Zoom ToS update as it pertains to AI features and .EDU customers

by in , , ,

Zoom recently updated its terms of service and released Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for some of its customers. These AI tools are currently not available to CSUCI or to any other Zoom customers on the .EDU tenant. This includes the features recently announced called Zoom IQ Meeting Summary and Zoom IQ Team Chat Compose.

Zoom has acknowledged that further evaluation of their AI features in educational spaces is needed before they can offer AI features to customers with .EDU accounts. While CSUCI Zoom account holders will not encounter AI features in the CSU Zoom environment, here are the new AI features within Zoom that campus users should be aware of in case they participate in any Zoom meetings that are hosted outside of the .EDU environment: 

  • Zoom IQ Meeting Summary: a new AI meeting feature on Zoom that listens to meetings and offers automated meeting summaries to select users with AI features enabled. 
  • Zoom IQ Team Chat Compose: a new AI-powered chat tool that composes messages for users within the Zoom chat space.  
  • When a user enters a meeting with AI enabled, a pop-up message will appear upon joining the meeting, similar to the notification that a user sees when they enter a meeting that is being recorded, informing the meeting participant that AI is in use to create a “Meeting Summary”.

Individual users have the ability to enable or disable the AI features on their own personal Zoom accounts. If a CSU user joins a Zoom meeting that is hosted outside of a .EDU environment with AI enabled and they are uncomfortable with that, they can request that the host disable AI for the meeting. Regardless of whether AI features are enabled, you should NEVER share personal, confidential, or privileged information with users who are not affiliated with the CSU via Zoom chat or during meetings. 

Zoom’s updated terms of service will not impact how Zoom is typically utilized at CSUCI.


October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month!

by in , , , ,

October 2023 marks the 20th Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CSAM).

Cybersecurity Awareness Month

The focus of this year’s CMAM is on four key behaviors:

 

1.    Turning on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Having a strong password is not good enough; using MFA can increase your ability to prevent scammers from getting access to your accounts. MFA is available from Apple, Google, Microsoft, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other companies. To look for what companies offer MFA try using https://2fa.directory/us/  


2.    Using strong passwords and a password manager. It is difficult to remember different passwords for various applications, websites, and services, especially when they are complex. Having a good password manager can help keep your password organized.


3.    Updating software regularly. Your software on your phone, computer, and even your car needs regular updates. Not only do you get new features, but a lot of security fixes and enhancements are incorporated into the updates.


4.    Recognizing and reporting phishing. Take a moment and read the email. Who is the email address that sent the email? Never click on a link in the email; always go to the site by typing the address manually. For more tips on avoiding scams, the FTC has several more examples: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scam.

 

Bell Tower Classroom Upgrades

by in , , ,

Information Technology Services in partnership with Academic Affairs has upgraded 15 of the most used classrooms in the Bell Tower to provide a completely refreshed technology package. These new spaces include hybrid technology with a room camera and microphone to allow for added flexibility and a better experience for our remote students.

 


These classrooms conform to the latest A/V technology standards and were developed in coordination with internal and external campus stakeholders. Student MSFT (Materials, Services, Facilities, and Technology) fee funds were used for this upgrade which represents the largest non-new construction classroom upgrade in our campus’s history. This installation and integration were professionally done and completed on schedule. We are happy to report that initial feedback from faculty who have used the new technology has been very favorable. We look forward to seeing this new technology advance the mission of CSU Channel Islands.


ITS Tech Tips - July 2023 – ITS Service Portal

by in , , , , ,

When members of the CSU Channel Islands community need support with technology, they can rely on the Information Technology Services (ITS) Department to get the help that they need. We strongly encourage communication from end users so that we may best fulfil their needs.

Requesting Help from ITS

There are multiple ways to get ITS assistance. Firstly, users may visit the Solution Center Service Desk in Broome Library 1350 during business hours Monday through Friday for in-person assistance. The Solution Center may also be reached by phone at 805-437-8552 during business hours. Finally, tickets may be submitted using the ITS Service Portal to request assistance with technological needs.

Accessing the ITS Service Portal

The ITS Client Portal can be accessed by students, staff, and faculty by clicking the ITS Solution Center tile in myCI. The ITS Service Portal may also be accessed by guests or CSUCI users using the direct short link at http://go.csuci.edu/solutioncenter. If users do not have access to a laptop or desktop computer, the ITS Client Portal may also be accessed using mobile browsers on tablets or smartphones.

ITS Solution Center tile in myCI

Once the Service Portal has been accessed, users may browse the Knowledge Base by clicking the “Find Answers” button, access the Service Catalog by clicking the “Request Service” button, or view tickets that they have already submitted by clicking the “View Your Tickets” button. Let us briefly explore each of these links and the functions thereof that can be used to request IT assistance that you need.

Browsing the Knowledge Base

Browsing to ITS Knowledge Base

The Knowledge Base is where users can learn more about the services ITS offers and find solutions for commonly occurring technical issues. The Knowledge Base contains a library of articles that are categorized to assist with navigation. For instance, information regarding Webmail can be found under the Email, Calendars, and File Sharing category. Information about using VoIP phones and voicemail on campus phones can be found under the Telephone & Voicemail category. We encourage you to browse the Knowledge Base for general information about the services that you may need to help you carry out your daily operations.

Submitting ITS Requests

When further help is needed, you may submit ITS tickets using the ITS Service Catalog. Like the Knowledge Base, services and service offerings are categorized. For example, a user requesting assistance with connecting their devices to campus Wi-Fi would find the service that they are looking for under the Network and Connectivity category. For assistance with installing software, a ticket would be submitted under the Hardware, Software, Printing and Digital Signage Category, specifically under the Software subcategory.

Requestors may also use the search bar at the top of any page in the ITS Service Portal to easily search for articles or services related to their query. To narrow your search by category, use the “Search” link to run an advanced search.


Searching the ITS Service Portal

Finding Your Tickets

If you have already submitted an ITS ticket and want to obtain or provide an update, select “View Your Tickets” to access the Ticket Requests page. On this page, you will find a list of tickets that you have submitted (or those created on your behalf by the Solution Center). Using the Status filter, you may focus your search on tickets that are actively being worked on by ITS or refer back to closed tickets.

Guidelines for the Usage of AI-Powered Systems in a Professional Environment

by

AI-powered systems such as ChatGPT offer tremendous possibilities in a professional or academic environment. Such tools can reduce time spent completing repetitive tasks, assist with organization, and even streamline communication. Though usage of these tools may be convenient, end users must still ensure that sensitive data remains protected and secure. This article will provide an overview of guidelines to keep in mind when using AI-powered tools in a professional setting. 

Data Protection 

When using AI-powered tools, it is still important to ensure that any sensitive or confidential information remains safeguarded. Refrain from sharing personally identifiable information (PII) or any delicate university-related data with AI systems. 
 
For further information about data protection, please refer to Sensitive Data Storage Best Practices. 


Video Conference Sessions 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) bots such as Otter.AI and Read.AI are increasingly prevalent in virtual meetings conducted via Teams, Zoom, and other conferencing applications. While these tools may enhance convenience, they can also pose considerable privacy and security challenges. Much like recorded meetings, data is sent to the cloud where sensitive information could potentially be accessed. If you are in a meeting where a bot is present, do not hesitate to express your privacy concerns and request that recording be stopped. The host possesses the ability to disable these AI bots. 


Ethical Risks 

While Artificial Intelligence (AI) undoubtedly brings tremendous capabilities, it also introduces significant ethical risks that warrant careful consideration. Here are some key areas of concern: 

  • Bias: AI systems learn from data available on the Internet, which may inadvertently reflect discriminatory or biased viewpoints. 

  • Misinformation: Lacking inherent knowledge or the ability to fact-check, AI systems may propagate misinformation. 

  • Threat Actors: The powerful capabilities of AI can be exploited by malicious actors to disseminate false information, orchestrate social engineering attacks, or create convincingly deceptive content. 

  • Privacy Concerns: Interactions with AI often involve the exchange of personal or sensitive information. It is crucial to weigh the privacy and security implications of providing such information to an AI system, as unauthorized access or data breaches could result in the exposure of sensitive data. 

  • Accountability Challenges: AI systems function as tools, and the onus for their output ultimately falls on the users. This creates complexities in ascertaining responsibility if the system generates harmful or unethical content. As a safety measure, always scrutinize any content produced by AI. 


Vendor Due Diligence 

When engaging a third-party provider for AI services, it's important to understand the license agreement. IT Services should review the vendor's security policies, data safeguarding measures, and adherence to pertinent regulations. This ensures that their security practices are in harmony with CSUCI's established best practices. 


Training and Awareness 

Employees and students should be aware of the best practices for interacting with AI systems like ChatGPT and upholding the University's information security standards. Any inquiries or concerns should be promptly directed to the Information Security Team at infosec@csuci.edu. 

Accessing Campus Software using CIVL

by in , , , , , ,

In an effort to support remote work and learning, Information Technology Services (ITS) continues to offer access to the CI Virtual Lab (CIVL) to staff, faculty, and students.

Also referred to as a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), CIVL offers staff and faculty access to network file-shares (such as the G, S, or Z drives) and most applications and services used by faculty and staff without the need to connect through the GlobalProtect VPN.

Students may also use the CIVL to easily access applications for academic use, such as SPSS, Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, and more.

Click here to launch CIVL in your Web browser.


Please note that accessing CIVL requires no additional action by ITS. CIVL is an entirely self-service process that may be initiated by staff, faculty, or students.
 
ITS continues to recommend that university work be conducted on university-owned and university-issued devices that were previously defined for remote work. Students using CIVL for academic work may utilize their personally owned devices.

If assistance is needed with accessing CIVL, please submit an ITS Service Request, or contact the Solution Center at 805-437-8552.

Planned Power Outage for 11/21/21

by Unknown

On Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 there will be an all-day power shutdown to facilitate connecting to the campus electrical grid. The outage will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Facilities Services has worked with various areas across campus for specific requirements and Facilities will be providing generator power to those that will be negatively impacted by the temporary loss of power.

To prepare for this event ITS recommends that computers and related equipment be completely powered off at the end of the day prior to this outage.