ACCOUNT CREATION
A user account provides access to network file and print services and email. A user account will be created upon receipt of a Network and Voicemail Request Form emailed by a department head to helpdesk@ben.edu.

REQUEST FORM
Online Network and Voicemail Request Form. This form is also available on the S: drive.

ACCOUNT DELETION
Open, unused user accounts pose a significant security threat to information systems. A hacker who gains control of such an account can utilize that account as a base of operations with less risk of being caught. Due to this fact, Benedictine University will remove accounts from the system upon employee termination.

LAB LOCATIONS
If you do not have access to a computer at work or home, then the two most likely places for you to gain access to your email are on the BU campus where we provide computers or at your local public library.
Open Labs Teaching Labs
Kindlon Hall 228
Kindlon Hall Atrium (1st floor) Birck 1st & 2nd floor Hallway
Krasa Center main level Library (main level)
Library 5th Floor
Scholl 218 Kindlon Hall 227
Kindlon Hall 244
Birck 214
Birck 236

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR USER ACCOUNT
• Your user account will allow you to login to any of the above locations and your office computer.
• The only time you should use the teaching labs is if one of your classes is meeting in the teaching lab.
• You should not allow others to use your account login.
• You MUST login to the network in order to print, save files to your network drive, or use any software that is accessed over the network.
• All faculty/staff members receive network storage called the home drive. You will be able to find this drive under My Computer looking something like this: jdoe on benufs\Home (H). The drive will allow you to save up to 100 MB of data.
• You are only allowed three failed login attempts, after which you must reset your password. Call the helpdesk to reset your password or use the self-reset tool.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LOGGING IN
1. You will need to press CTRL + ALT + DEL at the same time.
2. Now you should see a box labeled Logon to Windows. This window will have three boxes for input (User Name, Password, and Log on to).
3. For the User Name enter first initial followed immediately by the lastname (i.e., jdoe). This entry is not case sensitive.
4. For the Password, the first time you login to use your account you will enter the default password given to you. After you login and change your password, you will use the new one you have created. (Note: passwords must be a minimum of 8 characters and contain at least one number. They are case sensitive). You will be prompted to change your password periodically.
5. Make sure that Ben is identified as the domain you are logging into.
6. After completing above steps you will be able to use the university computer network.

PASSWORDS
Passwords are and will continue to be both the number one defense against computer intrusion and malicious activity. They also remain the number one weakness to security if we lack adequate standards and cooperation from all users. Advances in password cracking programs mean that passwords deemed “safe” in past years are now “crackable” within minutes if not seconds.

• Duration: Passwords will expire after 90 days
• Length: Passwords must be 8 or more characters.
• Composition: Passwords must be an alphanumeric mix. Special characters may also be included. (examples: &time56clocK; Guarant33d; #r00ster; TELa1200). NOTE: passwords are cASe SenSitive.
• Re-use: Passwords may not be re-used.
• Predictable Patterns: Simple or predictable patterns may not be used (examples: abc123 is not acceptable; firstname1 is not acceptable).
• “Strong” Password: Select a phrase, then use the first letters of each word, and include a number or special character (example: The Eagle Lands at Midnight = TEL@1200).
• Password Security: If you have trouble remembering a password, write it on a small piece of paper that you keep in your wallet or purse. Never post a password on your monitor, desktop or any location where it can be seen by anyone else.

HELPFUL HINTS WHILE COMPUTING
• Save work frequently. This holds true especially when typing large documents.
• Save your work in two different places (i.e., save to your H: drive and to a zip disk or a 1.44MB floppy disk). This should help prevent you from having to redo work due to disk failure or accidental deletion. Do not save files to the C: drive on lab computers. The files are automatically deleted when the computer is restarted.
• Always make sure you restart or shutdown the computer before leaving your work area. Leaving yourself logged in could result in someone reading or changing your work on your H: drive.