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[:en]Reactivate your username before 1 April[:af]Heraktiveer jou gebruikersnaam voor 1 April[:]

Monday, February 8th, 2021

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Network access (usernames) for staff will expire at the end of March unless you reactivate your username.

We suggest that you reactivate yours as soon as possible to ensure uninterrupted access to IT services (internet, email, SUN-e-HR etc.). Keep in mind that the cost centre manager still has to approve your request before your username is reactivated; allow sufficient time for this to be done to avoid disruption of your service.

You will receive an email from helpinfo@sun.ac.za indicating that your username (“engagement”) will expire soon. Three notifications will be sent before the end of March. Alternatively, you can go directly to the reactivation page.

Once logged into the reactivation page, you can select the services you want to reactivate.  You are encouraged to read the ECP (Electronic Communication Policy) before reactivating.

Choose the services (network / email usernames and internet usernames) you want to register for (see images below).

 

Reactivation of internet usernames is no longer necessary and can be ignored.

Make sure you select the correct cost points and if you’re unsure ask your cost centre manager. Click Accept and Reactivate.

 You will receive a notification stating that your request has been submitted, as well as a confirmation email. 

The webpage will indicate that it will be activated as soon as it has been approved by the cost centre manager. When the cost centre manager approves the reactivation request access will be extended to the end of March next year.

If you have completed these steps successfully and still receive emails from helpinfo@sun.ac.za urging you to reactivate, please go back to the reactivation page and make sure the appropriate boxes are checked: Your Network / Email usernames Your Internet usernames

 If you are still not able to reactivate, please raise a request at servicedesk.sun.ac.za

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Alle personeel se netwerktoegang en gebruikersname verval outomaties einde Maart, tensy jy dit heraktiveer.

Om te verseker dat jy ononderbroke toegang tot IT-dienste (byvoorbeeld e-pos, internet, SUN-e-HR) het, stel ons voor dat jy dit so gou as moontlik afhandel. Neem in ag dat die kostepuntbestuurder eers jou aansoek moet goedkeur voordat jou toegang heraktiveer is. Laat dus voldoende tyd toe dat die proses afgehandel kan word sodat jou diens nie onderbreek word nie. 

Jy sal ʼn e-pos van helpinfo@sun.ac.za ontvang wat aandui dat jou gebruikersnaam (“engagement”) gaan verval. Drie waarskuwings word gestuur voor einde Maart. Alternatiewelik kan jy ook  direk na die heraktiveringsblad gaan wanneer jy verkies.

Sodra jy aangeteken is op die heraktiveringsblad, kan jy kies watter dienste jy wil heraktiveer. Bo-aan die bladsy, kry jy die geleentheid om die EKB (Elektroniese Kommunikasiebeleid) te lees. Ons beveel aan dat jy dit eers lees sodat jy jouself kan vereenselwig met die voorwaardes wat verbonde is aan jou netwerkgebruik. 

Kies die dienste waarvoor jy wil heraktiveer:

 

Heraktivering van internet-gebruikersname is nie meer nodig nie en kan geignoreer word.

Maak seker dat die korrekte kostepunt en projek (indien van toepassing) ingevul is.

Kliek Accept and Reactivate.

Die webblad sal aandui dat jou versoek ontvang is en dat jy ʼn e-pos sal kry wanneer dit goedgekeur is. Jy sal ook dadelik ʼn e-pos kry om te bevestig dat jou versoek ontvang is. 

Die useradm webwerf sal aandui dat die aansoek nog goedgekeur moet word deur die kostepuntbestuurder. Sodra dit goedgekeur is, sal die toegang geskuif word na einde Maart volgende jaar.

Indien bogenoemde stappe suksesvol voltooi het en jy nogsteeds e-posse ontvang vanaf helpinfo@sun.ac.za  oor heraktivering, kontak asb. die IT Dienstoonbank by  021 808 4367 of stuur ʼn e-pos aan help@sun.ac.za. Die rede hiervoor mag die status van jou rol by die universiteit wees. 

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[:en]Fortinet VPN replaced by Citrix gateway[:af]FortiClient VPN vervang met Citrix[:]

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021

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Many of you have been using FortiClient VPN for quite some time to access internal University services i.e.

  • TeraTerm
  • SSH or remote desktop to your work computer/server, usually for access to specialist software or resources.
  • Full drive mapping (G: H: and P:) and scope of services as if you are in your office. 

However, FortiClient is built on outdated technology and from the end of February no longer be the default VPN (Virtual Private Network).

The new service has been made available by Information Technology for students and staff.  Citrix Gateway will allow you to access internal, University network-based applications from the Internet. This service, as well as the University, is protected and secured by multi-factor authentication for identity verification and requires that a device must meet specific security requirements before it is allowed on the University’s network.

Windows users:

If you are a Windows user, we recommend that you replace FortiClient with Citrix Gateway as soon as possible. 

Linux users:

Unfortunately, our Linux users can only use Citrix on the following versions: 

  • Ubuntu LTS 14.04 LTS and 16.04 LTS. (32-bit and 64-bit)  

If you are using other versions of Linux, you will still have to use FortiClient until an alternative becomes available. FortiNet installation instructions can be found here. 

Apple users:

Users with Apple devices such as MacBooks and iMacs can log a request for assistance on the ICT Partner Portal.

How to I get Citrix Gateway?

Students and permanent staff with Windows devices can migrate to the new VPN service by going to their web browser to the site https://securevpn.sun.ac.za and follow the on-screen instructions.

SunID users need to log a request on the ICT Partner Portal and select the Remote Access option right at the top. Once a technician contacts you and all required info is received, you can migrate to SU VPN MSP service by going to their web browser to the site https://suvpnmsp.sun.ac.za and follow the on-screen instructions.

Alternatively, you can log a request for assistance with the setup of VPN on the ICT Partner Portal.

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Heelwat personeel gebruik reeds vir `n geruime tyd die FortiClient VPN om toegang te kry tot die Universiteit se interne dienste, byvoorbeeld

  • TeraTerm
  • SSH of remote desktop na jou werkrekenaar of bediener vir toegang tot spesialisprogrammatuur of -bronne.
  • Drive mapping (G: H: en P:) en ander dienste asof jy in jou kantoor is. 

FortiClient is egter gebou op verouderde tegnologie en is sedert einde Februarie nie meer die verstek VPN (Virtual Private Network) diens nie.

Informasietegnologie het die nuwe diens beskikbaar gemaak vir personeel en studente. Citrix Gateway sal jou toegang gee tot interne, Universiteitsgebaseerde toepassings via die Internet. Hierdie diens, sowel as die Universiteit, word sodoende beskerm deur veelfaktorbekragtiging vir die verifikasie van identiteit en vereis ook dat `n toestel moet voldoen aan spesifieke vereistes voordat dit op die US-netwerk toegelaat word.

Windows-gebruikers:

Indien jy `n Windows-gebruiker is, stel ons voor dat jy so gou moontlik FortiClient met die Citrix Gateway programmatuur vervang.

Linux-gebruikers:

Ongelukkig kan Linux-gebruikers Citrix op slegs die volgende weergawes gebruik: 

  • Ubuntu LTS 14.04 LTS en 16.04 LTS. (32-bit en 64-bit)  

Indien jy enige ander Linux-weergawes gebruik, moet jy ongelukkig steeds FortiClient gebruik totdat `n alternatief beskikbaar is. Instruksies vir die installasie van FortiNet is hier beskikbaar. 

Apple-gebruikers:

Gebruikers met Apple-toestelle soos MacBooks en iMacs kan `n versoek aanteken op die ICT Partner Portal vir hulp met installasies.

Hoe kry ek die Citrix Gateway-programmatuur?

Studente en permanente personeel wat Windows gebruik kan migreer na die Citrix VPN-diens deur via hulle webblaaier te gaan na https://securevpn.sun.ac.za en die instruksies te volg.

SunID-gebruikers moet asb. `n versoek aanteken op die ICT Partner Portal en die Remote Access-opsie heel bo kies. Sodra `n tegnikus jou gekontak het en al die inligting is verskaf, kan jy migreer na die SU VPN MSP-dien deur na https://suvpnmsp.sun.ac.za te gaan en die instruksies op die skerm te volg.

Alternatiewelik kan jy `n versoek aanteken om hulp aan te vra met die opstelling van VPN op die ICT Partner Portal

 

 

 

 

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[:en]Maintenance weekend: 19 February[:af]Onderhoudnaweek: 19 Februarie[:]

Monday, February 1st, 2021

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 Information Technology will be conducting maintenance on various components of the IT infrastructure over the weekend of 19 February and some downtime can be expected. 

Quarterly, scheduled maintenance will be taking place from Friday, 19 February at 17:00 to Monday, 22 February at 08:00. Various IT services and systems are affected by this and can become unavailable, partly or entirely.

During the maintenance weekend the current outdated firewall which provided access to off-campus internet will be upgraded to new technology. This will result in estimated internet downtime from Saturday, 20 February at 10:00 to Sunday, 21 Feb 2021 at 12:00. 

Due to the extent of this maintenance and the necessity for thorough testing of systems and services the possibility exists that some interruptions might occur into Monday.

Please rest assured that we will try our best to limit interruptions to a minimum. For inquiries please log a request on the ICT Partner Portal.

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Informasietegnologie sal gedurende die naweek van 19 Februarie onderhoud uitvoer op verskillende komponente van die IT infrastruktuur. Gevolglik sal daar tye wees wanneer stelsels nie beskikbaar is nie.

Kwartaallikse, geskeduleerde onderhoud vind plaas vanaf 17:00 Vrydag, 19 Februarie tot 08:00 Maandag, 22 Februarie. Verskeie IT dienste en stelsels word hierdeur geraak en kan gedeeltelik of in geheel nie beskikbaar wees nie.

Gedurende die onderhoudnaweek sal die huidige, verouderde firewall, wat tot op hede toegang tot internet buite kampus gebied het, opgegradeer word. Die opgradering sal lei tot beraamde  internet onbeskikbaarheid vanaf Saterdag, 20 Februarie 2021 om 10:00 tot Sondag, 21 Feb 2021 om 12:00. 

Weens die omvangryke onderhoud en die noodsaaklikheid vir deeglike toetsing van stelsels en dienste kan onderbrekings Maandag ook voortduur.

Wees verseker dat ons alles binne ons vermoë sal doen om onderbrekings tot die minimum te beperk. Vir navrae meld ʼn versoek aan op die ICT Partner Portal.

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[:en]Warning: Sextortion scam[:]

Monday, February 1st, 2021

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There is a “sextortion” email making the rounds at the moment and with many personnel and students still working andstudying from home, many are concerned about the risks.
 
“The device has been successfully hacked” is a new ‘sextortion’ email scam for 2021. This email scam, like most sextortion scams, relies on “social engineering”, a process through which the scammers induce shame, panic or guilt. The scammers (the authors of the email) claim that they obtained material compromising the user (because of a computer hack, email account hack, router hack, etc) and threaten to publish it if the ransom is not paid. None these claims are true in any way; they are just deception.
 
The “The device has been successfully hacked” email message says that someone successfully hacked the recipient’s device and monitored it for a long time. The hacker claims that this was made possible by a virus installed on the device when the user visited the adult site. Using this virus, the hacker was able to record a video that compromises the user, and gained access to the user’s personal contacts, instant messengers, and social networks. If the recipient pays $1300 in Bitcoin, the hacker promises to delete all the data. Next, the scam email contains the bitcoin address to which the ransom should be transferred. This email is just a sextortion scam, and all the statements are fake. 
 
What to do when you receive the “The device has been successfully hacked” SCAM:

  • Do not panic.
  • Do not pay a ransom.
  • If there’s a link in the scam email, do not click it, otherwise you might unwittingly install malware or ransomware on your computer.
The mail will come from several e-mail addresses, which might very from user to user. Scammers use thousands of “throw-away” e-mail addresses to send out these scams.
 
If you do get such an e-mail use one of the two methods below to report it to IT Cyber Security as soon as possible. This way IT can filter and block the senders

By reporting it on the ICT Partner Portal.​​

Go to https://servicedesk.sun.ac.za/jira/servicedesk/customer/portal/6/create/115. 

Fill in your information and add the email as an attachment. Your request will automatically be logged on the system.​​

If you have accidentally responded to the phisher and already provided them with your personal details, it is vitally important that you immediately go to the USERADM page (either http://www.sun.ac.za/password or www.sun.ac.za/useradm and change your password immediately.)

Make sure the new password is completely different and is a strong password that will not be easily guessed, as well as changing the passwords on your social media and private e-mail accounts, especially if you use the same passwords on these accounts. Contact the IT HelpDesk if you are still unsure.

[ARTICLE BY DAVID WILES]

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[:en]Exceptional efforts by IT colleagues[:af]Uitsonderlike steun deur IT-personeel[:]

Friday, December 4th, 2020

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As we approach the end of a turbulent year caused by a global pandemic and shrinking economies, we are filled with gratitude and pride when we look back on what we achieved and prevented from happening this year. As we see many businesses failing, we recognise our vulnerabilities and exposure to business disruption. The fact that SU could not only maintain and continue its operations, but even accelerate its digitalisation strategy, is evidence of exceptional efforts by the IT colleagues of our university. Nobody foresaw what happened this year. Our response was remarkable, and successful.

More specifically, the following IT-related interventions should be highlighted for the significant contribution to business continuity and support of general productivity:

  • In March, immediate action by IT management in organising the necessary initiatives to upgrade and stabilise the IT infrastructure and services to support increased workload and data flow;
  • Collaboration across functional borders to arrange new services like the provision of laptops to students, and continuously organise the provision of data bundles to qualifying students;
  • Adjustments to administrative information systems to implement management decisions related to operational challenges;
  • Initiatives to form new support structures to support staff and students working at home;
  • Resilience and agility to continue with major projects and deliver on institutional requirements, without using the pandemic as an excuse;
  • Finally, the general willingness to make sacrifices, collaborate and conform to new protocols and ways of working.

To all our partners and colleagues in IT and other functions of the university, we express our sincere gratitude for what we achieved together. We are now in a much better position to plan for known and unknown challenges that may occur on our journey to a digitalised society and university. How soon we’ll get there, depends very much on this good start and our perseverance, maintaining quality standards and focus.

Best wishes for the festive season, and I hope that all of us of will enjoy some rest to prepare for the next challenging year.

Attie Juyn
Senior Director: Information Technology

25 November 2020

 

 

 

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Namate ons die einde van ʼn onstuimige jaar nader, gekenmerk deur ʼn wêreldwye pandemie en kwynende ekonomie, kyk ons dankbaar en trots terug na wat ons bereik en voorkom het. Terwyl etlike besighede gesluit het of aansienlike verliese gely het,  is die Universiteit ook gekonfronteer deur ons eie swakplekke en blootstelling aan besigheidsontwrigting. Die feit dat die US nie net sy normale bedryf kon handhaaf en voortsit nie, maar selfs die strategie vir digitalisering kon versnel, weerspieël die uitsonderlike diens van die Universiteit se IT-personeel. Niemand kon dié jaar se gebeure voorsien nie. Ons reaksie was voortreflik en suksesvol.

Die volgende IT-verwante ingrypings kan uitgelig word vir hulle beduidende bydrae tot besigheidskontinuïteit en ondersteuning van algemene produktiwiteit:

  • Onmiddellike aksie deur IT-bestuur in Maart om die noodsaaklike inisiatiewe in plek te sit vir die opgradering en stabilisering van die IT-infrastruktuur om sodoende die verhoogde werkslading en datavloei te kan ondersteun;
  • Samewerking oor funksionele grense heen om nuwe dienste te verskaf, byvoorbeeld die verskaffing van skootrekenaars aan studente, sowel as databondels aan kwalifiserende studente;
  • Aanpassings aan administratiewe inligtingstelsels om bestuursbesluite oor operasionele uitdagings te implementeer;
  • Inisiatiewe om nuwe ondersteuningstrukture te vorm wat personeel en studente wat tuis werk te ondersteun;
  • Aanpasbaarheid en buigsaamheid om voort te gaan met groot projekte en die aflewering daarvan volgens institusionele vereistes, sonder om die pandemie as ʼn verskoning te gebruik;
  • Laastens, die algemene bereidwilligheid om opofferings te maak, saam te werk en aan te pas by nuwe protokolle en werkwyses. 

Aan al ons vennote en kollegas in IT en ander funksies van die Universiteit spreek ons ons opregte dank uit vir wat ons saam bereik het. Ons is tans in ʼn veel beter posisie om te beplan vir bekende en onbekende uitdagings op ons pad na ʼn digitale samelewing en Universiteit. Hoe vinnig ons dit gaan bereik hang grotendeels af van hierdie goeie begin, ons uithouvermoë, die behoud van kwaliteit-standaarde en fokus.

Beste wense vir die jaarlikse feestyd, en ek hoop dat almal ʼn ruskansie sal geniet en voorberei vir ʼn nuwe uitdagende jaar.

Attie Juyn
Senior Direkteur: Informasietegnologie

25 November 2020

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