Associate Vice Chancellor for Business Services Martha Kerner has announced her retirement, effective the end of this month. Dan Langer, who has served as university Controller and Director of Accounting Services since 2012, will serve as interim Associate Vice Chancellor. Kerner joined UW-Madison in 2012 after a distinguished career in Wisconsin state government. Kerner’s accomplishments at the university include overseeing the development of an internal controls framework, progress on a robust approach to e-commerce and strategic purchasing, and improved and streamlined customer service.

The Office of Cybersecurity has been monitoring an active, new, widespread ransomware attack that's spread to around 65 countries. The ransomware is a variant of a previously identified malware called “Petya.” There is no evidence that UW–Madison is a specific target. Like all ransomware, this version encrypts files and demands payment in BitCoin to decrypt them. This version of Petya can jump to other computers on a network by exploiting an unpatched Microsoft Windows vulnerability. It's recommended that you enable automatic updating of Windows and that you install antivirus software  and keep it up to date. The Office of Cybersecurity does not recommend paying ransom demands.  

To improve internal communications on campus, a set of standard email distribution lists is now available to campus leadership in the MyUW portal. These lists are reserved for sending official messages to employee groups, schools and colleges, major units, and campus governance free of charge. Official messages include information that the university is required to deliver to employees or that is essential to work status and performance. Employees may not opt out of receiving official messages. Contact your dean, director or communicator if you have an official message that needs to be sent but do not have direct access to the List Library. Access to KnowledgeBase document is here.  

This one-day Technology and Cybersecurity Conference on July 13 offers a wide range of speakers and topics with two session tracks (Strategic and Technical). The conference, held at Health Sciences Learning Center, will include keynotes and sessions that will inspire you to "think global, secure local." Breakfast and lunch are included in the registration. Get the details and register.