News & Announcements
We have regularly scheduled maintenance this weekend.
- AZ & CA – Friday, August 13, starting at 10:01 pm – ending 4:00 am, and
- MO – Saturday, August 14, starting at 12:01, am – ending 6:00 am.
Except for Canvas, Google, and other web-based applications, there may be intermittent outages during the six-hour window.
If you have any questions, please call the ITS Service Desk 660-626-2200.
——————————————
On September 13, 2021, Google will apply a security update to make Google file sharing more secure. This update will change the links used for accessing some files in individual Google Drive and Google Shared drives. Although this update is good, it could cause you some concern if you’re not prepared.
What does it mean for you?
- Affected Google file owners will receive an email between July 26 and August 25, notifying them that they have files impacted and will contain information about how to update the files. If you are not one of the file owners, you will not receive the email. This information won’t be sent to you from ITS but from Google.
- The email from Google will:
- Tell you which files you own and recommended actions.
- Additionally,
- When the update runs on September 13, expect to receive requests to view the files since the links will have changed on your files
- Someone who hasn’t viewed a file before will be the main group of people impacted by the update.
- Once the update has been rolled out (September 13), users who haven’t accessed a file before and wish to open it will have to use the new URL containing a resource key (This is where you come in with resharing files). Access to impacted files won’t change for people who have already viewed them or who have direct access.
- Remember, if the file is no longer needed, feel free to delete it.
- Someone who hasn’t viewed a file before will be the main group of people impacted by the update.
- When the update runs on September 13, expect to receive requests to view the files since the links will have changed on your files
Sorry, there is more.
- In addition, Google will also roll out changes for YouTube that could break a bunch of older links. YouTube has a security measure that makes links to unlisted videos hard to find for people they weren’t shared with, but it didn’t come out until 2017. Starting on July 23rd, all unlisted videos uploaded before 2017 will be made private unless owners opt-out.
We realize this is a lot of information to absorb, but remember you have until September 13 to take action on your files. However, please plan to make the needed changes before September 13 so we can assist you if needed.