MITS application offers self-serve option for users

July 6, 2007

By Simone Knapp

A new web application called My IT Services, or MITS, has been set up to help the U of S community manage Network Services ID (NSID) passwords, as well as make it easier to manage or retrieve information for services like e-mail or file storage that are accessed using the NSID.

Jorgen Madsen, manager of the Server and Database Services unit of Information Technology Services (ITS), said MITS was developed to improve client self-serve capabilities.

“We wanted to provide new functionality that wasn’t available in the application previously used for changing passwords. One of the new functions is that people can create secret questions that will allow them to set a new password if they have forgotten their current one,” said Madsen.  “Also, the maximum length of passwords has been increased to 16 characters from eight so people can create passwords that are more secure.”

The new MITS application also allows users to set their own out-of-office e-mail auto reply, “and we’ve simplified e-mail forwarding and the management of e-mail aliases including publishing addresses in the e-mail directory,” said Madsen.

One of the main benefits of MITS is that it is accessible anytime, from any web browser, he said.  Another benefit is that the tools to manage the NSID password and e-mail functions are located in a single application. It is simple to switch from one section within MITS to another, Madsen added, and an administrator interface enables front-line IT support personnel to help clients more easily.

To access MITS, go to the ITS website and click on the MITS link in the list of logins, or go directly to https://mits.usask.ca.  MITS can also be accessed in PAWS, namely, the Password icon, the E-mail icon, and the My Files channel.

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Simone Knapp is a communications officer with ITS.