September 2025 CIO Update
Thanks to an amazing team effort, the start of the Fall semester went remarkably smoothly with no major issues occurring. This was achieved while launching multiple new services and improving existing ones. I know our students, faculty, and staff are deeply appreciative of the service and support they receive, and I am thankful for all of the contributions made by VCU’s outstanding team of IT professionals. This month I would like to highlight a couple of new services as well as provide a reminder and some new resources around security.
RamsCentral Updates
We’re excited to share that RamsCentral continues to evolve with the development of several new dashboards—and more are on the way. These enhancements are part of our ongoing commitment to improving visibility, operational transparency, and data-driven decision-making across our IT landscape.
The newly launched dashboards provide streamlined access to key performance metrics, service tracking, and change management insights. They are designed to empower teams with the information they need to make informed decisions quickly and confidently.
Currently available dashboards include views tailored for IT Analysts, HR Analysts, Change Advisory Board (CAB), Change Management, and a TS-specific executive dashboard. Looking ahead, Phase One of our Reporting dashboards is set to launch in early October, followed by a redesigned Survey process and its corresponding dashboard later this year.
All current and future dashboards are accessible through the Analyst role in RamsCentral. For guidance on accessing and using these tools, please refer to this Knowledge Article. If you have specific reporting or dashboard needs, we encourage you to submit your suggestions via our Improvement Request Form. Note: The Improvement Request Form is accessible in RamsCentral through the IT Self Service Role.
More on CareerWorks
In August, following a year of dedicated research and development in partnership with the Student Success team, Application Services launched CareerWorks. This first-of-its-kind application is designed to prepare students for what comes after… a job in their chosen field utilizing the degree they just spent thousands of dollars on.
CareerWorks centralizes key data from a growing list of university platforms, including Handshake, People Grove, Canvas, and Banner, to create a single source of truth. The application then leverages this data to build a personalized, gamified experience for students, empowering them to complete key “Milestones” on their career journey.
The launch of CareerWorks was a significant collaborative effort all around the University, a testament to cross-campus collaboration. The TS Application Services team led the process, working with various team members in Academic Technologies, Administrative Systems, Information Security, Network Services, and the VCU Computer Center, whose expertise and ongoing support were essential to this release and the next.
Zoom Security Update
The start of any new academic year brings an increase in Zoom activity and with it, unfortunately, new threats to meeting security. Technology Services staff work diligently to protect VCU Zoom account members’ privacy and data, but as always, it’s vital for each user to exercise caution and vigilance in their online activities.
The Information Security Office and the Zoom Support team have identified multiple domains as security threats and barred them from participation in VCU Zoom. In addition working with the vendor support team, a feature was added earlier this month which analyzes joining patterns, IP address and other behavioral indicators of bot activity to prevent unauthorized or malicious automated programs from joining and disrupting meetings.
Ultimately, however, the MVP when it comes to effective meeting security is the meeting host, operating with a sense of alertness and preparation. Hosts have the power to set restrictions that apply to all their meetings, employ defenses when scheduling individual meetings, and/or call upon a wide array of tools for real-time damage control with a meeting in progress.
The VCU Zoom Support team has created the following video showing how to prevent, mitigate and report security incidents: https://blogs.vcu.edu/zoom/2025/09/19/secure-your-meetings/Additional information is available on the VCU Zoom Information Page and VCU Zoom Blog and in the downloadable Zoom Meeting Security Guidelines document. Additionally, Zoom Support can be reached at [email protected] to respond to any questions or concerns.
Thanks to all of my VCU colleagues who made all of the above possible!