Information and Technology Services (ITS) is reviewing more closely all technical service information published publicly. In the spirit of an open, higher-education environment, much of the documentation and content published by ITS has been accessible to the public, even when only intended for the U-M community. Going forward, the ITS approach will be to limit access to some… Read More »
On November 1, 2023, the ITS Identity and Access Management (IAM) team and colleagues across ITS and the university gathered to celebrate the retirement of the Cosign service at U-M. Created by members of U-M’s IT Commons group in 2001, Cosign was a web-based, single-sign-on solution that was rapidly adopted at other universities. As U-M’s Cosign reached the… Read More »
Ever wonder what makes a good password? How you can spot phishing before you’re caught by it? Or maybe you’re just curious about what’s new in the world of IT security and privacy? For all of this and much more, visit the Safe Computing website. Safe Computing is an authoritative website filled with IT security and privacy guidance… Read More »
The University of Michigan has mandated that passwords for all UMICH (Level-1) accounts be changed by the end of Sept. 12. An email informing faculty, staff and students across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses, as well as Michigan Medicine, was sent from Ravi Pendse, vice president for information technology, and Sol Bermann, chief information security officer.… Read More »
ITS congratulates Shalini Kantayya on her 2023 News & Documentary Emmy nomination for her documentary TikTok, Boom. This is her second Emmy nomination. Kantayya directs “fiction and nonfiction films that artfully marry the future of science with the future of story.” (shalinikantayya.net) ITS hosted a conversation with Kantayya about TikTok, Boom. for a Dissonance event earlier this year.… Read More »
“I’ve been hacked! Don’t accept friend requests from me!” Most of us on social media see that warning periodically, and while not entirely accurate, it’s a sign of how prevalent fake friend requests are. These scams are rarely a sign of actual “hacking” – gaining unauthorized access to the account itself – but they do involve a little… Read More »
Need an internet connection, but only public WiFi is available? Follow these tips to protect U-M and personal information.
Pat Steffes is a senior software programmer analyst with ITS Information Assurance (IA). They are UM-Dearborn alumni and a passionate advocate for the transgender community in cybersecurity. They also enjoy supporting feminists and queer artists in the Metro Detroit area.
Few things tug at our hearts like adorable animals in danger or the distraught humans who miss them. Most of us have seen posts on social media from pet owners trying frantically to bring a lost furry family member home. They ask for help as simple as re-sharing, and we click, reposting that adorable dog we really hope… Read More »
A recent alert from the Joint Ransomware Task Force (JRTF) warns about the accelerated growth of tactics used by ransomware actors. Founded in 2022, the JRTF acts as an interagency collaborative effort to reduce the prevalence and impact of ransomware attacks and is comprised of members from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of… Read More »
Skyler West is a data security analyst on the U-M Flint campus. In his role as a security unit liaison (SUL), he partners with ITS Information Assurance to promote security awareness, education, monitoring, and compliance, while enabling UM-Flint’s missions. In his free time, he likes to camp, cook, game, and garden.
The University of Michigan is committed to protecting the security of its information resources and the privacy of its students, faculty, and staff, but reaching community members with relevant and engaging information about cybersecurity and privacy can be a challenge. ITS Information Assurance (IA) has created a Library of resources to help our fellow Wolverines stay informed, create… Read More »
The Biden Administration released a National Cybersecurity Strategy in March. It has been covered extensively in national media, reflecting heightened attention to the government’s response to growing cybersecurity threats.
ITS Information Assurance is excited to announce the latest from the Dissonance Event Series. You are invited to a free, on-demand screening of the documentary film TikTok, Boom. and a conversation with the filmmaker Shalini Kantayya. March 6 through March 15 – Virtual screening of TikTok, Boom.Join us for a virtual screening of TikTok, Boom. The film examines… Read More »
With Black History Month winding down and International Women’s Day around the corner, ITS Information Assurance (IA) celebrates Black women in cybersecurity. In the face of racist institutional policies and segregation laws in 1940s and 1950s America, Black women, such as Annie Briggs, Ethel Just, and the Black “code girls” of Arlington Hall, blazed trails in a field… Read More »
Data Privacy Day (Data Protection Day in the EU) is on January 28! To celebrate at U-M, ITS Information Assurance (IA) is hosting privacy events throughout February. These sessions are intended to raise awareness, promote best practices, and provoke thought and conversation on privacy topics broadly relevant to our community members and society at large. Refer to the… Read More »
As headlines and research reports reveal, cyber threats are steadily increasing across all sectors, including higher education institutions. Higher ed’s decentralized, more open IT environments create higher risks, and allow for cyberattacks that can cause entire institutions to shutdown. At U-M, we take a layered approach to IT security. In addition to network protections, and advanced endpoint protection… Read More »
At the University of Michigan, we have a commitment to respecting and protecting the privacy of our community members and guests. In the summer of 2022, the U-M Privacy Office decided to put that commitment to the test on U-M websites. ITS Information Assurance (IA) used the real-time website privacy inspection tool Blacklight to scan the top 50… Read More »
One of ITS Information Assurance’s core responsibilities is to provide guidance to the entire university community on IT security and privacy compliance best practices and help individuals protect university systems and data, as well as their own personal information. IA is always on the lookout for innovative and compelling ways to engage our students, faculty, and staff, such… Read More »
Cyber Monday is a few days away, so it’s imperative that you practice safe cyber habits during the busy shopping season. Beware of deals that seem too good to be true — often they are. Information Assurance provides tips and resources to keep you and your information safe while online.