Making STRIDES in Research

Pitt has signed a university-wide agreement with Microsoft to participate in the NIH STRIDES program. Researchers can perform NIH-funded research projects on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform at a significant discount, with direct access to Microsoft for support. Non-NIH funded research projects are also eligible for a discount and enhanced IT support benefits.

If you have a current NIH-funded project or are applying for a new NIH grant, and you want to explore hosting it in Azure, submit a request to Pitt IT for an Azure-based research environment under STRIDES, or request a research discount for non-NIH funded research.

Read the full article to learn about the benefits of a Microsoft Azure STRIDES account to power your research.

Microsoft Support Ending for Older Phones

After June 30, 2023, access to Microsoft Teams and other Microsoft features will not be accessible on Polycom VVS 501 desk phones. Pitt IT will install an update on affected phones. After the update, users will need to sign in again to their Polycom VVS 501 desk phones. See more information about the transition.

Keep Security In Mind

Security never takes the summer off, so be sure you keep up with your good cybersecurity habits in your personal and professional activities.

• Do NOT approve Duo prompts that you did not initiate by actively logging in.
• Report scams by forwarding the email as an attachment to phish@pitt.edu.
• Log into accounts independently to verify information or transactions.
• Avoid public Wi-Fi; turn off automatic connections and Bluetooth pairing.

Revised Join Meeting Experience for Zoom

Zoom has streamlined the join meeting experience to include fewer screens to access a meeting, as well as show a preview of the video displaying from your camera before joining. The revised experience requires use of Zoom desktop client version 5.12.0 or higher. Users with earlier client versions will see the old join experience. Download and install the most recent version of Zoom from the Zoom download center. 

System Updates to Note

• Document Management (Perceptive Content) will be unavailable during an upgrade from 5 p.m. on Friday, June 9, through 8 a.m. on Monday, June 12. Users should complete all transactions and exit the system before 5 p.m. on June 9.

• Enterprise Digital Signage players running versions earlier than 5.16 will no longer display content. Administrators may download and install the update.

• Beginning July 1, unviewed instructional videos saved in Panopto will be archived after 12 months, and permanently deleted after 30 months. Also beginning on July 1, Zoom recordings will be saved in Zoom instead of Panopto, and moved to the Trash and deleted after 60 days. Click here for more information. 

Tech Hot Topics at Pitt

Check out Pitt IT’s Panther Bytes blog to read all about what’s on Pitt IT’s mind:

• Tech Tips for Safe Travels

• 4 Tech Best Practices to Embrace This Summer

• Summer Teaching and Fall Planning with Pitt IT

• Tech Secrets to a Productive Summer

• Set Up for Summer Session

New LinkedIn Learning Courses

LinkedIn Learning is the perfect resource for those who are looking to learn new skills or sharpen old ones. Log into LinkedIn Learning at linkedinlearning.pitt.edu with your Pitt credentials and check out these new courses:

• Leadership Foundations
• Microsoft Teams Essential Training
• Teamwork Essentials: Stand Out as a Valuable Team Member
• Accessibility for Managers and Non-Designers