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In Information Systems & Technology (IST) we strive to provide effective information systems, technology and services in support of learning, teaching, research and administrative needs.

On our site you'll find information on the IT services and resources available to students, faculty and staff; IST and campus-wide IT projects and initiatives; and information on our continuous efforts to provide an exceptional IT environment on campus.

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  1. May 14, 2021WCMS 3 Rebuild project: Invitation to participate in beta 2 testing phase

    What is happening? As we continue to move development of our new WCMS 3 website environment forward, we would like to invite you to participate in the next part of our testing strategy, the beta 2 testing phase.

    What is beta testing? Beta testing provides a structured approach to testing the features and functionality of WCMS 3, helping to identify bugs/issues/unexpected behaviours that cannot be caught through automated testing processes.

    How long is the beta 2 testing phase? The beta 2 testing phase will take place between May 19 and June 8, 2021.

    Who can participate in beta 2 testing? This testing phase is open to members of the University Community who have completed the WCMS for Content Maintainers (WCMS 2) training course.

    What can I expect during this testing phase?

    • Beta 2 websites will be built in the Pantheon environment and will not contain any content.
    • You may choose to rebuild a WCMS 2 website in WCMS 3 for the following reasons:
      • You want to rebuild a small site to familiarize yourself with the new platform.
      • You want to revamp an existing site entirely.
      • You have a non-standard (FDSU) site that you are eager to get in WCMS 3 and feel the current functionality will cover your use case (Reminder: only standard FDSU sites and some single-page site functionality will be supported in WCMS 3 at launch).
    • Alternatively, you may choose to begin building a brand-new website in WCMS 3.
    • Migration of WCMS 2 websites to WCMS 2 is not supported at this time.
    • WCMS 3 training notes will not be available during this testing phase.
      • Support requests may be submitted to wcms@uwaterloo.ca.
      • Training and support resources, and information on completing required WCMS 3 training courses, will be shared when ready.
    • Websites built during beta 2 testing are eligible to move from development to the live Pantheon environment on or after June 29, 2021.

    How do I participate in beta 2 testing?

    You may submit a request to https://uwaterloo.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/2/create/753.

    Notice a bug or issue with your site? Please submit any bugs and/or issues using the reporting form, https://uwaterloo.ca/building-the-next-wcms/acceptance-testing/beta-testing-bug-report-form.

    Questions or concerns? Please submit to the team via wcms@uwaterloo.ca.

  2. May 13, 2021Quest is moving to Oracle Cloud

    What is happening? The University’s student information system Quest will move from its current on-premises environment to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. The Oracle Cloud offering is pre-configured and tightly integrated with PeopleSoft Campus Solutions, the foundation on which Quest is built, and comes with Oracle’s database software Cloud Manager, a tool that enables optimization of resources, streamlines processes, and improves performance.

    Why is this change being made? Oracle's next-generation cloud infrastructure will provide a modern, high-performance environment for our Quest system. Leveraging real-time data analytics, the student information system team will be able to quickly scale development and production environments to meet demand. This leading-edge technology will ensure the Quest support team is in the best position to respond to feature and functionality requests, better supporting and enhancing your overall experience. Visit the project web page to view a full list of benefits.

    How will this change impact me?

    • There will be no change to visual elements within Quest, or in how students and/or employees interact with the system. 
    • This work will impact Quest's infrastructure only (i.e., work will be completed "behind the scenes").
    • Once Quest has been moved to the Oracle Cloud environment, hosting of Quest data will move from the University's on-premises data centres to Oracle Cloud's secure Canadian data centres, hosted in Toronto and Montreal. 

    How secure is Oracle Cloud? The continued privacy and integrity of Quest student information is and will continue to be the project's top priority. A security review and two privacy information risk assessments have been completed and no issues or risks were identified.

    This project will take a security by design approach, where Security Information Services will participate throughout the duration of the project, helping to design and review system configurations, conduct regular security assessments, and review and measure risks against the NIST-800-171 security standard. Summaries of this work will be made available on the project site.

    Learn more

    You are encouraged to visit the Quest moving to Oracle Cloud project page to learn more about this work, view the privacy and security assessment documents, see the project timeline, and project FAQs.

  3. May 10, 2021Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) now available for students

    What is happening? Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD), a Microsoft Azure-based system for virtualizing operating systems and applications, is now available for students to use for lab computers and software.

    What is Windows Virtual Desktop used for? Windows Virtual Desktop is a Microsoft cloud-based solution that gives users remote access to desktops and applications. WVD can be used as an alternative to, or augmentation of, physical computer labs.

    How do users access Windows Virtual Desktop? Students that have been given access to a department’s virtual lab can access Windows Virtual Desktop by logging in to www.wvd.uwaterloo.ca. 

    How do I set up a Windows Virtual Desktop environment? IT support staff can enable Windows Virtual Desktop for their department or faculty by submitting a request to rt@uwaterloo.ca. Visit the Windows Virtual Desktop service page for more information.

    Questions or concerns? Please contact the IST Service Desk, helpdesk@uwaterloo.ca or ext. 44357.

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