Tech Tip of the Week

Need some headphones for all those Zoom sessions? Here’s what our tech experts want you to know:

Considerations when choosing a headset:

• Style
  • On-ear headphones are lightweight and may be more comfortable.
  • Over-ear models offer better noise cancellation and can provide a richer sound.
• Weight
  • We recommend you go under 10 oz. to help with not being annoyed during long video chats or meetings. 
• Connectivity
  • Wireless offers freedom of movement.
  • Wired keeps you at your desk but reduces audio lag.

Would you like our recommendations? Here are three models recommended by our IT Service Desk:

• Plantronic Blackwire 3320 (USB)
• Logitech Zone Wired (USB-C, with USB-A adapter)
• NUBWO N7 (3.5mm)

Semester Support

With the fall semester starting, we thought it might be helpful to describe how we are currently providing tech support. See below for your support options.

PC, Laptop & Mobile Tech Support

We’re following the same guidelines that most major IT groups across campus are following.

Off-site?

Contact SON-IT by calling 919-684-9200 or send an email to SONIT-Support@duke.edu. If we’re busy with someone else, feel free to set up an appointment. Zoom works well for these calls, but a voice call is acceptable, too. Most issues can be resolved remotely.

On-site?

• Walk-ups - Laptop
  • Option A
    • SON-IT will sanitize hands and wear masks.
    • Meet user in student room which has social distancing markers. 
    • User must be wearing a face mask.
    • User will connect his/her laptop to monitor in the room.
    • SON-IT will use a wireless keyboard and mouse to assist user. 
  • Option B
    • SON-IT will sanitize hands and wear face shield and mask. 
    • Connect wired keyboard and mouse to laptop to assisted users.
    • User must be wearing a face mask.
• Walk-ups – Mobile Device
  • SON-IT will sanitize hands and wear face shield and mask.
  • SON-IT will use a stylus to assist users if needed with mobile device.
  • User must be wearing a face mask.
• Drop-off
  • User must be wearing a face mask.
  • User will place laptop/device on SON-IT cart.
  • SON-IT will sanitize hands and work on device in SON-IT office.
  • Sanitize device before returning to cart.
  • When returning to users, SON-IT will place device on cart for user to pick-up. 
• In your office?
  • We’re currently following safety guidance that recommends IT staff not enter the office for 48 hours if you have been in your office without wearing your mask. Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. You can:
    • Call us – most of what we do can be done with remote desktop.
    • Using your laptop? We’ll bring the cart up. Just bring your laptop out, and place it on the cart. We’ll bring it back when we’re finished.
    • Is it a desktop or printer? We’ll walk you through how to disconnect it, and bring it to the cart.

Classroom AV

When you need help in the classroom, please call 919-684-9200. Our on-site tech will assist.

Just to review:

• Multimedia Services will ensure classrooms are sanitized before and after class.
  • We will replace saran wrap around the touch panel before each class. (Yes, the touch panel will work through the saran wrap. It’s a neat trick our IT Staff discovered!)
  • Multimedia Services will sanitize hands and wear a mask when assisting users. 
  • Multimedia Services will continue to do the morning and evening checks of all classrooms and conference rooms.

Report Phish Shout out 

Quick shout out to all who used their Report Phish to Duke button last week – congratulations DUSON! We are catching more phish!

Last week, DHTS performed their monthly phishing campaign to see how well we’re spotting phishing attempts. We’re getting good at this. Here’s a comparison of our results from last month versus what we did in February:

• Click Rate (Lower is better):
  • February: 31%
  • August: 9%
• Report Rate (Higher is better): 
  • February: 9.1%
  • August: 19.2%

Congratulations to AnnMarie Walton, assistant professor, for earning the CISO Challenge Coin this month. She was selected from the 19.2% of DUSON users who reported the fake phishing attempt to the Duke Security Office using the Report Phish to Duke button.

If you’re ever concerned about the legitimacy of an email, press "Report Phish to Duke" on the Outlook toolbar. If it ends up being legit, no harm; no foul. Better safe than sorry.

Have any questions about this or other tech used at DUSON?

If you have any technical questions or problems, please contact your IT Service Desk at 919-684-9200 or email citdl@mc.duke.edu.