CNSIT Inventory Cataloguing Project

By Ross Madden
Published on September 23, 2019 11:16 am MT
Updated on April 25, 2022 2:38 pm MT
Posted in General CNSIT, General Computing

CNSIT is about to embark on an ambitious project to inventory all institutionally (CNS) owned networked computers. We are doing so with the goal of gaining a full catalogue of these devices so that we can more proactively manage them in terms of software compliance and endpoint protection.

During this project, CNSIT will be visiting all computers running Windows 10 and MacOS, in person, to document and apply a few updates and changes listed below. These changes will be mostly invisible to the end user.

These changes will not limit your ability to manage these computers in the same manner you are used to and will not affect the data on these devices.

Changes for Windows 10 Computers
  • Rename device to comply with CNSIT naming convention
  • Label device with new name
  • Ensuring our local CNSIT account exists
  • Bind computer to the NATSCI Active Directory domain which allows domain (NetID) login to be used if the lab desires. This prepares the computer for upcoming changes that will allow NetID users to access their OneDrive cloud storage automatically when logging in with their CSU NetID credentials (no need to manually connect/map).
  • Force a CNS branded lock screen background image – this will be managed remotely and is probably the most visible change. CNSIT can quickly use this lock screen image to determine the computer’s status with this project.
  • Force a 15 minute idle screen lock (requires password to unlock. DOES NOT log user out). This complies with the best practices for the physical security of these computers.
Changes for MacOS Computers
  • Rename device to comply with CNSIT naming convention
  • Label device with new name
  • Ensuring our local CNSIT account exists
  • Enable Remote Management access for the local CNSIT account. This will enable remote reporting for software and security patch compliance via CNSIT’s ARD server.

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