News Archives

UBC Okanagan CMS Maintenance

Please note the UBCO WordPress CMS is scheduled for maintenance on August 6th between 6:00pm and 8:00pm.  Sites affected include any website on the Okanagan based WordPress CMS.

Your website may be unavailable during this maintenance period but will automatically come back online. Some periodical maintenance messages may appear during this maintenance window so please refrain from making website changes or adding content during this time.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Web and Applications team by entering a ticket in the helpdesk.

Thank you.

 

UBC IT Okanagan Website Redesign Launch – July 16, 2020 15:00-17:00

UBC IT Okanagan will be launching a redesigned it.ok.ubc.ca website on July 16, 2020 15:00-17:00. During this maintenance period, the it.ok.ubc.ca website may be unavailable intermittently.


The new UBC IT Okanagan website will feature:

  • A new Service Catalogue quick search filter
  • Simplified, clearer Support and Contact pages
  • Quicklinks to commonly used products and services
  • Dynamic lists of Popular, New, and Featured articles from the UBCO Knowledge base (KnowIT)
  • More communication sources for UBC IT bulletins, social media, and general news/updates
  • A modern, polished, user-friendly design using the UBCO WordPress CMS

For questions and feedback on the new UBC IT Okanagan website feel free to contact:

Steve Quilala
UBCO IT Web & Applications
steve.quilala@ubc.ca

UBC Upgrading to Improved Malware Protection Solution

Cisco Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) is now the recommended and preferred malware protection solution for all computers managed by UBC IT.  This solution will replace Sophos Antivirus for all UBC supported desktops and laptops, with the UBC Sophos Antivirus license expiring July 29, 2020. 

What does this mean?

Computers provided by UBC Okanagan – Windows and Mac (those with a UBC asset tag - apart from a small number of workstations that may be attached to research instruments)– will automatically have Sophos uninstalled and Cisco AMP installed starting in May in advance of the Sophos expiration.

UBC IT (Vancouver and Okanagan) will ensure that your UBC provided computer has up-to-date malware protection solution installed. The software is updated automatically and no action is required on your part to keep your software up-to-date and compliant with UBC’s Information Security Standard #07 (Securing Computing and Mobile Storage computers / Media) .

The roll out will be phased to ensure the transition is smooth and largely invisible to users. Notification will not be sent when the transition happens – it will occur silently in the background.

The only visible difference will be a new icon in the task tray (click here for detailed screenshots for different operations systems). 

Any new devices with the new operating system rolled out earlier this year have already been updated with Cisco AMP.

Some users have been identified as being at higher risk of attack by the UBC Cybersecurity Team. These users will have CrowdStrike Falcon Sensor installed on their UBC managed devices by UBC IT Okanagan instead of Cisco AMP. No action is required by these users for this alternative solution and the install will be completely invisible to these users.

Personal Devices

Please note: The following is for informational purposes only, as UBC IT Okanagan does not provide support for personal devices.

If you have used the UBC license for Sophos on a personally-owned computer, you can view a list of popular no-cost antivirus alternatives for personal devices recommended by UBC IT

Why is this important?

Anti-malware software (also known as antivirus software) is an important tool to help prevent cyber-attacks. UBC’s Information Security Standard #7 (Securing Computing and Mobile Storage computers / Media) requires that computing devices used for University Business must have up-to-date anti-malware software installed at all times, configured to update at least once per day.

This initiative is a planned upgrade for the whole university and is not part of the increased security precautions launched recently to combat the increasing risk of cyber attacks. However UBC IT Okanagan is coordinating this upgrade with the other security controls being deployed. For a full list and updated details on the increased cyber security matters, visit the Privacy Matters website.

Questions?

For more information on the upgrade, including frequently asked questions and technical references, please visit this page on the Cybersecurity Confidential Communications site (CWL login required) or contact privacy.matters@ubc.ca if you have any further questions.

Guidance for supervisors who are planning IT needs for working remotely

To all supervisors:

UBC IT Okanagan has been working with many staff members and units to begin moving to a remote work situation in line with the pilot underway supporting social distancing with the COVID-19 outbreak. We have received several calls from staff whom have enacted plans, only to run into complications at home and requiring further support.

Read the full message

Update – UBCO Service Desk Hours

March 26th, 2020 - With the recent announcement by the University of the need to take additional measures to support social distancing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UBC Okanagan IT Help Desk walk-in facility is closed until further notice. Customers can contact us via our ticketing system online at helpdesk.ok.ubc.ca or phone at 250-807-9000 from 7:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. Onsite appointments can be accommodated by request between the hours of 10am-12pm or 1pm-3pm by submitting a ticket (New ticket -> Something Else). For more details on how UBC IT has prepared to support the campus response to the COVID-19 virus please read the Community Update from the CIO.
March 20th, 2020 - Effective as of 4pm today the Service Desk will be closed for walk up traffic.  We are still open and available through our ticketing system at helpdesk.ok.ubc.ca or via phone at 250-807-9000 from 7:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. Onsite appointments can be accommodated by request from 9am-12pm or 1pm-3pm by submitting a ticket (New ticket -> Something Else). We appreciate your patience during this time as our staff deal with a very high volume of requests and transition to supporting the campus remotely.
March 16th, 2020 - Effective today we will be adjusting our service desk hours to 7:30am to 4:30pm for the time being. Currently this is for both phone hours and walk up service desk hours.  We expect further updates to follow as more information is available. For self-service options about working from home please see the following articles: UBC provided devices - https://knowit.ok.ubc.ca/article/working-remotely-with-a-ubc-okanagan-provided-device-1020.html Personal devices - https://knowit.ok.ubc.ca/article/working-from-home-using-a-personal-device-1021.html

Working from home: Supporting IT

If you are working from home, please remember that UBCO IT is working hard to support you. Wait times for calls and routine tickets are likely to be quite high. Systems are also under stress with the increased usage/workload. Please remember to:

Digital media experts share their knowledge

UBC Okanagan hosts Digital Media in Education Conference

What: Digital Media in Education Conference
Who: Award-winning digital media storytellers, social media experts
When: Wednesday, May 8 to Thursday, May 9
Where: The Commons, 3333 University Way, UBC Okanagan

Digital Media in Education ConferenceUBC Studios Okanagan has lined up experts in today’s digital world to share their knowledge at this year’s Digital Media in Education Conference.

The conference — titled Integrate: Expanding The Power Of Digital Media To Communicate and Educate — takes place over two days next week. Speakers include Emmy award-winning digital storyteller Michael Jorgensen and neurologist turned Youtube star Dr. Claudia Krebs.

There are a number of plenary and breakout sessions that will be led by digital media creators and specialists. All workshops are targeted towards people who are involved in writing, production or who work as a digital media professional. Attendees can also take away tips from the number of presentations including the Social Media Workshop sponsored by The Social School.

The conference is open to the public. A registration fee does apply. To find out more, contact event organizer Rosemary Thompson at 250 807 9832 or register at dme2019.ok.ubc.ca.

About UBC’s Okanagan campus

UBC’s Okanagan campus is an innovative hub for research and learning in the heart of British Columbia’s stunning Okanagan Valley. Ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world, UBC is home to bold thinking and discoveries that make a difference. Established in 2005, the Okanagan campus combines a globally recognized UBC education with a tight-knit and entrepreneurial community that welcomes students and faculty from around the world.

To find out more, visit: ok.ubc.ca.

Follow the leader: Lessons from female CIOs in higher education

Follow the Leader: Lessons from Female CIOs in Higher Education Event

Hear from a panel of three leading female CIO from BC’s post-secondary institutions about their leadership journey at Follow the Leader: Lessons from Female CIOs in Higher Education on March 8.

Presented by UBC Information Technology, learn how these three female leaders used their influence as senior executives, and the advice they would give to young professionals pursuing their own career path to leadership

Panel Moderator

  • Dianne LaPierre, co-president, Vancouver Women In Technology, and senior vice-president and chief information officer of Raymond James Ltd

Guest Panelists

  • Jennifer Burns, associate vice-president, technology and chief information officer for the University of British Columbia
  • Sally Felkai, chief information officer for Emily Carr University of Art + Design
  • Wency Lum, chief information officer for the University of Victoria

Event Details

Date: Friday, March 8, 2019
Time: 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Location: This event will be live streamed is available for those that are not be able to attend in person. If you will be in Vancouver and want to register for the live event, visit: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8kRkjhWOfIFnsC9

For more information on the event, visit: https://it.ubc.ca/follow-leader-lessons-female-cios-higher-education

Announcing associate directors for UBCO IT

Dear colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the appointment of two new associate directors for UBC Okanagan IT, Media and Classroom Services.

Read the full message

Advanced Malware Protection enabled on December 10

On Monday, December 10, UBC Cybersecurity will be enabling Cisco Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) for supported desktops and laptops at the Okanagan campus.

This solution is part of the ongoing effort to prevent malware on the UBC network and provides an extra layer of protection as a complement to UBC’s current malware protection (Sophos Anti-Virus). It will work to detect, contain and remove advanced malware.

In June, the Cybersecurity team deployed AMP in test mode only and you may have noticed a new icon Malware icon in your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac).

If you have any questions or comments about the Advanced Malware Protection system at UBC, please contact the UBC IT Service Centre at 22008 or help@it.ubc.ca.