Information Technology (IT)

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Message from your peer facilitator:
You can download free software including SPSS and Microsoft Office to your personal computer. You can also use modules from LinkedIn Learning for online lectures, which are free for faculty and students.

3.6 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

CSUN's Information Technology team is here to support you with effective, secure, reliable technology infrastructure and technology services.  You can find information about most of their resources and services on their website and in the video below, and we'll highlight a few things here.

You can also visit the IT Training Guides page provides an overview of the ongoing list of campus technologies available to you at CSUN with some tutorials that will help you get started exploring some of those tools. 

 

Need Technical Assistance?

In the classroom, use the classroom phone to call x1500 for Classroom Support.

In your office, check with your department to find out who your department's technicians are.

From home, you can check the CSUN IT Help webpage or call (818) 677-1400.

For learning technology and applications, call the Faculty Technology Center at (818) 677-3443 or visit the FTC Walk-In Center University Library 33; more information about Instructional Technology Links to an external site. also appears later in this resource.

 

Safe Computing

In addition to completing your Security Awareness Training as soon as possible, here are some suggestions for safe computing:

  • Keep all software up to date
  • Use anti-virus software to scan for viruses
  • Never respond to or open suspicious emails; forward all such emails to abuse@csun.edu. Sometimes a malicious email comes disguised as an email from IT. 
  • Control access to your computer and ID: don't give your login information to anyone, and don't stay logged in to your computer when you aren't there
  • Protect sensitive data in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel by encrypting it
  • Self-enroll for DUO authentication. Learn more about it below.

 

DUO Multi-Factor Authentication duo authentication logo

All CSUN faculty and staff are asked to verify their identity using a second layer of security to their online accounts. You will need to self-enroll to DUO authentication using your CSUN email to log in to the myNorthridge Portal, and follow the instructions for the Multi-Factor Self-Enrollment under the in the Information Security section. 

You will need DUO authentication in order to log in to your CSUN email and all CSUN applications. It might feel time consuming to do those steps at first, but, the good news is that you will be able to reduce the times you are asked to log in, depending on the verification method you choose. Also, for security reasons, don't respond to a DUO prompt unless you have initiated it.

 

Software and Applications

Visit My CSUN Software to gain access to software.  Here are some highlights:

Microsoft Office is available to download on up to five personal devices, but can be accessed online without a download.  It is available free to students and faculty.  It is also integrated with My CSUN Box.

My CSUN Box Links to an external site. is secure cloud file storage and allows you to collaborate with faculty, staff, and students.

The CSUN Mobile App has a campus map, building and parking directions, faculty and student directories, and is used by students to enroll in classes.

LinkedIn Learning is available to faculty and students at no cost; they offer various training topics in their video library that you can use in addition to CSUN's own training guides.

Canvas is CSUN's learning management system. Visit this webpage to find tips and support materials to help you use Canvas. 

Other software that could be offered to your students includes SPSS, Adobe Master Collection (only on-campus), Mathematica, MATLAB, AutoCAD, ArcGIS, Project, and Visio.

 

WiFi on Campus

Use "eduroam" for wifi on campus.  After logging in once with your CSUN email and password, your device should allow you to use eduroam without logging in.  Eduroam is a secure, encrypted network available in most places on campus.  You can find connection instructions here.

 

🏡 Information Security Tips For Faculty

Whether teaching on campus or online, here a few important recommendations that CSUN's Information Security wants new faculty to know:

  1. You probably know this already, but just to reinforce this safety step, do not to share your name, your password and your ID number online or over the phone. 
  2. Before you give someone remote access to your computer, double check the identity of the IT expert helping you. 
  3. Do you need to get work done somewhere outside your home's network? Lot's of places use an unsecured Wi-Fi for customers. CSUN offers you a virtual private network (VPN) to keep you and your work protected in those situations.
  4. Sometimes emails containing links to log in to the university system are not what you think they are. Check the URL always. It's a good practice to open up a new browser window and search for the relevant login page before and then, typing your CSUN credentials. Apply the same caution to online messages or phone calls that seem a little suspicious to you.
  5. Stop for a second before downloading email attachments. Do you recognize the file type at then end of the file name (e.g. .doc, .pdf, .rtf)? If it seems strange, double check with the sender before downloading to your computer.
  6. Use MyCSUNBox or Confidential Box to store your files. These services are excellent resources available for you to backup your class content in case something unexpected happens to your computer preventing you from accessing your files.
  7. Never pay ransomware and report such attacks to IT immediately.
  8. Zoom has indeed become the most popular tool during remote learning. Zoom is very secure but we also recommend that you review IT's page on Zoom Security and Updates and become familiar with FERPA privacy rights and CSUs policies. Review the Chancellor's Office policies about the use of cameras and proctoring tools in the Policies to Know page Links to an external site..