Author: Joshua

MSU IT is launching the 2026 Cybersecurity Awareness Training Program, a required annual course designed to help faculty and staff recognize today’s most common cyber threats and take simple steps to protect both personal and university data. 

Beginning March 18, all MSU faculty and staff will receive an email from the Ability Learning Management System with a link to the mandatory training and detailed instructions. Read Full Article →

This notice only applies to individuals who use Notepad++ and have not yet updated. 

The MSU community should be aware of a recently disclosed global security incident involving Notepad++, a text editing application commonly used for programming and document editing. 

A third-party hosting provider for the Notepad++ website experienced a compromise between June and December 2, 2025. Read Full Article →

Rich Czarnecki, MSU Chief Information Officer, has been named the 2025 Michigan CIO of the Year ORBIE Award winner in the Large Enterprise category. The award was presented on Thursday, December 4, during a ceremony at The Henry in Dearborn, Mich. 

“This award is really about the incredible work of our MSU IT team and recognition of the strong relationships we’ve built with our campus partners,” Czarnecki said. Read Full Article →

In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, join Michigan State University’s Chief Information Security Officer Andy Weisskopf on October 9, 2025, at 2 p.m. for a compelling panel discussion alongside top CISOs from other Big Ten institutions.  

This session, titled “Securing the Mission: Building Awareness and Resilience in Higher Ed,” will explore the evolving cybersecurity landscape in higher education. Read Full Article →

MSU IT is celebrating a significant milestone in IT modernization. The successful completion of the Oracle Exadata Migration Project, completed this spring, marks a transformative step forward in our IT landscape. This project brings numerous benefits to campus, providing a central environment with a smaller server footprint for all enterprise application databases, which addresses future growth and sustainability. Read Full Article →

MSU IT is committed to delivering a secure and seamless digital experience for every Spartan—whether student, faculty, staff, alumni, or healthcare partner. Our Identity and Access Management (IAM) program is a cornerstone of that commitment, ensuring that the right people have the right access to the right resources at the right time.  Read Full Article →

Beginning July 15, all instances of Java SE installed on MSU-managed devices will be replaced in phases with OpenJDK, a more cost-effective solution, to promote standardization across all units and to align with MSU’s operational excellence initiatives. 

Replacing the Java SE software with a standard, secure, and open-source solution such as OpenJDK is the recommended approach, one that’s already been taken by fellow higher education peers.  Read Full Article →

MSU IT is advancing operational excellence and improving the multifactor authentication user experience with passwordless authentication for users with compatible devices. You can now use your face or fingerprint to sign in to MSU applications and systems using the same technology that unlocks your phone or laptop. 

Okta FastPass is available on the MSU login screen. Read Full Article →

MSU IT is empowering Spartans to identify cybersecurity threats and protect both personal and institutional data by launching a new multi-phased annual cybersecurity awareness training program.  

Phases 

• Spring 2025: Full-time Faculty and Staff 

• Fall 2025: Students 

Participants will receive an email from the Ability Learning Management System (LMS) with a link to the training and instructions during their respective training phases. Read Full Article →

The digital era is advancing at Michigan State University as the success of students, faculty, staff, researchers, and guests depends heavily on cellular communication services every day. The MSU IT Unified Communications Team is dedicated to ensuring that these services are not only maintained but continually upgraded to keep pace with the ever-changing world of technology.  Read Full Article →