IT News

Each year, when more than 130,000 visitors arrive on the University of Arizona campus for the Tucson Festival of Books, they expect to easily find author talks, food vendors, exhibits, and gathering spaces spread across dozens of buildings and hundreds of tents. What most attendees don’t see is the sophisticated mapping effort working quietly behind the scenes to make that experience possible.

University IT systems and networks constantly face the threat of malicious actors attempting to breach them. The staff and faculty responsible for managing these systems must ensure that software and systems are regularly patched and kept current to prevent security vulnerabilities. Besides being a best security practice, this is also mandated by the university’s Vulnerability and Patch Management Policy.

Across the University of Arizona, classrooms welcome students from Tucson and around the globe. Ideas are debated. Research is presented. Complex concepts are broken down in real time. Powering many of those moments is a technology that rarely gets the spotlight but is essential to the experience: audiovisual systems (AV).

In celebration of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, universities around the world are spotlighting the importance of representation, mentorship, and access in shaping the future of scientific discovery. At the University of Arizona, programs like the BIO5 Institute’s Keep Engaging Youth in Science (KEYS) Research Internship Program are helping create powerful early pathways for young women to see themselves not only as students of science, but as its future leaders.

In a world where technology is constantly evolving, the University of Arizona Telecommunications Services team has embarked on a transformative journey to optimize its operations and conserve valuable resources. Led by Project Manager Steve Dattilo and IT Support Manager Patrick Walters, the team conducted an exhaustive audit of UITS-paid vendor services, focusing on phone and internet connectivity.

Members of the university expect IT services that work reliably and securely. Behind the scenes, the “owners” of these services have their work cut out for them, to stay on top of their services’ reliability, updates and other issues that could affect campus. In addition, the owners are responsible for making sure that the services comply with the university’s 16 different information security policies.

Members of the campus community may need to update the Duo Mobile app on their device to version 4.85.0 or later by Feb. 28, 2026. This update is required by Duo due to an expiring security certificate that affects older versions of the app. If the app is not updated by this date, Duo will be unable to verify your identity and you will not be able to sign in to University of Arizona systems.

February is often a time to reflect on appreciation and connection – and across the University of Arizona’s IT community, those themes show up year-round through a shared commitment to service. While technology powers classrooms, research, and daily operations, it’s the people behind the systems who ensure the university community stays supported, connected, and secure.

It’s easy to take today’s research technology for granted. But looking back reveals just how transformative the journey has been and how intentional investments have made discovery possible. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, scientific research became more collaborative, data-driven, and dependent on computing power that extended beyond a single lab or campus. At the University of Arizona, technology teams were responding in real time, building the infrastructure needed to support a new era of networked research.

As the University of Arizona observes Data Privacy Week,Jan. 26 – 30, we have an opportunity to reflect on how data is collected, managed and used across the institution. In a university setting, data privacy extends beyond keeping information confidential; it centers on responsible data use, thoughtful design and trust.