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Administrator Privileges Adjustments
Administrator Privileges Adjustments
Changes to Software Installation Processes
In balancing ease-of-use with security concerns and compliance with government regulations, the processes by which software downloads are handled and executed have some changes that must be expressed. Firstly, adjustments have been made to comply with new government regulations such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 800-171 Rev. 2. To bring more awareness to the issue of software installation, there is a list of the ways that software installation can be performed detailed below.
Not all software requires Administrator Privileges
In many cases, software installed only for individuals, and not for everyone on the computer, will not require administrator privileges. As the industry becomes more cybersecurity conscious and realizes the impact cybersecurity has on the customers of their software, more software will provide options like this. Please ensure you read the software End User License Agreement (EULA) and/or Terms of Service (ToS) to ensure that you use of this software on behalf of CSUSM is allowed.
If you are unsure whether your software has been approved, feel free to contact the Information Technology Review team for licensing questions at itr@csusm.edu and we can help you. Software installed in this fashion will limit IT’s ability to update your software. You may be contacted by IT staff asking you to update software installed in this fashion or to offer help if a known vulnerability is discovered that puts you and the campus at risk for cyber-attack. Some software installed in this fashion may not allow you to uninstall or update the software after installation because of the way it is registered with the operating system, so assistance from IT may be necessary.
CougarApps
We are happy to offer all CSUSM students and faculty CougarApps, a technology to provide access to a rich set of software applications. CougarApps gives you the opportunity to access campus applications and your files from anywhere at anytime. For more information, visit the CougarApps webpage.
Software Center
Using the Software Center, you can download available software, without a need for administrative rights, to your office computer. This self-service portal is designed to provide access to all pre-approved campus software licenses for use as needed. For more information, visit the Software Center webpage. If you experience issues during the installation or would like assistance using the software center, please do not hesitate to contact the Help Desk support team at extension 4790.
Company Portal
Company Portal allows you to to install a variety of applications without needing administrator privileges on your system. Applications commonly used throughout CSUSM are availalbe for install through the Company Portal. Company Portal is available on most campus laptops. You can check the Company Portal by clicking the Start button in Windows and searching Company Portal.