged in to Google Apps, take advantage of the new privacy and security tools in My Account. It replaces the Google Account settings page and allows you to manage your:

  • sign-in and security settings
    Take the Privacy and Security checkups to edit your personal privacy and security settings.
    Activate 2-Step Verification to add an extra layer of security to your account.
  • personal information and privacy settings
    Managing information that can be used from Search, Maps, YouTube, and other products.
  • account preferences
    Control the apps and sites that can connect to your account.

For additional details on Google’s recent enhancements, check out the May edition of Google Apps What’s New. You can also follow the Google Service Team on:

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02: What’s the hype about 2-factor authentication?
More than 95 percent of cybersecurity incidents involve the online use of stolen credentials from customers’ devices, according to the 2015 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report. Cyber hackers use these credentials to impersonate users to access their online information.

These cybersecurity incidents might have been prevented if these customers spent an extra five to 10 seconds to log in to their systems and applications with 2-factor authentication, also called 2-step verification.

Use 2-factor authentication

As cyber criminals and activists become more sophisticated, average online users need more than passwords to protect themselves or their organizations against cybercrimes. A good hacker can crack even the strongest password and impersonate users, accessing their private information and sensitive company data.

With 2-factor authentication, you can stop hackers. Once you enable the security feature, you will be required to log in to an account or system with both your password (something you know) and an additional one-time security code that is often generated and sent to your mobile phone or other device (something you have). This two-step authentication process prevents hackers from accessing your online accounts and systems with just stolen passwords.

Protect your assets

The typical Internet user today accesses online banking information, medical records, personal information, and employer’s sensitive data. As an Internet user, it’s in your best interest to protect your credentials from theft, which can lead to identity fraud and unauthorized access to your information. Once your password is stolen, it’s only a matter of time before your access to other applications is compromised. A proven-security method, 2-factor authentication can help you safeguard your finances, your reputation and your livelihood.

Get 2-factor/step

NC State currently provides 2-step verification for Google Apps @ NC State (e.g., Gmail, Google docs, Calendaring). In addition, the university has acquired DUO Security, a new technology that leverages two-step verification when users log in to university-owned computers or remotely access sensitive university applications and systems. More information about DUO Security will be available to the campus community soon. See also Turn on 2FA for other commonly used applications.

If you need help installing 2-step verification for Google Apps, contact the NC State Help Desk at 919.515.HELP (4357).

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03: ESRI ArcGIS License Manager 10.3 available
Beginning Friday, July 31, campus users of ESRI ArcGIS mapping software will need the new licensing manager, oit202lic.oit.ncsu.edu, to install and use the service. It replaces the current license manager at uni10l.unity.ncsu.edu.

Both license managers are currently available for use, but to ensure continued access, you should point ArcGIS installations to the new license manager prior to July 31. OIT moved the licensing manager to a Windows server for better maintenance and management. The move necessitated the need for a new licensing manager.

This change only impacts ESRI products using concurrent licensing. It does not affect standalone ESRI licenses or Matlab, Maple or Mathematica, which currently points to uni10l.unity.ncsu.edu.

If you have any questions, email them to software@ncsu.edu.

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04: WolfTech Active Directory service owner and coordinator announced
OIT announces it is taking responsibility as the service owner of the campus WolfTech Active Directory (AD) service. The service will continue to be managed in collaboration with the College of Engineering and the AD Policy and Technical governance committees.

WolfTech AD allows campus departments and units to manage and share computer resources and services (e.g., application packages, Windows deployment services, file services) and system administrators to assign policies, deploy software, and apply critical updates for an organization. It also provides user login services for Shibboleth, including the MyPack Portal and other campus applications.

This announcement comes after a 2013 internal audit that noted concerns about the lack of an identified service owner who would ensure the service has the necessary resources, including funding, hardware, licensing, maintenance, and technical support.

Vice Chancellor of Information Technology Marc Hoit also named Debbie Carraway, assistant director of Systems and Hosted Services in OIT Infrastructure, Systems and Operations, as the service coordinator to ensure the service meets the needs and expectations of campus users. In this role, Carraway will:

  • ensure the overall service is operating smoothly.
  • act as a point of contact for the service and direct inquiries to the appropriate service teams.
  • ensure the IT governance groups are meeting as needed and are coordinating with each other.
  • work with the service team leads to ensure that submitted issues via the campus call-tracking system are handled appropriately.
  • ensure that decisions about the service are made by the appropriate IT governance body.

If you have questions about the WolfTech Active Directory service, contact Debbie Carraway at oit_windows@help.ncsu.edu.

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05: University IT Accessibility Office announces GAAD Challenge winners
On May 21, the University IT Accessibility Office announced the winners of NC State’s Third Annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) Challenge, which is held annually to “get people talking, thinking and learning about digital accessibility and users with disabilities.”

Campus website owners and designers corrected more than 125,000 accessibility errors during the month-long challenge that included winners in the following two categories:

Sites that corrected the largest percentage of accessibility errors included:

Sites that linked to Accessibility @ NC State included 19 campus organizations. For the names of these organizations and complete challenge results, visit 2015 Global Accessibility Awareness Day Challenge.

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06: Request your daily agenda via Google Calendar
Would you like to receive a daily reminder of your agenda each morning? Follow these simple steps to configure your calendar to send to you an email with your scheduled events.

  1. Log in to Google Calendar.
  2. From the Settings gear, choose Settings.
  3. Select the Calendars tab from the top menu.
  4. Locate the desired calendar and click Edit Notification.
  5. From the Daily agenda option, check the Email box.
  6. Click the Save button.

For more training tips, follow the NC State Google Services Team on Google+. To view upcoming Google Apps @ NC State workshops, visit Classmate.

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07: OIT Google Apps workshops are filling up fast this summer!
Upcoming courses include:

  • Gmail: Advanced – Plus Tools, Tips & Tricks will be offered on Tuesday, June 23 from 9 a.m. to noon in Room 110 of the Avent Ferry Technology Center. If you’re comfortable with the basics of Gmail and are ready to take it to the next level, this more advanced hands-on workshop is for you. You will learn more about creating labels, filters and canned responses, scheduling Google Calendar Events, and using Google Drive through Gmail, along with any planned or newly released Google features. To register, visit Classmate.
  • Google Calendar will be offered on Thursday, June 25 and Tuesday, July 21 from 9 a.m. to noon in Room 110 of the Avent Ferry Technology Center. This workshop will focus on appointment slots, event attachments, maps and directions, sharing and embedding calendars, labs, quick add, search options, mobile notifications, scheduling online meetings, and more. For prerequisite information and to register, visit Classmate.
  • Gmail: Beyond the Basics will be offered on Tuesday, July 7 from 9 a.m. to noon in Room 110 of the Avent Ferry Technology Center. This workshop will provide an in-depth overview of Gmail features, including Labels, Search tools, Contacts management, Chat, Tasks, Settings, Labs, and new features. If time permits, a brief introduction to Google Hangouts will be provided. To register, visit Classmate.
  • Create and Collaborate with Google Drive will be offered on Wednesday, July 15 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in ITTC Lab 2 of D.H. Hill Library. In this hands-on workshop, you will learn everything you need to know to get started using Google Docs/Drive at NC State. You will learn how to use Drive in a collaborative environment, including editing a file simultaneously with other people, securing a document through file sharing permissions, and creating files for use by a group of colleagues or friends. To register, visit Classmate.
  • Google Sheets will be offered on Thursday, July 16 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Room 110 of the Avent Ferry Technology Center. During this two-hour workshop, you will be given an overview of Sheets and learn how it differs from Microsoft Excel. You will also learn about features, including formatting options, find and replace, and notifications. To register, visit Classmate.

For other available training sessions, visit Classmate Scheduled Workshops. If you are interested in custom software training, complete the Custom Training Form. Email all training questions to classreg@ncsu.edu.

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08: SAR training scheduled for July 15
Security Access Request (SAR) training for campus requestors and approvers of access to secured university data will be held Wednesday, July 15 from 9:30 a.m. to noon in Room 108 of the Avent Ferry Technology Center. Visit Classmate to register for training.

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09: Kaspersky Lab investigates internal breach
Kaspersky Lab, the provider of NC State’s antivirus solution, is continuing its investigation of the Duqu cyber intrusion that impacted several of its internal systems.

OIT Security and Compliance reports that the breach does not appear to be a concern for campus users at this time and continues to monitor the situation. For the latest update, see SysNews.

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