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Reactivate your username before 1 April

Monday, February 8th, 2021

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

Fortinet VPN replaced by Citrix gateway

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021

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However, FortiClient is built on outdated technology and from the end of February no longer be the default VPN (Virtual Private Network).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

Maintenance weekend: 19 February

Monday, February 1st, 2021

 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.

Warning: Sextortion scam

Monday, February 1st, 2021
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]

Exceptional efforts by IT colleagues

Friday, December 4th, 2020

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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