Do you want to:
Increase your computer security, and reduce the effort needed to keep it that way?
Inventory and report potential computer software and hardware issues?
Help find and track your computer assets?
BigFix can help! In fact, Berkeley Lab IT has BigFix deployed on over 4000 Windows, Mac, and Linux systems across the Lab. We recommend that all employees install BigFix on all desktop and laptop systems at the Lab. To get started now, install BigFix from software.lbl.gov.
The single most important thing you can do to protect your system is to keep the operating system and all applications up to date with the latest patches. Hackers target computers running obsolete operating systems and applications, which have well-known and easily-attacked vulnerabilities. For example, if you are running an older web browser, email program, image viewer, instant messaging, or even media player, your system is susceptible to infection with no action on your part other than viewing a malicious site. By installing BigFix, you can be sure that your system will always be running the latest version of the operating system and the most commonly compromised applications. For more information, see Patch Management Services.
BigFix is also used to detect and report on common issues with your system, including low disk space, vulnerable programs, and even failing hard drives. IT User Support can then proactively help you address these problems before disaster strikes! For example,
In October 2017, the popular system utility CCleaner was hacked, and malware was embedded into the newest updates. We were able to identify who had CCleaner installed, notify users of the vulnerability, and help them clean up their systems. For details, see CCleaner Hacked.
In October 2017 Microsoft released a Windows patch that could cause a computer to fail boot. IT User Support was able to identify these systems and worked with the users to ensure that reboots were done in a way that wouldn’t impact their work.
BigFix is also being used in the Lab’s current Wall-to-Wall inventory campaign! Any DOE-barcoded system running BigFix and on the LBL network can be automatically checked in to SunFlower, saving your property rep from having to manually scan the barcode. This pilot program is currently under development by the IT and CFO divisions.
For these and many other reasons, we encourage you to install BigFix on your computer systems. BigFix is available from software.lbl.gov.
If you want further information regarding BigFix or need help installing BigFix, enter a help ticket by clicking on the Request Help link below.
