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Widespread Microsoft Application Outage

Northwestern IT is monitoring a widespread Microsoft service issue affecting Microsoft Exchange webmail and Microsoft applications, including Bookings, Teams, and Copilot, among others. Updates will be posted to the IT Service Status page.

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Cyberattacks Are Accelerating. Here is What It Means for Northwestern.

from Northwestern Now

Cyberattacks on universities are happening faster, and they are getting harder to prevent and contain. Read more about what it all means, and check out our list of things that students, faculty, and staff can do to help strengthen the University’s technology environment.

A person using a magnifying glass to see a CAPTCHA.

Beware of Fake "Verify You're Human" Prompts

You know the process: click a box, select some images, and prove you are not a robot. It has become such a familiar step online that scammers have now started to exploit it by tricking people into infecting their own devices.

Person typing on a laptop keyboard beneath colorful translucent wave-like graphics

Building AI Knowledge and Access Across Northwestern

New AI tools, training, and guidance continue to become available to help Northwestern students, faculty, and staff choose appropriate resources, build practical skills, and use artificial intelligence responsibly in their learning, teaching, research, and work.

Angled black smartphone with a blue screen displaying colorful app-style icons, including a blue time icon, a red-and-black cartoon figure, and a green icon.

2026 Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Don't Make It Easy for Them

Every October, Northwestern IT joins the National Cybersecurity Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in marking Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This year's national theme, "Don't Make It Easy for Them," is a good description of the philosophy behind staying safe online.

Screenshot of new sign-in page

Default Canvas Login Page Implementation

Beginning August 31, 2026, Instructure, the company that provides Canvas, will implement a new default Canvas login screen. This new default screen may be encountered when navigating directly to “canvas.northwestern.edu” or when being redirected after a logout.

Syed Mohammad Adil Wafa accepts his award from Jackie Milhans, director, Research Computing and Data

CoDEx 2026 Award Opens New Doors for Neurosciences Researcher

After earning top honors in the poster session competition at Northwestern’s CoDEx 2026 symposium, Syed Mohammad Adil Wafa, an interdepartmental neurosciences researcher in the Feinberg School of Medicine, used his $3,000 first-place award to attend the Gordon Research Seminar and Gordon Research Conference on Fragile X and Autism-Related Disorders.

Screenshot of new sign-in page

Entra ID Login Page Visual Update

Beginning July 8, 2026, a new Entra ID login screen will be displayed when accessing services such as Microsoft 365, TeamDynamix, and Microsoft Azure. The rest of the login experience will remain unchanged. After entering your password, you will be redirected to Duo for Multi-factor Authentication.

Graduating student in front of arch

Graduating Soon? Transfer Your Google Workspace and Other Data

Take a moment to wrap up your digital to-dos. Your NetID and access to many Northwestern systems, including Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, and information stored in Google apps), Microsoft, and Canvas, eventually expire after you graduate, and data will be deleted. Download important files or emails, and transfer the files that need to stay behind to the new owners now.

Joe Paris attending a NNCI sponsored event

From Infrastructure to Impact: IT and NNCI

Northwestern is taking a major step forward in artificial intelligence and data science through the Northwestern Network for Collaborative Intelligence (NNCI)—a University wide effort to advance research, education, and impact through AI. NNCI is structured around the idea of three strategic pillars: Research, Education, and Infrastructure, and success depends on how closely they work together.

Two people focused on a laptop in a classroom setting.

Preventing AI Scams: Digital Defense in an Evolving Online Ecosystem

Advances in AI technology have enabled online scammers to become more creative in their methods, allowing them to craft scams that mimic human language patterns and produce persuasive, context-aware messages that bypass traditional filters on social media, websites, and in your inbox.

Screenshot of Microsoft Copilot tutorial

AI at Northwestern IT: Tools, Guidance, and What’s Next

Artificial intelligence has quickly become part of the everyday work of our campus community, and Northwestern IT is committed to helping students, faculty, staff, and researchers use these tools thoughtfully, effectively, and securely. From drafting and summarizing content to analyzing data and streamlining routine tasks, AI tools are available for use at Northwestern.

Zoom AI Companion Features for Meetings Now Available

Northwestern students, faculty, and staff now have access to a group of Zoom AI Companion features, which are an opt-in set of AI-powered tools designed to integrate directly into the Zoom meeting experience. These tools can help summarize discussions, answer questions in real time, and enhance recordings—while keeping data privacy front and center.

graphic of a key inserted into a padlock

Staying Secure Together: Why Strong Passwords and Vigilance Matter More Than Ever

Cyberthreats targeting higher education are a constant reality. Attempts to gain access to University accounts happen around the clock, and they continue to grow in scale and sophistication. To stay ahead of these threats, Northwestern IT recently implemented several enhancements to strengthen our overall security posture and better protect University systems, data, and our community.

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Enhance Your AI Skills—Getting the Most Out of Copilot Chat

Microsoft’s Copilot Chat, available at no cost to all Northwestern students, faculty, and staff, offers a secure and intuitive AI assistant that can support learning, research, and administrative work across campus. Copilot Chat can assist directly with summarizing articles, drafting emails, exploring frameworks and methodologies, and much more. Explore Northwestern‑specific examples and quick video resources to help you work more efficiently with AI.

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Guidance on the Use of Generative AI at Northwestern

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) offers the potential for new capabilities in research, education, and productivity. Understand what to look for when adopting these tools to ensure the intended use is met and University data is protected.

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Technology Tip

Two smartphones show a woman with shopping bags and a pink “Online Shopping” screen.

Staying Smart When Online Shopping

A great deal can be tempting, but not every offer is what it seems. As Black Friday approaches, shop on trusted websites, avoid questionable links and public Wi-Fi, and keep an eye on your accounts for unusual activity. Find additional tips for safe online shopping.

Events

Nov
12
2026

Get to Know Copilot at Northwestern

1:00 PM
Learn about Northwestern’s authorized generative AI tool, Copilot. In this workshop you will learn about:  -Accessing an...
Nov
16
2026

Student Affairs Web Accessibility Hands-on Workshop

10:45 AM Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Drive
Join Jim Stachowiak and Nimisha Joshi for a hands-on website accessibility workshop designed specifically for Student Af...
Nov
16
2026

Research Computing and Data Drop-in Support

3:00 PM Mudd Hall ( formerly Seeley G. Mudd Library), 2233 Tech Drive
Research Computing and Data Services Consultations Drop-in Support: We are excited to be holding in-person consultation ...