Issue 27, November 9, 2021

We like to make sure new operating systems work with our campus services before we suggest you upgrade. But what if you purchase a new device that already has that new operating system on it?

We ask that if you are faculty or staff, please hold off on purchasing new Mac devices that have Monterey on them until we can make sure it works with everything. The biggest issue is it is not compatible with our network and AnyConnect - that means no WiFi, wired, or VPN connections.

We are 3+months into using UTHSC TechConnect as our new IT service site. Have you used it to request help with a service? Have you checked out a knowledge base article to find instructions on how to do something? Is there something you love about it? Is there something you hate about it? TechConnect is for you, our users, so we want to make it as good as it can be. But that requires your help.

Knowledge Base Articles

Each knowledge base article allows for feedback. Look at the end of the article, and you see a Was this helpful? section with Yes or No buttons. Just one click can give us the feedback we need! But, if it wasn't helpful, click the Comment button and tell us why. Don't be afraid - we can take it!

Service Catalog

Too many clicks to get to a particular service you need? Something listed in the wrong category? Don't see a service you are looking for? We don't have a feedback section in the Service Catalog, but you can give us feedback by emailing us at its@uthsc.edu, and we'll address the issue.

If there is something in TechConnect that you like or want to see changed, please let us know! Just email us at its@uthsc.edu. We appreciate all feedback, and who knows, we may mention you in a future newsletter as a TechConnect Superstar!

Free is good, right? Not always! Zoom plans to start rolling out adverts on free accounts.

As a part of the university, you already have a Zoom Licensed (Pro) account just waiting for you to use. A Zoom Licensed (Pro) account allows up to 300 attendees, meetings last more than 45 minutes, co-host option, polling, allows for screen sharing, and you can create waiting or breakout rooms.

Don't hesitate to contact the Service Desk at 901.448.2222 or submit a service request if you experience any issues with Zoom.

You have set up a Qualtrics account and are ready to create a survey, but you still have questions! Qualtrics has a quick Survey Tips & Tricks page to help you get started!

This page includes:

• Making a Submit Button
• Making an Inline Email Question Submit Immediately
• Allowing Respondents to Redo Survey Sections
• Customized Response Reports
• Allowing Respondents to Deselect Answers in a Multiple Choice Question

ATLAS.ti is a qualitative analysis software that helps the researcher organize, analyze, report, and visualize data in text and multimedia formats. ATLAS.ti also allows users to transcribe directly into the program and has an iPad and Android app for multimedia data collection.

Learn more about ATLAS.ti on OIT's Research Software website. Learn when to use it, where to run it, how to learn, and get help.

Microsoft has some excellent training courses we recommend:

Build Collaborative Workspaces in Microsoft Teams

Join us to explore effective, virtual workspaces for projects and workgroups. Microsoft Teams offer the flexibility to set up a workspace that suits your needs. Register

• Nov 10 - 12:00 - 1:00 pm
• Nov 19 - 11:00 - 12:00 pm

Intermediate Excel Skills - Dive Deeper Into Your Data

Take a dive into the intermediate features of Excel formatting, functions, and accessibility. Attendees taking this course should have a strong understanding of Excel’s basic features, navigation, functions, and custom formulas. Register

• Nov 11 - 1:00 - 2:00 pm
• Nov 18 - 3:00 - 4:00 pm

Fundamentals of Microsoft PowerPoint

Join us to explore effective, virtual workspaces for projects and workgroups. Microsoft Teams offer the flexibility to set up a workspace that suits your needs. Register

• Nov 10 - 1:00 - 2:00 pm

Last week, Matt Wade told us when to use Lists and Planner and Teams. This week, he talks about when to use SharePoint, OneDrive, or Microsoft Teams. As he said, it can be confusing because they all seem to do the same thing.

This 8-minute video by jumpto365 explains when you should use SharePoint and when you should use OneDrive.

Spoiler alert: When you share files in Teams, you are using SharePoint in the background.

Tribal knowledge happens when an entire process or essential process information resides only in an employee’s mind and poses a potential danger to your work and productivity. What if that person is out sick or quits? Important information or the process itself could be lost forever.

How do you prevent tribal knowledge from happening in your area? Ensure work is as standardized as possible (two people are doing the same job do it the same way), and all processes are documented. Just writing the steps down on a sheet of paper is a simple way to start!

ISixSigma has an excellent article about tribal knowledge. Even though the example given is about an assembly line, it is easy to understand what tribal knowledge is and the best ways to avoid it (cross-training, anyone?).

The holiday season is nearing. Soon millions of people will be looking to buy the perfect gifts, and many of us will shop online. Unfortunately, cyber criminals will be active as well, creating fake shopping websites and other online shopping scams to steal your information or money. Learn how you can find good deals without becoming a victim

Fake Online Stores

Criminals create fake online stores that mimic the look of real sites or use the names of well-known stores or brands. When you search for the best online deals, you may find yourself at one of these fake sites. By purchasing from such websites, you can end up with counterfeit or stolen items, or your purchases might never be delivered. Take the following steps to protect yourself:

• When possible, purchase from online stores you already know, trust, and have done business with previously. Bookmark these online stores.
• Be suspicious of ads or promotions on search engines or social media that are significantly lower than those you see at the established online stores. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it may be a scam.
• Be careful with websites that have no way to contact them, broken contact forms, or use personal email addresses.
• Be suspicious if a website looks just like the one you've used in the past, but the website domain name or the name of the store is different. For example, you may be used to shopping at Amazon, whose website address is www.amazon.com, but end up at a fake website that looks similar but has the website address www.amazonshoppers.com.
• Type the name of the online store or its web address into a search engine to see what others have said about it. Look for terms like "fraud," "scam," "never again," and "fake."
• Protect your online accounts by using a unique, strong password for each of your accounts. Can't remember all your passwords? Consider storing them all in a password manager.

Keep your guard up even when shopping at trusted websites. Online stores often offer products sold by third parties - different individuals or companies - that might have fraudulent intentions. Such online destinations are like real-world markets, where some sellers are more trustworthy than others.

• Check each seller's reputation before placing the order by reading their reviews.
• Be wary of sellers who are new to the online store, lack reviews, or sell items at unusually low prices.
• Review the online store's policy on purchases from such third parties.
• When in doubt, purchase items sold directly by the online store, not by the third-party sellers that participate in its online marketplace.
• Even with legitimate vendors, be sure that you understand the seller’s warranty and return policies before making your purchase.

Online Payments for Purchases

Regularly review your credit card statements to identify suspicious charges. If possible, enable the option to notify you by email, text, or app when a charge is made. If you find any suspicious activity, report it to your credit card company immediately. Use credit cards instead of debit cards for online payments. Debit cards take money directly from your bank account; if fraud is committed, you'll have a much harder time getting your money back. Electronic payment services or e-wallets such as PayPal are also a safer option for online purchases since they do not require you to disclose a credit card number to the vendor. Avoid websites that only accept payment in cryptocurrency or require obscure payment methods.

Just because an online store has a professional look does not mean it's legitimate. If the website makes you uncomfortable, don't use it. Instead, head to a well-known site you can trust or have safely used in the past. You may not find that incredible deal, but you are much more likely to avoid getting scammed.

SANS OUCH! Newsletter – Mark Orlando

Ron South
In each issue, we feature one of our amazing ITS team members. We learn more about Ron South with our Network Services & Telecommunications team in this segment.

What is your role and how long have you been in ITS at UTHSC? I am coming up on 2 years at UTHSC. I started off as a temporary employee assisting ITS with upgrading computers around the campus.  Officially I joined as a full-time employee in January 2020 in the Networking department.  Recently I have made the transition to the telecom department where I have been made the lead in rolling out a new cloud-based VoIP phone system.

What is a day in the life of Ron like? Lately, my full attention has been dedicated to the rollout of the new RingCentral unified communication solution to the campus.  This includes data collection, system design, and configuration.

What is your favorite thing about working at UTHSC? Without question, my favorite thing about working at UTHSC is the amazing people I have the privilege of working alongside.  I have never worked with so many kind and helpful people in my entire IT career.

What’s something most people don’t know about you? I met my wife while I was backpacking around the globe. I traveled between 15 countries over the course of a year before we met. We lived together in Morocco for over a year before returning together to Memphis.