It has been a busy, yet quiet summer, and it is wonderful to see more activity on campus again. As we start another school year, I want to share some updates to ITS services and projects we are working on.
This fall, the support center in Carnegie Hall is open again for student walk-in assistance, however ITS recommends using the IT service portal at service.drake.edu/its (or click the ITS Support button in myDrake) or calling 515-271-3001 for assistance. ITS staff will first try to resolve issues remotely. In-person appointments for faculty and staff will be scheduled if remote resolution isn’t successful.
New Systems and Services
- Some of the most important technology ITS supports is in the classroom. Last year, ITS received funding to begin a two-year project to update classroom technology across campus. You’ll start to see new equipment and designs in classrooms this fall! Tools for online instruction also got a major boost this year with the upgrade to Blackboard Ultra.
- We are currently working with our vendor, LRI, to replace campus printers and copiers. While our goal was to have all printers installed before classes began, global supply chain delays in equipment delivery will extend the roll out into the school year. Please bear with us as we work to distribute and install new equipment as quickly as possible.
- One of the most exciting projects of the summer was the full upgrade of the wireless network in residence halls. New wireless access points have been installed in every room and relocated in common areas to provide stronger and more consistent wireless coverage.
- Last year ITS began moving all campus telephones from the old analog system to Microsoft Teams Voice over IP (VoIP) services. Our 20-year-old telecom system is no longer vendor supported. We are more than halfway through the transition to VoIP. Call quality and service should return to normal as we complete this move and are able to fully decommission our old system.
Information Technology Security
Cybersecurity, data breaches, ransomware and phishing at colleges and universities have become frequent headlines. To ensure our personal and institutional information is protected, ITS is implementing several new security measures.
- Longer password requirements that are stronger and harder to crack
Password length is more effective than frequently updating your password. Until recently, Drake’s minimum requirement was eight characters including upper- and lower-case letters, symbols and numbers. This combination now takes less than 8 hours to crack, compared to 34,000 years for a 12-character password. ITS has increased the minimum required password length to 12 characters and is extending the reset schedule from every year to every two years. - Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for students
Using multiple methods of verification is the most effective way to prevent compromised email accounts. Rather than just signing in with your username and password an additional authentication method such as a PIN or mobile app will be used to access email and other Drake accounts.
In closing, on behalf of all ITS, I want to thank you for your support as we roll out these technology changes. We look forward to another year of supporting our community and furthering the innovative use of technology to enhance the Drake experience for students, faculty, and staff.
— Keren Fiorenza, Acting CITO, Information Technology Services