|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Readers,
The "pandemic shackles" are gradually getting looser. Progress with vaccinations is bringing the return to more normal times closer. We can hardly wait!
In the current inside|out, we use three examples to show how our ITS employees have succeeded in advancing highly sophisticated projects. This was despite short-term coronavirus measures (such as Teams and Zoom or the comprehensive transmission and recording of lectures and seminars) and pandemic-related difficulties in cooperation. The alarmNet project has implemented a new, comprehensive digital radio infrastructure. The PKI project facilitates the administration of digital certificates for all ETH employees, such as signing and encrypting emails. IT support for research groups also underwent further expansion, which we illustrate with the examples of the IfB and IfE institutes. Three examples out of many that make me proud of our ITS employees' services. I hope you share my opinion.
Read about this and more news in what is hopefully the final issue of inside|out from the home office.
Regards,
Dr Rui Brandao
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| New alarm network for critical operation put into operation Lionel Rosenfeld, ITS PPF and Dr Armin Wittmann, ITS NET are the faces representing ITS in the project. Security takes priority, hence the picture this time without ITS employees. |
New alarm network at ETH |
The final building block in the ETH network strategy went live with the punctual introduction of the radio network after a four-year project duration. The alarm network is the first ITS service with the "red" (7*24h) service category. It will replace the outdated service radio and pager solutions and will be used in all ETH locations for security and operationally critical communication. The main users are the ETH administrative departments – especially SGU and LET, as well as ETH departments and "Schutz & Rettung Zürich".
Thirteen radio locations were connected, 12 km cable connected and 600 terminals procured and put into operation in 11 stages with more than 100 employees involved from ICT networks, ITS PPF, the VPIN departments and external suppliers. Success factors for the time- and cost appropriate introduction of the major project were the consistent observance of the ITS project phase model according to the PM Handbook (see ITS Blog) and the early inclusion and personal commitment of all employees, line managers and project clients.
The Tetra-standard radio network allows application-specific solutions to be used, such as a SUVA-compliant single workplace function with indoor/outdoor position finding, controlling evacuation systems and radio for mining tunnels in the Bedretto laboratory. Operational responsibility was handed over by the project management from ITS PPF to the service managers from ITS UCC, who together with the SGU fire and explosion protection, ITS network installation and planning staff are responsible for the maintenance and further development of the alarm network.
Lionel Rosenfeld, Project Manager (ITS PPF) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Welcome, Dimitrios Fazzone |
| More about the successor of Dr Giorgio Broggi as Section Head of ITS Software Services (ITS SWS). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| When it comes to emails, you should pay attention to whether they are signed. Wolfgang Sichler and Matteo Corti (both ITS BD) provide information and raise awareness. Security takes priority, consequently picture this time without ITS employees. |
Small icon, great importance |
Do you pay attention to whether an email is signed? The little icon for the certificate in an email is often overlooked. However, it represents twice as much security in electronic communication. Senders can be more reliably identified by signing with a certificate. You can also be sure that the content of the email was not changed during transmission. Consequently, using digital signatures with certificates is not just advisable for personal mailboxes, but also for so-called impersonal group mailboxes.
Using certificates to sign emails digitally is worth for more security at ETH. The new service "PKI certificate management" has been available for several months and the number of mailboxes sending with signed digital certificates is growing steadily. In general, when receiving emails, you should pay attention to whether they have been signed or not. Even if you do not (yet) use any certificates yourself. Particularly when it comes to emails that include hyperlinks or have an attachment, it is important to check who the sender is, and that the contents have not been changed.
The new service has made it much easier for users to obtain certificates. However, there are still some obstacles when it comes to using the certificates, due to the weaknesses of the various mail clients. You can find more information also about the obstacles in the Wiki FAQ.
Wolfgang Sichler, Project Manager (ITS BD) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| New courses for Microsoft 365, Teams, etc. |
| The ETH employees' feedback has inspired us. Read more about the Smart Working courses and how you benefit from them during your daily work. The new dates are online. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ITS Services for Departments - the comprehensive IT partner for research and teaching. Thomas Berchtold, Luca Previtali and Roger Holderegger deputise for the entire ITS S4D team. Security takes priority, hence the picture this time without ITS employees. |
IT Services for Departments |
Your IT team right at your customer site. However, also centrally networked, with broadly-based know-how and a high degree of expertise. This is a factor of success for many research units of the ETH Zurich in order to efficiently handle the constantly growing and changing IT requirements, whether it is the trouble-free managemenet of the entire life cycles of your client computers or to helping you with your special laboratory or project-related IT infrastructures.
ITS Services for Departments (ITS S4D) acts as the direct partner for all IT concerns of the chairs, institutes and departments, irrespective of from which research area of ETH Zurich. A wide portfolio of IT services and platforms with comprehensive support and advice on your site is available.
The ITS Services for Departments operates in a highly networked manner and achieves great efficiency through standardisation and automation. As a result, ITS S4D can be agile in accepting the specific IT requirements of its customers and deploying its wide know-how profitably.
Read more about the way we work, and our services based on the latest integrations of the "Institute for Electronics" and of the "Institute for Building Materials" in the ITS Blog.
Contact us if we aroused your interest and you would like to learn more.
Luca Previtali, Head of Services for Departments (ITS S4D)
Thomas Berchtold, Customer Solutions Lead, Services for Departments (ITS S4D) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Informatiktage at ETH Zurich |
| Shaping the world of tomorrow through information technology: The ITS programmes "Faces in IT and their paths" and "IT fitness for teachers" inspired the participants. |
|
|
|
|
|
