Halcyon Anti-Ransomware to Protect Campus Devices

no ransomware iconOver the past decade, the threat of ransomware has affected institutions ranging from hospitals to commercial businesses to K-12 and higher education. Ransomware consists of nefarious software installed on devices clandestinely to eventually encrypt your data to prevent access. The criminal then requests a ransom in order to decrypt your data. OIT will begin implementing a new software, Halcyon Anti-Ransomware, starting Tuesday, December 19, 2023, to help find and prevent ransomware, further protecting SMU’s sensitive data and business processes. Continue reading Halcyon Anti-Ransomware to Protect Campus Devices

Keep Learning: Technology Resources

Keyboard with button labeled "Learn"As you continue your academic studies in a new format, please know that we are here to support you. There have been many changes in the past few days to provide you with the necessary software and services from your current location.

Remember, if you have any technology issues that impact your ability to participate in a class or complete assignments, you need to communicate with your faculty early and reach out to the IT Help Desk to assist. Continue reading Keep Learning: Technology Resources

Student Software Installation Service Sets Up for Success

Student Software InstallsIt seems like obtaining and using all kinds of software has just gotten easier and easier. You can access an online version of Microsoft Office from your browser in seconds, powerful photo editing and other art tools are accessible in an instant from your PC or even your phone, and storage and processing of large files can simply be taken care of in the cloud. However, some software is still not as simple as we would like.

That’s where the IT Help Desk comes in. There are still many program installations for course requirements that are either lengthy, complicated, finicky, or all of the above. Starting in January 2017, the IT Help Desk began a student software installation service to assist with these difficult programs to make sure students have what they need for classes. Continue reading Student Software Installation Service Sets Up for Success

OIT Solutions Cheat Sheet

The Office of Information Technology AvatarIt is that time of year when new faculty and students come to campus wanting to take advantage of all that SMU has to offer. Many will come with experiences using different software and tools than those found on campus. While we are not a Google for Education school or use Dropbox Education, we have other solutions that will meet those needs. Continue reading OIT Solutions Cheat Sheet

Making PDF Files Accessible Starter Kit

While you may already know how to make PDF files in a jiffy, have you ever wondered if your documents were easily readable by those who use assistive technologies with their devices? Be it a software screen reader, a braille interpreter, or some other system, it is important to keep these in mind when creating a PDF. In this video tutorial, you will learn how to get started with Adobe Acrobat’s built-in accessibility settings that can quickly make your new and existing documents readable to as many people as possible. Continue reading Making PDF Files Accessible Starter Kit