UTS https://uts.mcmaster.ca/ University Technology Services Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:30:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 Zoom Security Vulnerability – Minimum version upgrade on March 5 https://uts.mcmaster.ca/zoom-security-vulnerability-minimum-version-upgrade-on-march-5/ Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:28:31 +0000 https://uts.mcmaster.ca/?p=8201 In response to the most recent release and security vulnerabilities posted by Zoom as well as to stay current with the application versions to apply updates/bug fixes, UTS will be updating the Zoom minimum version on Thursday, March 5 at 9 PM. If your current version does not meet the minimum requirements, you may be prompted to install an update before launching the app.  Follow these instructions to check [...]

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In response to the most recent release and security vulnerabilities posted by Zoom as well as to stay current with the application versions to apply updates/bug fixes, UTS will be updating the Zoom minimum version on Thursday, March 5 at 9 PM.

If your current version does not meet the minimum requirements, you may be prompted to install an update before launching the app. 

Follow these instructions to check if your Zoom app meets the new minimum requirements: 

  • Windows: 6.7.2 
  • Mac: 6.7.5 
  • Linux: 6.7.5 
  • iOS: 6.7.5 
  • Android: 6.7.2 
  • VDI: 6.5.14 
  • Zoom Rooms: 6.7.5

Note: For computers with macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) and 10.14 (Mojave), Zoom 6.7.5 is the last supported version for these macOS editions. 

If your Zoom app does not meet these minimum requirements, ensure a smooth experience on March 5th by allowing enough time for the Zoom app update or consider updating manually in advance at your convenience. Instructions on how to update Zoom are here. 

Zoom Rooms will also be updated. These updates may take up to one hour. Plan ahead and ensure you upgrade in advance to avoid any delays during scheduled meetings. See instructions. 

Note: If you use Zoom in a web browser, no update is necessary. 

If your device is a managed device, your local IT support may need to update Zoom for you. If you are unable to update your Zoom app, you may need to contact your local IT support.

Stay informed about Zoom news, FAQs, and learning opportunities by visiting: UTS Zoom Page.

For support, please contact UTS or your local IT department.

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IT Notice: SSL/TLS Certificates Shorter Lifespans https://uts.mcmaster.ca/ssl-tls-certificates-shorter-lifespans/ Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:17:16 +0000 https://uts.mcmaster.ca/?p=8193 Friendly reminder that the first SSL/TLS certificate shortening cycle is approaching on March 15th, 2026 (398 Day to 200 Days). Certificates generated after March 15th, 2026, will have a maximum 200-day lifespan. Over the past year, the information security team has supported and helped to transition many Facultys/Departments that have already migrated to certificate automation and are [...]

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Friendly reminder that the first SSL/TLS certificate shortening cycle is approaching on March 15th, 2026 (398 Day to 200 Days). Certificates generated after March 15th, 2026, will have a maximum 200-day lifespan.

Over the past year, the information security team has supported and helped to transition many Facultys/Departments that have already migrated to certificate automation and are well prepared for the first shortening cycle.

What is happening?

As an industry wide move, the CA/Browser Forum of certificate authorities (CAs) has voted to reduce the lifespan of SSL/TLS certificates from 398 days to 47 days in 2029 to help improve security. SSL/TLS certificate lifespans will be gradually reduced beginning on March 15, 2026:

  • March 15, 2026: Maximum TLS certificate lifespan shrinks to 200 days. This accommodates a six-month renewal cadence. The Domain Control Validation (DCV) reuse period reduces to 200 days.
  • March 15, 2027: Maximum TLS certificate lifespan shrinks to 100 days. This accommodates a three-month renewal cadence. The DCV reuse period reduces to 100 days.
  • March 15, 2029: Maximum TLS certificate lifespan shrinks to 47 days. This accommodates a one-month renewal cadence. The DCV reuse period reduces to 10 days. The two-year jump from 2027 to 2029 provides additional time for organization to move to a one-month renewal cadence.

This industry mandated move helps to increase security, prepare for quantum challenges, encourages automation and operational excellence.

What actions do I need to take?

Over the next years, SSL/TLS certificates will gradually have shorter lifespans. Starting on March 15, 2026, SSL/TLS lifespans will be reduced to 200 days until reaching a lifespan of 47 days on March 15, 2029. This provides time for organizations to transition to use certificate automation.

Facultys/Departments are encouraged to have an inventory of their SSL certificates and mapping their systems to adopt SSL Certificate Automation (ACME) or by using another automation protocol.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Information Security team at [email protected]


Reference Links:

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Campus phone system unavailable January 3 for scheduled maintenance https://uts.mcmaster.ca/campus-phone-system-unavailable-january-3-for-scheduled-maintenance/ Thu, 18 Dec 2025 19:42:36 +0000 https://uts.mcmaster.ca/?p=8156 The university’s campus phone system (Avaya) will experience intermittent outages on Saturday, January 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. due to scheduled maintenance. Phone service will be unavailable at various times throughout this window as the upgrade is completed.  During the outages, all inbound and outbound calling will be unavailable, voicemail will not function and [...]

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The university’s campus phone system (Avaya) will experience intermittent outages on Saturday, January 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. due to scheduled maintenance. Phone service will be unavailable at various times throughout this window as the upgrade is completed. 

During the outages, all inbound and outbound calling will be unavailable, voicemail will not function and elevator emergency phones will be offline. 

For emergencies, Campus Safety can always be reached at 905-522-4135. This line will remain operational throughout the maintenance period. 

The phone system at McMaster’s David Braley Health Sciences Centre will not be impacted.  

This upgrade is part of the university’s ongoing efforts to maintain a secure and reliable communications environment. 

Updates and any unexpected interruptions will be posted on the McMaster IT Services Status Page. 

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IT Notice: Automatic Version History Starts Jan 7 https://uts.mcmaster.ca/it-notice-automatic-version-history-starts-jan-7/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:07:19 +0000 https://uts.mcmaster.ca/?p=8154 Starting January 7, 2026, McMaster will adjust the version history setting for OneDrive and SharePoint by invoking an Automatic Version History setting that will help us manage Microsoft storage more efficiently while keeping your files safe and easy to restore.  What does this mean? Microsoft already saves “versions” of your files — snapshots taken as you work — so you can go back to [...]

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Starting January 7, 2026, McMaster will adjust the version history setting for OneDrive and SharePoint by invoking an Automatic Version History setting that will help us manage Microsoft storage more efficiently while keeping your files safe and easy to restore. 

What does this mean? Microsoft already saves “versions” of your files — snapshots taken as you work — so you can go back to an earlier copy if needed. Automatic Version History optimizes this setting by keeping recent versions and gradually deleting older automatically saved versions that aren’t needed anymore. Files you save yourself will not be deleted.  

There’s nothing you need to do. Your files will continue to save and work as usual. This change seamlessly optimizes storage behind the scenes. 

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Limited IT Support During Holiday Closure https://uts.mcmaster.ca/limited-it-support-during-holiday-closure-2/ Tue, 09 Dec 2025 20:09:30 +0000 https://uts.mcmaster.ca/?p=8149 University Technology Services (UTS) will have limited support during the upcoming holiday closure.  Holiday Closure Begins: Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.  Regular Support Resumes: Monday, January 5, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.  During the closure, UTS will monitor critical systems, including:  Email gateways and data centers  Data network and voice systems  University website  Microsoft 365 services (Email/Exchange, Teams, OneDrive/SharePoint)  All [...]

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University Technology Services (UTS) will have limited support during the upcoming holiday closure. 

  • Holiday Closure Begins: Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. 
  • Regular Support Resumes: Monday, January 5, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. 

During the closure, UTS will monitor critical systems, including: 

  • Email gateways and data centers 
  • Data network and voice systems 
  • University website 
  • Microsoft 365 services (Email/Exchange, Teams, OneDrive/SharePoint) 

All UTS-supported production applications, such as Mosaic (Student Administration, Finance, HR), will remain available. However, support for MacID or account management will not be available. 

Where possible, UTS will keep the community updated via the IT Service Dashboard for monitored service outages. 

In the event of critical system issues, UTS will work to restore services as quickly as possible, although response times may be longer than usual. If you experience any issues during the closure, you can: 

  • Wait until regular service resumes on January 5, 2026, or 
  • Submit a Service Desk ticket on the UTS website for assistance when we return. 

Happy holidays! 

Please note: IT support hours within Faculties and units may vary. 

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Zoom Security Vulnerability – Minimum version upgrade on December 4 https://uts.mcmaster.ca/zoom-security-vulnerability-minimum-version-upgrade-on-december-4/ Wed, 26 Nov 2025 20:46:46 +0000 https://uts.mcmaster.ca/?p=8143 In response to the most recent security vulnerabilities posted by Zoom and to stay current with the application versions, UTS will be updating the Zoom minimum version on Thursday, December 4th at 9 PM. If your current version does not meet the minimum requirements, you may be prompted to install an update before launching the [...]

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In response to the most recent security vulnerabilities posted by Zoom and to stay current with the application versions, UTS will be updating the Zoom minimum version on Thursday, December 4th at 9 PM.

If your current version does not meet the minimum requirements, you may be prompted to install an update before launching the app. 

Follow these instructions to check if your Zoom app meets the new minimum requirements: 

  • Windows: 6.6.6 
  • Mac: 6.6.6 
  • Linux: 6.6.6 
  • iOS: 6.6.6 
  • Android: 6.6.6 
  • VDI: 6.5.10 
  • Zoom Rooms: 6.6.1  

If your Zoom app does not meet these minimum requirements, ensure a smooth experience on December 4th by allowing enough time for the Zoom app update or consider updating manually in advance at your convenience. Instructions on how to update Zoom are here. 

Zoom Rooms will also be updated. These updates may take up to one hour. Plan ahead and ensure you upgrade in advance to avoid any delays during scheduled meetings. See instructions. 

Note: If you use Zoom in a web browser, no update is necessary. 

If your device is a managed device, your local IT support may need to update Zoom for you. If you are unable to update your Zoom app, you may need to contact your local IT support.

Stay informed about Zoom news, FAQs, and learning opportunities by visiting: UTS Zoom Page.

For support, please contact UTS or your local IT department.
 

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Scheduled Telecommunications Maintenance – November 27 https://uts.mcmaster.ca/scheduled-telecommunications-maintenance-november-27/ Wed, 26 Nov 2025 20:06:24 +0000 https://uts.mcmaster.ca/?p=8137 Scheduled maintenance on our telecommunications servers will take place on Thursday, November 27 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. During this time, active calls or audio connections may drop, which could affect wide-area and long-distance calls. While the risk is very low, it is possible. If you experience any issues after the maintenance window ends, [...]

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Scheduled maintenance on our telecommunications servers will take place on Thursday, November 27 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

During this time, active calls or audio connections may drop, which could affect wide-area and long-distance calls. While the risk is very low, it is possible.

If you experience any issues after the maintenance window ends, please contact UTS at https://uts.mcmaster.ca/contact-us/

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IT Notice: Alumni Email Forwarding Service Disruption https://uts.mcmaster.ca/it-notice-alumni-email-forwarding-service-disruption/ Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:46:58 +0000 https://uts.mcmaster.ca/?p=8104 Update Nov 18, 2025: This service issue has been resolved and is now fully operational. McMaster University is aware of an issue affecting the alumni email forwarding service. Recent changes made by major email providers (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) are causing some forwarded messages to be blocked or rejected before reaching personal inboxes.  These changes [...]

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Update Nov 18, 2025: This service issue has been resolved and is now fully operational.

McMaster University is aware of an issue affecting the alumni email forwarding service. Recent changes made by major email providers (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) are causing some forwarded messages to be blocked or rejected before reaching personal inboxes. 

These changes are part of industry-wide efforts by email providers to reduce spam and phishing and are entirely outside the University’s control. 

This issue affects alumni who have opted in to the alumni email forwarding service which forwards messages from their former McMaster email address to a personal inbox. 

University Technology Services (UTS) and the Alumni Office are actively working to restore the service. We will provide updates to affected alumni as more information becomes available. 

Recommended Action for Alumni Using Email Forwarding: 

To avoid missing important messages, alumni are advised not to rely on email forwarding for important email communications. The most reliable option is to access messages directly through your personal inbox. 

If you’ve recently used your McMaster alumni address in ongoing or time-sensitive conversations, we recommend notifying your contacts of your personal address to avoid missed messages. 

If you have questions or need support, please contact the UTS Service Desk. 

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Planned Internet Outage – Sunday, October 26 https://uts.mcmaster.ca/planned-outage-oct26/ Wed, 22 Oct 2025 14:39:08 +0000 https://uts.mcmaster.ca/?p=8090 McMaster will be upgrading the main equipment that connects the university to the Internet and to partner organizations such as Hamilton Health Sciences, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, and Mohawk College. To complete this work, there will be a brief interruption to Internet service while connections are switched to the new equipment. When: Sunday, October 26, between [...]

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McMaster will be upgrading the main equipment that connects the university to the Internet and to partner organizations such as Hamilton Health Sciences, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, and Mohawk College.

To complete this work, there will be a brief interruption to Internet service while connections are switched to the new equipment.

When:
Sunday, October 26, between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
This is the maintenance window. The actual outage will be very short, but extra time is reserved in case unexpected issues arise.

Impact:
During the brief outage, Internet access, and connections to partner organizations and cloud services will be temporarily unavailable.

For questions or support, contact us at: https://uts.mcmaster.ca/contact-us/

Thank you for your patience while this necessary work is completed.

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ORION Network Maintenance – October 14–15 https://uts.mcmaster.ca/orion-network-maintenance-october-14-15/ Tue, 14 Oct 2025 18:26:58 +0000 https://uts.mcmaster.ca/?p=8085 ORION will be performing scheduled network maintenance from Tuesday, October 14 at 10:00 p.m. to Wednesday, October 15 at 6:00 p.m. During this window, ORION network connectivity will experience multiple interruptions as software upgrades are performed. Internet service may be affected at times; however, a backup Internet connection through Cogeco will remain available throughout the [...]

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ORION will be performing scheduled network maintenance from Tuesday, October 14 at 10:00 p.m. to Wednesday, October 15 at 6:00 p.m.

During this window, ORION network connectivity will experience multiple interruptions as software upgrades are performed. Internet service may be affected at times; however, a backup Internet connection through Cogeco will remain available throughout the maintenance period.

Access to cloud environments such as Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (Mosaic) and Azure may also be impacted.

We appreciate your understanding as this necessary work is completed to maintain reliable network operations.

If you have any questions, please contact UTS at https://uts.mcmaster.ca/contact-us/

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