bupipedream.com | February 28, 2023
NEWS
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Fall ITS error linked to SCCM system failure ITS is working to improve the system following the incident last fall. Ella Connors news intern
An incident that occurred last fall involving Central Information Technology Services (ITS) that led to the damage of several computers has been linked to a Microsoft tool. The incident took place when an information technology (IT) administrator installed an IT operation on their computer, causing many other computers to subsequently be impacted as well due to the System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM). According to Niyazi Bodur, the chief information officer of ITS, the SCCM is a “powerful Microsoft system that allows centrally managed domain joined computers to be controlled.” SCCM has the power to enable administrators to remotely install a new operating system, upgrade and fix existing operating systems, collect inventory information and allow the Help Desk to provide assistance remotely. Bodur, alongside Donald Hall, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, elaborated further on the incident with SCCM and how other computers were impacted as a result. “The incident last fall was related to one local IT administrator aiming to re-build one computer, but mistakenly issuing the command to rebuild all
computers in the domain,” Bodur and Hall wrote in an email. “Becoming aware of this ITS stopped the process, but a number of computers were affected and they were rebuilt. This caused loss of data to a small percentage of the University community.” ITS support is a distributed function, as stated by Bodur and Hall. ITS manages computers that belong to certain academic departments, schools and administrative divisions. Computers in other divisions and departments are managed by local IT administrators. Bodur and Hall outlined some of the progress that has been made in order to assure that a similar incident does not occur again at Binghamton University. “The complete SCCM system has been re-built to make sure that the incorrect job is completely purged,” Bodur and Hall wrote in an email. “The local IT administrators’ access is limited to the computers in their own units only.” Additionally, when the incident first occurred, access was taken away from people outside of ITS, in order for ITS to organize and regroup. Bodur explained that if any large changes need to be implemented through SCCM in the future, two administrators will need to confirm that these changes are necessary and that they will not result in any negative repercussions. Bodur and Hall later addressed how SCCM will continue to assure that any actions that are taken
brianna crowther design assistant Aiming to rebuild only one computer, a local ITS administrator mistakenly issued the rebuilding of all computers in the domain.
involving a number of computers are approved and overseen. “Jobs that affect a large number of computers must be prepared by one administrator and reviewed by the ITS SCCM Administrator before being deployed,” Bodur and Hall wrote in an email. “ITS has engaged Dell Technologies Consulting to assist us further to establish industry best practices to manage SCCM in the most
efficient and safe manner.” Moving forward, Bodur has emphasized that SCCM is powerful, but can become dangerous in situations such as this one, therefore it has to be handled accordingly. Jacqueline Ayala Flores, a sophomore majoring in psychology, expressed her thoughts about the importance of minimizing technology risks at BU. “I think trial and error is especially important in
helping avoid technology struggles,” Ayala Flores said. “Because there was a mistake made, we can use it as a learning experience to determine the effects of what could go wrong and most importantly how to react and solve problems when they arise.” Yuki Wada, a sophomore majoring in business administration, explained why there should be transparency between groups like ITC and
BU’s student body. “I think students should be made aware of these events happening,” Wada said. “A lot of events may not be advertised and are just overlooked, but being knowledgeable about what is happening on campus can help us work together to find solutions.”
BCHD looks to increase Narcan accessibility The BCHD is advocating for overthe-counter Narcan to fight overdoses. Lauren Macdavid news contributor
As overdoses reach a record high, the Broome County Health Department looks to Narcan. According to g o b r o o m e c o u n t y. o r g , Broome County had 80 suspected fatal overdoses in 2022, the highest death rate due to drugs that the county has seen since 2016, when statistics were first recorded. After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were increased reports
of fentanyl, a painkiller, in the illicit drug market — now suspected to be the top contributor to overdose deaths. Illicit drugs, like painkillers, cocaine and heroin may now be laced with varying amounts of fentanyl, according to the Broome Opioid Awareness Council. In response to the overdose crisis, the Broome County Health Department is advocating for Narcan to be available over the counter in an effort to prevent fatal overdoses by making the product accessible to the public. Narcan, also known as naloxone, reverses an opioid overdose and can be
administered through the nasal passage. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), naloxone can be used without medical training, can be administered at any time without causing harm and is easy to use. Once the product is administered, normal breathing is restored in two to three minutes. Marissa Knapp, the Opioid Overdose Prevention Coordinator at the Broome County Health Department, emphasized the importance of being knowledgeable about the drug market today, and described how to prevent a fatal overdose using Narcan. “Counterfeit pills now are so sophisticated that they look
harry karpen managing editor The Addiction Center of Broome County is one of the off-campus resources available for Narcan training.
real,” Knapp said. “Now the concern is you really cannot trust anything. The amount of fentanyl being put in the drug supply is scary. We want to make sure they understand that if you’re using drugs either daily or recreationally that you have a Narcan kit.” Bennett Doughty, director of Binghamton University’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Program (OOPP) and a clinical assistant professor in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, said Narcan is beneficial for everyone to have, including those that are not opioid users. During the 20222023 academic year, over 300 campus community members have been trained to administer Narcan through the OOPP. “One-hundred-percent I think all of us should carry naloxone,” Doughty wrote in an email. “Just as you don’t plan for a house fire to occur, if it happens, you’d want to make sure you have an extinguisher. We should carry naloxone for all those around us because Broome County has proven to be one of the counties within New York state that has an above average overdose rate, unfortunately.” Knapp spoke of the recreational use of drugs at BU, and the risks it poses to students both on and off
campus. She said finals week can be one of the riskiest times for students to have an accidental overdose, and it is best to be prepared. “I would 100 percent say for advocacy it would be amazing if dorms had Narcan kits,” Knapp wrote. “If all the fraternities and sororities had them in the houses. Places students go should have Narcan.” Students across campus expressed their thoughts on increasing the presence of Narcan. Dorota Waszczyszak, an undeclared freshman, expressed her belief that Narcan kits should be available in areas students frequent. “The kits should definitely be in the dorms, fraternity houses, bars, really anywhere people go for more of a social scene,” Waszczyszak said. “Even if you would never use drugs, there might be someone around you that needs help.” Bianca Suiu, a freshman majoring in nursing, commented on how Narcan awareness is important, especially for college students, despite there being limited mandatory education opportunities on the topic.
“As much of a problem as this is in Broome County, I don’t think it’s talked about enough,” Suiu said. “I think there needs to be more education on how to get it and also how to use it — even if they added Narcan training into freshman orientation, anything would help.” While Narcan is not available over the counter, there are currently many resources to get a kit for free both on and off campus. On campus, the OOPP holds monthly training and training per request. Off campus, the county has programs such as the Addiction Center of Broome County (ACBC), Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP) and Truth Pharm. According to Knapp, the county wanted to make this product more accessible, and getting the product on the shelves of drug stores is the next step. “I always say, the only thing Narcan is going to do is save someone’s life,” Knapp said. “I personally don’t know what’s more important than saving someone’s life, [and] it’s as easy as a ten-minute training and then you’ll always have a kit with you. It really is so important.”