Tech Alerts

As previously announced, OIRT successfully migrated to a new Unified Communications backend platform over the weekend of June 6, 2025. Voicemail from the old system did not automatically transfer to the new platform. However, if you need to access these old messages, they will remain available for listening until June 25, 2025.

To retrieve old messages, dial (201)-692-7001. Press 1 to access the old voicemail system. Then, enter your 4-digit extension number and press #. You will be prompted to enter your PIN followed by #.

If you encounter any issues during this process, visit SAMI Support and create a support ticket.

Network security is always about finding the optimal balance between a secure network environment and convenience. As bad actors continue to proliferate across the internet, we have watched our peers in higher education strengthen their security postures. We must acknowledge the need to follow suit.

Starting on July 1, 2025, we will be disabling the Remember Me feature of Cisco Duo. Once this change is implemented, users will need to complete second factor authentication upon each connection to one of the University’s Single Sign-On (SSO) services. While Remember Me provides simplicity, it also introduces significant risks. For example, if a device with Remember Me enabled becomes compromised, an attacker could gain unfettered access to sensitive data and applications. Additionally, since Remember Me uses internet cookies, those small files can be stolen from your machine and used to access your account. For these reasons and others, cookie-based authentication is being phased out as a security standard.

There are still a variety of options available to authenticate via Cisco Duo. Users seeking a similar “hands-off” experience may be most interested in authenticating via Security Key. Once this physical WebAuthn/FIDO2 key has been purchased, users can enroll their device online. Their identity will be validated on the device whenever the key is connected. For more information about security keys and links to approved models, visit:

As a reminder, the other traditional authentication options are as follows:

DUO Push

If you have the DUO Mobile app installed on your smartphone or tablet, you can receive a push notification. From the app, you can approve or deny the login attempt.

Passcodes via DUO Mobile App

If you have the DUO Mobile app installed, you can receive a single passcode by tapping the FDU logo in the mobile app. This code must be used immediately.

Passcodes via SMS

Users can receive a one-time-use code via text message. To get a one-time code, click Enter Passcode, then click on the blue Text me new codes button. These codes do not expire and are valid until used. You do not need a smartphone for this option.

Passcode via Token (Employees with Departmental Approval Only)

A department can request a physical token that displays a passcode for an employee’s MFA authentication. The department will be charged for the cost of the token and will be responsible for returning the token if/when the employee leaves the University. Tokens can be requested through a SAMI Support ticket.

Be advised that the migration of our Unified Communications backend platform has been completed. You may now resume submitting requests for phone moves, phones for new hires, and Webex Calling password changes.

For most of our community, this change will not impact daily use. However, as with any upgrade of this scale, a few users may experience inconsistencies. If you encounter any discrepancies in phone system behavior, visit SAMI Support and create a support ticket.

Yesterday, the FDU email domain experienced a phishing attack originating from a compromised FDU email account. The message, which falsely advertised a job opportunity assisting visiting professors, is shown below.

Our team has contained the issue by removing the message from FDU inboxes and assisting the compromised user. If you believe you may have provided personal information to the scammer—such as your NetID password—stop communication with the individual immediately, change your password, and create a support ticket at SAMI Support. In the ticket, indicate what information you shared with the scammer.

SAMI Support

Since February, we’ve been keeping the community informed of all user-impacting work leading up to the migration of our Unified Communications backend platform. The platform migration is now scheduled for Thursday, June 5 at 11:30 PM Eastern through Friday, June 6 at 6:00 AM Eastern. At some point during this window, each Cisco desktop phone will reboot and be inaccessible for approximately five minutes.

Once the migration is complete, our temporary suspension of system changes will end. Starting on June 6, users may resume submitting requests for phone moves, phones for new hires, and Webex Calling password changes.

For most users, the transition will be seamless. However, as with any migration of this size, some user account settings may not carry over consistently.

On Friday, May 30, between the hours of 4:00 AM and 11:00 AM Eastern, FDU will install a security patch on our network access control systems.

This maintenance is not expected to impact users. However, during the maintenance window, on-campus users may experience intermittent wireless network outages. Additionally, off-campus users may experience intermittent VPN outages.

In our Tech Alert dated April 15th, 2025, we announced that, due to security concerns, the Cisco Duo “Remember Me” feature will be removed on July 1st, 2025.

There are still a variety of options available to authenticate via Cisco Duo. Users looking for a similar hands-off experience may be most interested in using a Security Key. Once a physical WebAuthn/FIDO2 key has been purchased, users can enroll their device online. The user’s identity will be validated on their device whenever the key is connected.

For more information about security keys and links to approved models, review the following article:

On May 23, between 6:00 AM and 11:00 AM EST, USAN will be upgrading core network equipment. During this maintenance window, users on the Metropolitan and Florham campuses will experience a complete outage of both wired and wireless internet services.

This outage will impact access to New Jersey-based FDU resources including:

• Network Drives
• Online grading
• Microsoft 365
• VPN
• Blackboard

Additionally, off-campus users and those on the Vancouver campus will be unable to access any New Jersey-based FDU resources during the upgrade window.

As mentioned in our Tech Alert sent on February 20, the migration of our Unified Communications backend platform will require a change freeze for all phones on our system. This freeze will take effect on Friday, 5/2, and will remain in place through Thursday, 5/29. During this period, no changes can be made to the phone system, including setting up phones for new hires, moving existing phones, or resetting passwords for Jabber/Webex Calling.

Last Thursday, we sent a Tech Alert regarding connection issues when accessing FDU websites via Google Chrome. The issue, caused by the Chrome browser, was resolved within hours for all sites except library.fdu.edu, which remained accessible through all browsers except Chrome. This remaining issue has now been rectified, and library.fdu.edu is once again fully available through Chrome. No further issues are expected.