
The risks of inadvertently loading malware and spyware are everyday threats to university computer systems. As malicious programs can be accidentally installed without explicit user permission, it is a security best practice to generally run without “local admin rights” on computers. As desktop security continues to be an important element in protecting all campus data resources, IITS is no longer deploying local administrative privileges on Windows 10 computers as a standard operating practice.
In order to not impede the ability to conduct research or perform other work related tasks, faculty and staff can request local admin access by logging a ticket through the Faculty/Staff Help Desk. When the service request is complete, users will continue to generally run without administrative level privileges, but will have the ability to invoke an Admin account by entering special credentials as needed.
To log a ticket, please email the HelpDesk or call 760.750.4790 Monday through Thursday, 7am to 7pm and Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Roughly a quarter of the computers on campus are refreshed each year. The bulk campus refresh order arrives at the beginning of each new fiscal year. Tenure-track faculty computers as well as labs and classrooms are refreshed during the summer months. Staff refreshes begin in October and run through February. Miscelleaneous use stations and student stations are refreshed toward the end of the fiscal year.
Your refresh will occur automatically. You do not need to fill out any forms to initiate the process. Once your refresh comes up in the queue, IITS will prepare your system and a tech will reach out to you to start the scheduling process.
Your department manager has already approved your refresh configuration selection and any costs involved prior to IITS placing the bulk buy order. Any changes to the refresh selection approved by your manager will need to go through an approval process.
IITS' normal processing time to prepare and install a new computer is two weeks (give or take) depending on the volume of requests in the queue. Peak volume for new computer requests occur prior to the beginning of each semester. Computers for new hires where the position has no existing computer will take priority. When IITS is provided extremely short notice for new hire computer requests, we make every effort to accomodate when possible. If existing appointments cannot be rescheduled, IITS will provide a loaner laptop for your new hire until the install can be scheduled.
The campus' Information Management Steering Committee (IMSC) has established the following procedure for new computer requests effective October 25, 2018. IITS' two-week turn around time will not begin until all required approvals are received. This may result in a delay in the deployment process:
Requests for new computer resources represent a fiscal comittment on behalf of CSUSM funds. This is true of the intial purchase, ongoing support, and future refresh of equipment. All refresh computer requests, as well as one-time computer purchase requests, must be approved within their own division prior to any action being taken by IITS to deploy equipment. The only exception will be for computers ordered for a staff or faculty member's primary work station.
Users will submit a refresh computer request through the refresh order webpage and furnish the information requested. Once the order is submitted, IITS will route requests for eSignature via the Department Chair/Manager, Dean/AVP, and Provost/VP. All requests approved at the VP level will be released to IITS staff for processing.
IITS provides enterprise-level systems that are of greater quality than consumer grade computers. These systems are built, designed, and sourced to accomodate business needs and operations. They are built using consistent components which are guaranteed for part replacements. In addition, these systems are purchased with multi-year warranties along with security software which contribute to the per unit cost.
IITS does not markup or charegback equipment at higher costs.
The campus runs on a 4-year refresh cycle coinciding with the hardware warranty. Users are required to keep their current refresh computer for the entire 4-year period barring extenuating circumstances.
If you are considering a change in your configuration prior to the end of your normal refresh cycle, if the change is approved, your department will incur new costs for the hardware in the year the equipment is deployed. For employees eligible for the campus hardware allocation, in addition to any upgrade costs due, the department will not be granted the full hardware allocation from campus and will be required to share this cost determined by the number of months remaining on the current refresh system. For self-support units, auxiliary organizations and general fund computer not eligible for the allocation, the full amount of the hardware cost will be due.
Consideration for early refresh will require a written business justification from your manager and/or department chair prior to approval by IITS.
Your computer is guaranteed to perform at a satisfactory level during the entire 4-year refresh cycle. Unexpected hardware issues do occur from time to time. If at any point during the 4-year cycle you begin to experience issues with your computer, the first step is to contact the Help Desk for a service call. If the Help Desk is unable to satisfactorily remedy the hardware issue, your computer will be replaced with another computer of the same configuration and refresh cycle.
If your computer is very close to its refresh schedule and an early refresh is the desired outcome, IITS may recommend that your computer be refreshed early depending on stock availabity. The department will incur all costs associated with new hardware deployed according to the posted refresh pricing schedule for early refresh.
Early refresh requests for hardware issues will not be considered if the user has not contacted the Help Desk to log a service call.
Yes. In order to remain in compliance with CSU policy and industry security guidelines, systems no longer supported by the manufacturer are not suitable for use on the campus.
Each general fund staff member is eligible for a hardware and support allocation from campus for their primary staff computer. The department is responsible for any hardware cost that exceeds the campus allocation for upgraded configuration selections at the time of install or refresh according to the posted Refresh Pricing Schedule (Table 1). General fund tenure-track faculty complements are covered under a separate program and colleges are not required to reimburse IITS for the upgraded configuration cost.
General fund computers not eligible for the campus hardware and software allocation include additional staff computers, miscelleaneous use stations and student stations.
All computer hardware and support costs for auxiliary organizations, sponsored projects and self-support units (to include self-support tenure-track faculty), must be fully reimbursed to IITS according to the Refresh Pricing Schedule (Table 2).