What is happening?
Beginning this month, Information Technology will be rapidly shifting the approach to the way updates and upgrades are released to Bowdoin-owned computers and software for both macOS and Windows. Historically, some updates and upgrades were optional, and there were options to indefinitely defer or prevent updates from installingGiven the continually heightened risks around technology, these updates and upgrades will become non-optional moving forward.
Why is this happening?
To help mitigate risks around computers being vulnerable to attacks, IT must ensure that they are all kept up to date. A number of institutions have suffered from debilitating cyber attacks because their computers and software were not updated to the latest versions.
What does it mean for me?
- Automatic Updates: If updates have not been allowed when requested, the computer may automatically patch and restart at inopportune times.
- IT Intervention: IT Staff may need to reach out to address computers or software that is not upgrading on time or correctly and bring them up to.
- Downtime: Computers could become unavailable for longer times to allow for the updates and upgrades to take place.
- Software: There may be instances where IT removes outdated or potentially unused software from your computer, which would require a fresh install if you still need it.