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Tagged: Featured Stories

  • Fresh Features, Smarter Tools: Microsoft 365 Updates 

    Beth Varcho | August 7, 2025
    Microsoft enhancements coming in the next few months include consolidating functionality into modern tools like Planner and Outlook, phasing out outdated technologies like VBScript, improving platform security, and providing easier access to AI-related enhancements and planning resources. Microsoft 365 applications continue to evolve to deliver a more integrated, intuitive, and secure user experience. 

  • Help Wanted: Attackers need you to defeat MFA

    Viewing BuckeyePass on mobile device
    Reg Jackson | July 30, 2025

    A growing trend in cybersecurity is to attack victims through texting and social channels, tricking them into giving access to their accounts, files, and data.

    As a refresher, multifactor authentication is the highest standard for logging into accounts and services. Simply, it means it takes -- 1) something you know: username and password, and 2) something you have: your DUO push notification on your cell phone -- to access your Ohio State account.

  • New Microsoft 365 Copilot Agents Available for Research and Analysis

    Beth Varcho | July 22, 2025

    Microsoft has released two built-in agents—Researcher and Analyst. These agents are now available to faculty and staff who have purchased an elevated, fully-integrated Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

  • Rob Lowden Joins OTDI as New Vice President and Chief Information Officer

    Rob Lowden standing in interior hallway smiling at camera.
    Hillary Lorton and Ric Hunter | July 16, 2025
    The Office of Technology and Digital Innovation (OTDI) is excited to welcome Rob Lowden to Ohio State as the next vice president and chief information officer (CIO). Lowden will join the university on August 1, following more than 20 years at Indiana University.

  • “Report Phishing” button becomes “Report Suspicious” in July

    Beth Varcho | July 7, 2025
    For several years, you have been using the Report Phishing button in Outlook, Outlook Mobile and Outlook Web Access (OWA). Beginning on July 14, the button will change to “Report Suspicious.” The new name reflects the usefulness of the button for more than phishing. Not all suspicious messages are technically phishing. “Report Suspicious” invites you to flag anything that seems off.

  • Separate Email Accounts Protect Academic and Business Integrity

    Beth Varcho | June 24, 2025
    Ohio State maintains distinct email systems for academic, business, and clinical communications to uphold security, compliance, regulatory, and operational clarity. This distinction protects sensitive information, complies with data regulations, and preserves the integrity of university records.

  • LMS Scanning Tool RFP Now Open

    Randi Honkonen | June 5, 2025
    The Office of Technology and Digital Innovation (OTDI) is leading a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an accessibility scanning tool to be integrated within the CarmenCanvas learning management system (LMS) and other Canvas instances. This application will enhance digital accessibility initiatives to improve accessibility to course content led by the ADA Digital Accessibility Center and OTDI's Digital Accessibility Services.

  • June Microsoft Office Hours Focus on New Teams Interface

    Woman writing while sitting at a desk
    Beth Varcho | May 19, 2025
    Microsoft Teams is rolling out an enhanced interface throughout June, enabling you to opt-in to changes that could significantly change how you organize your work in Teams. Join us for June Microsoft Office Hours to learn more about what’s changing so you can stay ahead of the curve and make the most of these updates.

  • Will Deletion of Inactive Microsoft Accounts Affect You?

    Beth Varcho | May 13, 2025
    The Email and Storage Transformation project is currently underway in response to changes in Microsoft's pricing model. One aspect of this project is to actively delete inactive user accounts in Microsoft 365 including but not limited to services like Outlook and OneDrive. Last fall we let you know this change was coming(link is external), and we are now putting it into place.

  • BUX on Carmen to be Rescheduled

    Randi Honkonen | May 8, 2025
    The Office of Technology and Digital Innovation (OTDI) deployed the BUX theme on CarmenCanvas on May 1. However, it was quickly discovered that pages were loading much slower than expected. As a result, the theme was rolled back, and developers are looking into the issue and working to find a solution.