Tag Archives: network

Better protection for U-M networks

ITS began implementing components of a greatly enhanced network security threat detection and mitigation system in late June. This approach combines cutting edge technologies, open source tools, and U-M’s MITN threat intelligence framework to provide a security solution that scales across U-M networks. It will allow ITS to:  Detect and mitigate network threats across more U-M networks.  Extend… Read More »

MACC network power validation aims to improve reliability

The Network and Data Center (DC) teams recently partnered to perform a power validation for the network devices at the Michigan Academic Computing Center (MACC). The focus of the effort was to conduct a field audit to evaluate the current state of the network device power, identify areas of improvement, and make recommendations for future changes. This validation… Read More »

Researcher helps websites better direct their internet traffic

By | May 3, 2019

A paper co-authored by Harsha Madhyastha, professor of computer science, has been awarded an Applied Networking Research Prize by the Internet Engineering Task Force. Madhyastha and researchers from Facebook and three other participating universities presented a system called Edge Fabric that large content providers can use to smartly direct traffic over the internet. Facebook uses this system to… Read More »

ITS sets up new DNS authoritative server in AWS

By | December 13, 2018

Members of the ITS CITP (Cloud Infrastructure Transformation Program) technical team, working with the ITS Hostmaster, have created a Domain Name Service (DNS) authoritative server in Amazon Web Services (AWS) to increase resiliency. There are two types of DNS servers: resolvers and authoritative. Computers send DNS questions (queries) to a DNS resolver. The resolver then finds the right… Read More »

Improved cell service for Crisler Center

By | December 11, 2018

Michigan basketball players, athletics staff, and Wolverine fans are benefiting from improved Verizon cellular service at Crisler Center this season. ITS partnered with Verizon, Facilities & Operations, and Athletics to install a Distributed Antenna System in Crisler Center that went live just before the first game. Antennas throughout the arena, concourse, and player development facilities will enhance overall… Read More »

ITS delivers first software-driven network at NCDC

The ITS Network team has successfully delivered a new ITS network in the North Campus Data Center (NCDC). Because the network was brand new, the teams explored some exciting network advancements as part of the project, including: adopting more modern networking practices, and including a network architecture that leverages EVPN-VXLAN in lieu of less-stable, legacy protocols. In addition… Read More »

U-M IT collaboration improves UMnet on the Ann Arbor campus

Kudos to the ITS UMnet team and our Michigan IT partners across the Ann Arbor campus for an effort that will result in a more secure and reliable UMnet enterprise network. In August, 2016, ITS Network Engineering audited the UMnet enterprise network and identified 300 instances where VLANs (virtual local area network) had been spanned across two or… Read More »

HITS implements 30-day network policy

The institutionally owned devices we use to do our work are kept secure by connecting regularly to the internal U-M network. Connecting ensures that our devices receive the patches and anti-virus protection that are typically installed automatically and daily whenever we are logged in. Effective August 16, 2018, Health Information Technology & Services (HITS) will implement a policy… Read More »

Dearborn ITS team wins staff award

A team from Dearborn’s Information Technology Services were among more than 75 staff members honored with Chancellor’s Staff Recognition Awards. Rex Chang, Chundao Che, Emily Hamilton, Sherie Modelski, and Jerry Van Couwenberghe from the Facilities ELB Hub won the exceptional team award. The award recognized their work with the Engineering Lab Building construction and renovation. The team led the effort… Read More »

Dearborn moves the Internet

It wasn’t an earthquake, but it sure shook things up. The start of a building renovation for the Engineering Lab Building (ELB) required moving the network connection for the Dearborn campus. A collaborative team built of Dearborn ITS, Merit, and Ann Arbor ITS Infrastructure created new network paths that not only added redundancy and stability, but they did… Read More »

Michigan Medicine completes NAC project

Michigan Medicine recently achieved a significant goal of ensuring that 100 percent of all devices connecting to its internal network by wire are accounted for, categorized by device type, and secured with the necessary protocols required to protect two-way communication from cyberattacks. A program to enhance network security and identify all electronic equipment connecting to Michigan Medicine internal resources… Read More »

Secure your home wireless network

If you use a wireless internet connection at home, secure your network so that only those you allow can access it. There are two basic steps to securing your home wireless connections: Update all your Internet-enabled devices with the latest operating systems, web browsers, and security software. This includes any mobile devices that access your wireless network, such as… Read More »

UM-Flint wireless and network upgrades

By | February 20, 2018

This past year, UM-Flint ITS began a push to overhaul and upgrade the wireless network on the Flint campus. The wireless infrastructure upgrade entered phase one as the equipment purchased in 2010 has finally reached the end of life and end of support stage. Phase one of the project included all university-owned buildings south of the Flint River,… Read More »

DNS Re-address Project nears completion

In an effort to further secure and reduce the complexity of U-M networks, ITS Infrastructure has worked for the past year with unit IT representatives to change the IP addresses of U-M’s domain name system (DNS) resolver servers from public to private. The goals of the project were to: Improve security by reducing internet threats that exploit DNS resolvers.… Read More »

As Michigan Medicine grows, so does the need for technology

The first thing you notice when entering West Ann Arbor-Parkland Plaza health center might be the welcome desk, floor-to-ceiling windows, or charming artwork. It probably isn’t the WiFi access points, label printers, or network cables. Randy Smith, a network architect with Health Information Technology & Services (HITS), knows how integral that technology is to the health center’s day-to-day… Read More »

TapDancing around the censors

By | August 21, 2017

What if circumventing internet censorship didn’t rely on some app or service provider that could eventually get blocked, but was instead built into the very core of the internet itself? After six years in development, three research groups including the University of Michigan have joined forces to conduct real-world tests of an experimental new technique called “refraction networking.” They… Read More »