Monthly Archives: February 2020

Safeguarding Your Credentials

My.Scranton is a web-based portal that provides students, faculty and staff an entry point to key functionality, such as Outlook, SharePoint, Desire2Learn, and Ellucian Banner Self-Service and Administrative applications. Over the Fall semester, a new version of the portal was released that provides a cleaner, simpler, better-organized and responsive design.

Many integrations within the my.scranton portal make use of single sign-on technology, allowing a user to provide their credentials once and be logged in seamlessly to other applications. This technology makes use of “cookies” stored in the browser, which are set to expire at the end of the browser’s session.

To safeguard your credentials, especially on a public computer or device, it is best practice to close your browser to destroy any “cookies” that were set for your single sign-on sessions to work. This is true for not only my.scranton, but for any web session where you enter credentials. Be safe and close your browser!

Classroom Database Update: Application Search Available on the Instructor PC

Peruse the online Classroom Database to find the smart room you need for your next lecture or meeting. The database search reveals specific room equipment as well as room availability, and provides supporting materials and guides for specific technologies.

Instructor PC Update

The Academic Technology Advisory Council, whose members provide guidance and advice on academic technology at the University, requested last Fall that IT include the installed Instructor PC applications (or software) to the current database to help in the preparation and assignment of classrooms.

As such, we are happy to announce that the database has been upgraded to reflect this change. To review the Instructor PC software:

  • Go to https://webnet.scranton.edu/classroomdb/ and log in
  • Select Building
  • Select the room by clicking View
  • Scroll down to Equipment and select Instructor PC
  • This will show you a list of the Installed Applications

Use the Search feature

You may notice that the list of Installed Applications can be quite lengthy. To limit the number of results, type the application you are looking for in the Search box.

Please note that if there are student machines in the room, they will have the same software as the Instructor PC.

 

 

Security Spotlight: Restricted Data

Restricted data is the University’s most sensitive data and requires the highest level of safeguarding. Restricted data includes, but is not limited to, social security numbers, credit and debit card numbers, bank account numbers, driver’s license numbers, PINs and passwords.  Here are some tips for securing restricted data:

  • Know what restricted data you have in your files and computer.
  • Don’t keep restricted data you do not need.
  • Refrain from storing restricted data on your local hard drive. Store restricted data on secure locations like departmental Groups drive (G:), your (H:) drive, or One Drive/SharePoint.
  • Properly dispose of what you no longer need, such as deleting files from your computer, clearing the files in the Downloads folder and emptying your computer Recycle Bin.
  • Do not email restricted data unless it is encrypted.
  • Do not store credit card numbers under any circumstances.

Remember, if restricted data isn’t absolutely necessary, don’t use it.

Computer Budget Forms for FY20/21

Computer budget forms for academic and administrative computer requests for FY20/21 will be sent to department heads this Spring. In light of limited budgetary resources, the evaluation and prioritization of these technology requests will focus on providing efficiencies in the administrative and academic areas.

As a reminder, each employee should have only one system. If your current computer equipment does not meet your needs in performing your job, please make sure to contact your supervisor before the forms are submitted. Full-time faculty are on an automatic four-year renewal cycle and do not need to be requested. IT staff members will meet with departments who have computer labs to determine what’s needed and are available to meet with all departments to assist in this process.

As in years past, lab computers will be deployed during the Summer, faculty computers during the Fall and staff computers during the Spring.

If you have any questions, please email deanna.beyrent@scranton.edu.

Zoom Provides Improved Communications through Video and Audio Web Conferencing

Are you trying to schedule a visiting class speaker? Do you find it difficult to interview a candidate living at a distance? If so, Zoom may be your solution! Zoom provides video and voice communication, along with screen sharing and many other features.

Sign up, it’s FREE

If you are looking to schedule a short meeting or webinar – you can open up a Zoom account on your own. Visit https://zoom.us/ to set up your account.

Free accounts consist of the following:

  • 40-minute time limit on meetings with 3 or more participants
  • Unlimited number of meetings
  • 100 participants maximum

Will your meeting exceed 40 minutes?

The University has an agreement with Zoom allowing licensed users to conduct web conferences. Our agreement provides users with the ability to have meetings with up to 300 users for unlimited minutes.

The Division of Information Technology has an account that can be used pending availability. To request the use of this account, please enter an Event Technology Request (log into My.Scranton, on the HOME tab select Royal IT Support. The Event Technology Request form is on the bottom left). Please make sure to include meeting details in the request.

Find out more about Zoom at https://zoom.us/ or contact the Technology Support Center.