Microsoft – IT Connect

Microsoft SharePoint Vulnerability: We’re OK!

In July 2025, a major security vulnerability—identified as CVE-2025-53770—was uncovered in on-premises versions of Microsoft SharePoint Server. This isn’t just another small bug fix. The flaw is so serious that attackers are actively exploiting it around the world, gaining unauthorized access to organizational data and systems, even bypassing identity protections like Multi-Factor Authentication and Single Sign-On.

How Serious Is It?

Continue reading Microsoft SharePoint Vulnerability: We’re OK!

Microsoft Defender to Replace Cylance for Anti-Virus at SMU

Microsoft Defender logo All SMU Windows computers will transition from using CylancePROTECT to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint as an anti-malware application during the summer of 2023. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is an industry-leading, cloud-powered endpoint security solution that helps to secure against ransomware, file-less malware, and other sophisticated attacks on Windows and macOS devices. Due to technical issues, the deployment for macOS will be scheduled during the upcoming academic year. Continue reading Microsoft Defender to Replace Cylance for Anti-Virus at SMU

Power Apps and Academic Advising: Streamlining Processes

“Power Apps have the potential to revolutionize the way we approach app development,” said Jorge Cruz, OIT Senior System Administrator, during a recent meeting about Microsoft’s low-code platform. If you’re unfamiliar with Power Apps, it’s a tool that allows users to build custom business applications without extensive coding knowledge. But what exactly makes Power Apps such a game-changer?

One of the main advantages of Microsoft Power Apps is its ability to integrate with other products such as Office Online, Forms, One Drive, SharePoint, and Teams. Several areas on campus, such as the Center for Family and Counseling and Development and External Affairs, have already been utilizing the Power Platform suite. On April 5, 2023, Academic Advising also used the Power Platform suite to launch their new Degree Planner Issues/Request Tracker. Continue reading Power Apps and Academic Advising: Streamlining Processes

Gear Up for Greatness with OIT Training Opportunities

OIT Instructor-Led Training

Our schedule is posted on smu.edu/ittraining, and includes sessions ranging from Sitecore basics, content creation with Adobe tools, and a telephone feature Q&A.

Want to view our sessions on your own schedule? Our more popular sessions are recorded and available on-demand at https://www.smu.edu/OIT/Training/WebinarArchives

Here are even more training resources to explore: Continue reading Gear Up for Greatness with OIT Training Opportunities

MS Teams Now Open to All!

Microsoft Teams Logo The month of April proved to be a successful one for our Microsoft Teams rollout, with the early adopter program helping to tie up loose ends. Now, we are opening up Teams to the entire SMU community!

SMU faculty, staff, and students can now head to smu.edu/teams, click the Login button, and use their SMU e-mail and password to access this new service for cloud-based team collaboration. Once you’ve accessed Teams, you can create your own teams and invite individuals to chat and collaborate on projects. Plus, as an educational institution, we also get additional features tailored to academic uses.

If you’re ready to learn more about Microsoft Teams, we have some resources for you. In addition to Microsoft’s ten-part training video series, there are several courses available in LinkedIn Learning that you can access.