The multifactor-authentication (MFA for short) will be implemented step-by-step for central services at the University of Bonn. Daniela Korden, project manager at the University IT and Data Center, has already reported about what MFA is, what will change for university members in the future and how the introduction of MFA at the University of Bonn will be implemented in the podcast for employees (see HRZ-News from 25 October 2023).
Current state of the DiCe-project "multifactor-authentication" at the University of Bonn
The project for the introduction of the multifactor-authentication at the University of Bonn successfully continues. Firstly, the hardware-token had to be acquired, in our case the YubiKeys. These will be used in the future by employees of the University of Bonn to securely authenticate when using services in relation to the uni-ID.
As a first (test-) cohort, the members of the University IT and Data Center were fitted out with the hardware-token. The rollout at the University IT and Data was already successfully completed in May 2024. The next cohort to be outfitted with the YubiKey were the administrative departments. Here the rollout-process is close to being finished.
The rollout and operating concept for the entire university was derived from the experience gained from the first rollouts at the HRZ and in the administration, which was coordinated with the digitalisation managers and local administrators as well as all relevant councils.
The next steps in the MFA-project are the preparations for the rollout in the outstanding parts of the university, which are meant to start during the oncoming winter term.
With this the project is making huge leaps, to support the security at every level of the University of Bonn - because IT-security needs more than one factor!
You are looking for an apprenticeship where you can bring in your passion for IT? Studying is too theoretical for you? Then you fit right in with us: Since 20 years we at the University IT and Data Center (HRZ) of the University of Bonn successfully train IT specialists for system integration.
Together with 5 more apprentices you will have fun learning, you will do your own projects and will be supported by our team of over 80 employees. Through the diverse server, service and network structures we can offer you an interesting and well-founded education that prepares you for your future career-start.
The application portal of the University of Bonn is open until October 27, 2024 (for apprenticeships starting on August 1, 2025).
Here you can find all information on the online-application at the University of Bonn (available only in german language).
We are increasingly receiving reports from students that the Deutschlandsemesterticket for the winter semester 2024/25 is not displayed in the Uni Bonn app. Please check whether the ticket is displayed in your app! If you are also affected by the problem, it is most likely that your authorization in the app has expired. For security reasons, the authorization currently expires every three months.
You can check whether your authorization has expired by looking in the side menu to see if a warning symbol is displayed next to the 'Settings' menu item (as in picture below, image on the left). In addition, a request for re-authentication will appear on the settings page (as in picture below, center image).
Carry out re-authentication:
If your authorization has expired, you must carry out re-authentication. To do this, please follow the steps below:
- Open the side menu and click on the 'Settings' menu item.
- Click on the 'Re-authenticate' button in the settings. The re-authentication page is displayed (as in picture below, image on the right).
- Enter your Uni-ID and the corresponding password on the re-authentication page. Accept the privacy policy.
- Click on the 'Re-authenticate' button.
- Then open the wallet to download the new documents.
If re-authentication is not available:
If no request for re-authentication appears in the app, but the semester ticket is still not displayed, you can try to reset the app. To do this, carry out the following steps:
- Open the side menu and click on the menu item 'Settings'.
- Click on the 'Reset app data' button in the settings.
- Go to the login page and enter your login data. Accept the privacy policy and click on the 'Login' button.
- Then open the Wallet to download the new documents.
In October there is going to be an important update: The Shibboleth-IdP-Software will be updated from version 4 to version 5. This update will change i.a. the design of the uni logo (Shibboleth or SSO, single sign-on) for services that are only accessible via uni-ID and password.
The login-mask will only change visually, meaning there will be no changes regarding the sign-on process. The process with uni-ID and password as well as multi-factor authentication will remain unchanged.
The following image shows the current login-mask (left) and the new login-mask (right):
The current license for SPSS runs out on October 1st, 2024. The distribution of the new SPSS-codes is currently in preparation and will be designed completely new. A warning "Ihre Lizenz läuft ab" ("Your license is about to expire") will remind you to renew your license. The software remains in operation until the end of October and until then we will organise an extension.
We welcome all new students to the University of Bonn for the winter semester 2024/25 and have summarised the most important information about the central services for studying at the University of Bonn.
Get ready for the start of your studies in five easy steps:
1. activate your Uni ID
... on gosa.gosa.uni-bonn.de to use all digital services of the university.
... to always have your student ID, semester ticket and canteen menus to hand.
3. set up an e-mail account
...to conveniently receive your emails on your smartphone and laptop.
4. configure Eduroam and VPN
... to gain access to wifi across the campus and to be able to read all academic journals.
5. create a Sciebo account
...on hochschulcloud.nrw to be able to manage your data in the university cloud.
At the start of the winter term 2024/25, the University IT and Data Center of the University Bonn is offering a special service: From September 30 to October 24, 2024, the IT helpdesk will have an extended onsite presence. During this time, students and employees of the university can receive comprehensive support and advice on the university's central IT services.
Locations and service times
In addition to the usual service hours at the IT Helpdesk at the University IT and Data Center in Wegelerstraße 6, the IT Helpdesk will be represented at three other central locations from 30.09. - 24.10.2024:
- Bonn University and State Library (ULB, foyer): Monday to Thursday, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day
- Lecture Hall Center Campus Poppelsdorf (CP1, foyer): Monday to Thursday, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day
- Parent-child room at Rabinstr. 8 (foyer Eltern-Kind-Zimmer): Monday to Thursday, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day
The additional campus-wide service hours are intended to enable all students to visit the IT helpdesk either before or after lectures and seminars in order to solve IT problems quickly and easily.
Support and advice
The University IT and Data Center offers a variety of IT services, which are particularly important at the beginning of the semester. These include, among others:
- Help with using the WLAN on campus
- Support with the use of the Uni Bonn app
- General advice on the central IT services, such as the use of the VPN connection or the university cloud storage Sciebo
- Support in case of problems with software licensing and much more
The IT Helpdesk team consists of experienced employees from the University IT and Date Center who specialize in solving technical problems quickly and effectively. Students who are uncertain about these topics or need technical support should take the opportunity to get competent help directly on site.
We look forward to your visit at the IT Helpdesk campus-wide between September 30 and October 24, 2024!
Part of the Research Data Service Center, joint initiative of the University IT and Data Center (HRZ) and the Bonn University and State Library (ULB), visited the IN2AI-fair in Dortmund, a new specialised trade show on the subject of "Industrial AI-applications and research", which was held for the first time on 4 and 5 September 2024.
On its premier the IN2AI presented a large variety of renowned exhibitors and cooperation partners, who showed the newest AI-based technologies and products. Moreover, the IN2AI also offered a plethora of innovative technologies, talks and networking opportunities. Visitors were able to gain first-hand informations about the most recent developments in AI-research and to discuss their possible use-cases. A particular focus was laid on AI-based solutions to optimising IT-infrastructure, automised data analysis and future-oriented security solutions.
Apart from the exciting talks, visitors had the opportunity to learn about innovative products and software solutions, as well as new challenges and current needs on the market. On the fair the research data team was not only able to experience new technologies and gain meaningful insight into practial AI-solutions, they also had the opportunity to get into personal conversation with leading experts of the industry and to strengthen existing partnerships as well as making new contacts – an important step to a digital future.