ITS News and Events

ITS news, events and workshops.

  • End of Internet Explorer 11 Support – June 15, 2022

    Monday, May 09, 2022 | By

    The long-awaited end of Microsoft’s support for Internet Explorer 11 is almost upon us. Microsoft is terminating its support of IE 11 and the desktop application will officially be retired on June 15, 2022. Moving forward, IE users will be required to use more modern browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

    As a general use web browser, IE 11 usage at Brock still accounts for 13% of all desktop web browser use, equal to Mozilla Firefox (also 13%), but behind Google Chrome (17%) and Microsoft Edge (57%). One reason for IE’s continued use is the existence of legacy, Internet Explorer-only apps used by certain University constituents. Those users will be happy to learn that Microsoft has not totally abandoned compatibility for older, legacy websites and applications, as they have built an Internet Explorer mode (“IE mode”) directly into Microsoft Edge, so you can access those legacy Internet Explorer-based websites and applications straight from Microsoft Edge.

    Effective immediately, ITS recommends that all Brock users use only modern web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) and that those users who still require access to legacy IE-based websites or applications use Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge to do so.

    If you have any questions or concerns about this, please submit a Help Desk Ticket.

    Categories: ITS News and Events, Upcoming Changes

  • Qualtrics Covid19 Screening Issue – RESOLVED

    Thursday, March 03, 2022 | By

    Qualtrics Covid19 screening email confirmation is working again.

    Please contact the Help Desk (x4357 or ithelp@brocku.ca) with any questions or concerns.

    Categories: ITS News and Events

  • Qualtrics Covid19 Screening Issue

    Friday, February 25, 2022 | By

    On-campus staff should screenshot their results and email their supervisor. Qualtrics is investigating the cause.

    Categories: ITS News and Events

  • Printing to Brock network printers issue

    Wednesday, October 20, 2021 | By

    A recent Microsoft security update has disrupted printing to Brock network printers.
    This disruption affects all users of Macintosh computers and those using personal computers running Windows.
    Microsoft has not provided a solution at this time. I.T.S. is working diligently to find a solution to this issue while Microsoft attempts to remedy the flaw in their patch.
    Until a permanent solution is put into place, we are asking those that are affected by this issue to use Web Print available at https://printing.brocku.ca
    Instructions on how to use Web Print are provided below.

    If you have any questions regarding your ability to use Web Print please contact the Help Desk at 905 688-5550 ext 4357 or submit a Help Desk ticket at https://brocku.ca/information-technology/helpdesk/

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    How to use Web Print

    Please open your web browser to printing.brocku.ca

    Login in using your Brock username and password.

    Click on the Web Print link on the left-hand side of the screen.

    Click Submit a Job

    Select either the cits-swprtfm1\Print-It (virtual) or cits-swprtfm1\Print-It-Colour (virtual)

    option depending on if you require black and white or color printing.
    Then click on 2. Print Options and Account Selection

    Enter in the number of copies that you want to print and click 3. Upload Documents

    Click on the Upload from Computer button, or drag a copy of your Word, Excel, PowerPoint, image, text file, or pdf that you wish to print into the Drag files here box

    After your document has been selected, click on Upload and Complete.

    Your document will be uploaded to the print server and will be available to be released from your Ricoh MFD.

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    Categories: ITS News and Events

  • Notification of ITS Maintenance – July 6 (Brock Printers)

    Tuesday, July 06, 2021 | By

    A serious security vulnerability in the print spooler service has recently been discovered. ITS will be taking action to mitigate the security risk until a patch is made available.

    Due to this action some users may experience issues printing from campus workstations.

    Please contact the Help Desk with any questions or concerns.

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    Categories: ITS News and Events

  • Brock ITS cybersecurity improvements coming Nov. 13

    Friday, November 01, 2019 | By

    Cybersecurity attacks are increasing at an alarming rate at higher education institutions, and Brock University is no exception.

    In an effort to mitigate these attacks, Brock Information Technology Services (ITS) is implementing three new security initiatives. Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 13, faculty, staff and students can expect changes to the way they login to the Brock portal (my.brocku.ca), how they change and reset campus ID passwords, and the complexity requirements for passwords.

    The most noticeable change will be a new login page for my.brocku.ca. To access the portal, users will be redirected to the familiar-looking Office 365 login page. Hyperlinks that existed on the portal, such as how students, applicants and employees activate accounts or access tutorials and resources, will be transferred to a new page accessible from the new login page.

    Also moving to Office 365 will be the locations to change campus passwords and access to the self-service password reset function. Instead of going to my.brocku.ca to change a password, faculty, staff and students will login to Office 365 and then select their photo or initials at the top right of the page. They then select my account, security and privacy and then password. People who have Brock accounts but are not faculty, staff or students — such as Board of Trustees members, vendors and visiting scholars and visiting students — will continue to change their passwords in my.brocku.ca

    The self-service password reset process will be moved from my.brocku.ca to passwordreset.microsoftonline.com

    In the past, self-service password reset has been mandatory for students, but only voluntary for faculty and staff. Going forward, anyone with a Brock campus login will now be required to set up preferences for self-service password reset. The next time a user logs in to Office 365 after Nov. 13, they will be prompted to supply a phone number, an alternate email address or personal security questions that will be used to prove their identity. When a password is reset, users may experience a 10-minute delay for some services.

    The final changes taking place will involve the passwords themselves. Users will not be able to use certain words to create their passwords, and the length of passwords will change from eight to 10 characters.

    “The more characters the password contains, the more difficult it is for hackers to guess,” said Andy Morgan, Director, Client Services.

    Examples of words on the prohibited passwords list include abcdefg, badger, brock, iloveyou, letmein, password, whatever, qwerty and surgite. Former passwords, as well as iterations of prohibited words, will not be accepted. Examples Br0ck!, What3v3r and p@$$w0rd.

    Users are not required to change their passwords on Nov.13; they can wait until their password expires.

    For more information about these changes and to consult job aids, visit brocku.ca/its

    Categories: ITS News and Events, Upcoming Changes

  • Beware of Phishing!

    Thursday, October 18, 2018 | By

    Think

    During national cyber security awareness month, we would like to remind Brock to be vigilant when responding to emails or clicking on links contained within.

    It has recently been brought to our attention that a seemingly innocent email has been received by faculty and staff simply asking, “Are you available?” from a sender name known to the department. However, this is a phishing email and if you respond you will soon receive a follow up asking for iTunes gift card codes to be sent.

    Don’t take the bait. To identify suspected phishing emails:

    • Check that both the sender name and reply to email address are what you expected to see before responding. From addresses/sender names are easily forged and can look like the message came from someone you know.
    • Click only on links that you are expecting.
    • Hover your mouse over a suspicious link to see the true destination without having to click on it.
    • Grammar and spelling errors can indicate a phishing email.

    Learn more about Phishing and Social Engineering on the ITS Cyber Security website. You can also view recent examples of phishing emails received at Brock here.

    If you are concerned that you may have fallen victim to a phishing email contact the Help Desk at x4357 or email us at itsecurity@brocku.ca

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    Categories: ITS News and Events

  • Brock Campus ID and password not to be shared

    Tuesday, October 09, 2018 | By

    A Brock University Campus ID and password is for the exclusive use of the account owner and must not be shared under any circumstances.

    The following is an excerpt from the End User Logical Access Standards found at “https://brocku.ca/policies/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/End-User-Logical-Access-Standards.pdf”

    “A user account, which allows a user to access Brock IT systems and data, is provided to an individual for their exclusive use. A user is prohibited from sharing their account(s) and / or password(s) with others. An authorized user is at all times responsible and accountable for the use of their account.”

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    Categories: ITS News and Events