September, 2007

Click here to see an Adobe Acrobat PDF version of this newsletter, suitable for printing.

Archives of CATPrints are available at http://www.oneonta.edu/technology/comptech/newsletter/
 

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month!

Are you ready?  There will be celebrations and parades and prizes!  Well, not really.  It’s hard to get excited about Cyber Security Awareness, isn’t it?  And why a whole month?  Wouldn’t Cyber Security Day suffice? 

A month gives us all an opportunity to make Cyber Security a priority and develop some habits that will carry through at least to next October.  With so much of our daily business being conducted via computers, everyone needs to be aware of the threats and risks inherent in online activity and learn to protect our personal data.  Working at a college as we do, we have a further responsibility to the data that is collected in the course of operating a college (names, social security numbers, credit card numbers, class lists…).  The Security Administrator sounds like a broken record (do you all remember records?) constantly repeating the same reminders about not sharing passwords or clicking on links in junk emails.  That’s the point of Cyber Security Awareness Month – it gives us all a chance to review those good security habits and work on improving our use of them.  The risks and threats are real but awareness is one of our most effective weapons in combating them. 

So, to celebrate Cyber Security Awareness Month, review SUNY Oneonta’s Security Program here: http://www.oneonta.edu/technology/security/ITSP.asp and if you have any questions about it, call or e-mail Lesley Bidwell (x2628, bidwella@oneonta.edu).  You can also review past security articles in CatPrints (click the link at the top of this page, no, really, it's okay).  Or visit OnGuard Online, http://onguardonline.gov/index.html ,  a site dedicated to helping you protect yourself online with quizzes and games to help  you assess your understating of Cyber Security.  (If you use a social networking site like Facebook (or especially if you have kids that do) check out the quiz  at http://www.onguardonline.gov/quiz/socialnetworking_quiz.html .  

Remember that October is Cyber Security Awareness Month and consider security  when you are using your computer online.  Enjoy!

Reminder for Club Advisors and Department Chairs

Contact Jennifer Knapp through email (smithjl@oneonta.edu)  or by phone at x3031 to update access permissions for your club or departmental website.  Please include a complete list of usernames that should have access along with the address to your site.

The beginning of each semester is usually a good time to review and update permissions because students and employees with access to your site may have left the college or changed jobs over the past semester.  All users that currently have access that are not on your list can be deleted, therefore preventing the possibility of an author that is no longer affiliated with the department, club, or organization to make changes to the website.

It is also important to remember that all authors should have their own permission, and login with their own Oneonta username and password. You should not share your password with anyone.

As for general club/department user accounts, the password should NOT be shared with everyone.  Each author should be given their own permission and use their own username and password to make edits. Again, this is to prevent unauthorized edits being made to your website, and to provide accountability for any edits.

 

New phones coming to campus!

Telecommunications will be upgrading all the digital Nortel phones on campus. This project, which will result in over 700 phones being replaced, will take approximately 8 months to complete. These all-new phones come standard with caller id, conference, transfer, speaker phone, and built-in headset port. No signup is required as Telecommunications will be contacting each department to arrange a convenient time to swap out the old and install the new phones.

Given the size and scope of this project, it may take a few months before your department is contacted. In the meantime, you can visit the following website for basic training on how the new phones operate:

http://www.TrainMeAC.com
Username: oneonta
Password: training

These on-line tutorials are available within the TrainMeAC website:

• Nortel 3000 Series:  3000 Series Top 12 Features – Nortel 3000 Series Models 3903 & 3904
• CallPilot:  Nortel CallPilot 3000 Setup – Nortel 3000 Series Models 3903 & 3904

If you need assistance using the on-line training system or have questions regarding this project, please feel free to contact Telecomm at extension 2577.
 

Wireless Networking - things to consider

Wireless networking is becoming a more widely available service all over campus.  There are a few things you should know about using wireless network access for best quality of service.

The speed of your connection depends on the signal strength from wireless access points, transmitter/receivers spotted around the building you are in.  Signal strength in turn depends on

• Distance from the access point
• Metal in between you and the access point - steel buildng members, plumbing, filing cabinets, etc.
• Sources of radio-frequency interference - cordless phones, microwave ovens, etc.
• Other wireless networking devices broadcasting on the same frequencies as our access points.

The Networking Department is available to help you with problems you may experience with wireless network access.  Call the Information Technology Help Desk at 4567 and open a ticket - we can bring many tools to bear in order to help you take advantage of this convenient service.

Changes in Computer Services

Jeremiah Wood recently joined the applications development group as a Programmer Analyst. Jeremiah is a 2006 Oneonta graduate with a BS in Computer Science.
 

If you have a question for Computer and Telecommunication Services about:

Computer Problems or Related Issues - Call the Information Technology Help Desk at 436-4567

Telephone Service or Problems - Call the Office of Telecommunications at 436-2577

Directory Assistance - call 436-3500