Developing secure software

Campus application developers are invited to a free, half-day seminar Aug. 26 that can help them develop secure software — and consequently spend less time responding to data security breaches and regulatory issues concerning applications and data privacy.

Organizers with Information and Educational Technology said the main speaker will be Bryan Sullivan, a Microsoft security program manager and co-author of AJAX Security.

"This is a great training opportunity conducted by a well-known and well-respected security authority," said Bob Ono, information technology security coordinator at UC Davis.

The seminar is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in 176 Everson Hall, with time for a no-host lunch from noon to 1 p.m.

Registration (limited to the first 125 people) and more information.

Educause access made easier

Faculty and staff can now use their UC Davis Kerberos IDs to gain access to the Educause website, an information technology resource for colleges and universities.

Educause is a nonprofit association with a self-described mission of advancing higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology.

UC Davis maintains an institutional membership in Educause, which means that faculty and staff can use its resources.

Recently, Information and Educational Technology enabled “federated access” for Educause — one more step in the campus’s efforts to provide easier access to outside material. With federated access, faculty and staff use their UC Davis log-ins and passwords, rather than separate log-ins and passwords for outside websites.

Fire hydrant testing

The Fire Department announced its annual testing of Davis campus fire hydrants, for the purpose of evaluating the ability of the system to provide large volumes of water for major fires.

The tests are scheduled from 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 2, 3 and 5, or, alternatively, Aug. 16, 17 and 19, should other events preclude testing on any or all of the first round of dates.

“These tests simulate a maximum demand situation,” said Wes Arvin, assistant chief and fire marshal.

The increased flow will stir up the sediment in the water lines, and the Fire Department and utilities crews will take steps to keep this sediment out of the domestic and industrial supplies.

Nevertheless, there is a possibility that some discolored water will flow from the taps. If this occurs, people are advised to call the Facilities Management work order desk, (530) 752-1655.