Security patches (or updates) are issued by software vendors to repair bugs or security holes in operating systems and software. We require that machines are kept up to date to access the University network to minimise security risks to the IT environment.
We recommend using one of the following supported operating systems on the University network for the best results. If you are running a version that is older and no longer supported or updated by the vendor then it should be replaced/upgraded. Ideally being on the University recommended version will make supporting it easier and ensure good compatibility with the University environment.
| Operating System | Vendor Supported | University recommended version |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | 10 build 1909 or later | 10 build 20H2 |
| MacOS | 10.14 or later | 10.15 |
| RedHat Linux | 7 or later | 8 |
| Ubuntu | 18 or later | 20 |
| Debian | 9 or later | 10 |
| Android | 8 or later | 11 |
| iPad/iPhone | 12.5 or later | 14 |
You don't need to check for security updates if you use a computer managed by the University of Otago, these are done on your behalf and you will be notified if you need to perform any actions.
In some cases you will have the option to set this interval manually, or to disable checking for updates — please make sure you install and check for security updates regularly, otherwise your computer and the University network may be at risk.
If you are inconvenienced by certain updates, or if the update notifications become annoying please contact AskOtago to raise a job with your IT support team. It may be possible to adjust the settings and update times to suit you better.
Contact AskOtago:
Freephone 0800 80 80 98 (within New Zealand)
Tel +64 3 479 7000
Email askotago.it@otago.ac.nz