Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the new year and welcome to ITSO! As we continue to enhance your digital experience on campus, we are pleased to share the latest updates and improvements in our IT services, aligned with recent technological advancements and your valuable feedback we received in our ITSO annual User Satisfaction Survey and other channels.
Open WebUI is an enhanced generative AI platform based on open-source software and hosted by ITSO, intended for handling University data safely. It features web search, broad document upload support (including XLSX and PPT), image and Cantonese voice input, web page querying, and the ability to switch between AI models for comparison. Users can customize interactions through system prompts and personal memory, and benefit from a 30-day chat retention policy with export options. Open WebUI offers a flexible, user-friendly AI solution for academic and administrative tasks. We encourage you to explore these innovative tools in accordance with the Generative AI Usage Guidelines.
Advanced Research Computing Facility
HKUST SuperPOD is an advanced AI supercomputing platform built on NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD H800 systems. It supports all HKUST researchers in AI‑for‑Science initiatives, including large‑scale model training, deep learning, data‑intensive analysis, and high‑performance simulations.
HKUST HPC4 is HKUST’s fourth‑generation high‑performance computing cluster. The system uses liquid‑immersion cooling and offers Intel and AMD CPU nodes and NVIDIA GPU nodes to support advanced scientific research.
Both SuperPOD and HPC4 operate on a project‑based model to enable team collaboration. Please refer to their websites for account application, charging, and subsidy details. Please contact spodsupport@ust.hk or hpc4support@ust.hk .
We encourage users to actively manage their storage to optimize resources and promote sustainability in response to Microsoft's global storage reduction. Use OneDrive as your primary workspace and SharePoint/Shared Libraries for team projects; regularly review your files, delete duplicates and obsolete versions, and move or compress large, infrequently used items to stay within quotas. Nextcloud is offered as a secure, on‑premises secondary storage to archive infrequently accessed OneDrive files, but it is not intended to replace OneDrive. Find more storage management tips here.
Working remotely? There are some practical, security-minded tips in Work From Anywhere Guidelines (for Staff) to stay productive and safe:
- Enable Windows Hello, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and passwordless sign-in for a safer and more convenient login experience.
- Use a laptop with ergonomic accessories (USB‑C hub monitor, external keyboard/mouse, or dual screens) and enroll university devices in Microsoft Intune to meet our Minimum Security Standard;
- Use eduroam on campus and secure your home Wi‑Fi (strong password, WPA2/3, change the router admin password, and keep firmware updated); Avoid public Wi‑Fi—use your phone hotspot. Connect to the ITSO VPN for secure access to campus services while off-campus.
- Store and share work files via various types of online storage: OneDrive/SharePoint/Teams/Nextcloud, archive infrequently used files, and keep confidential data on managed services; follow privacy and meeting‑security best practices for Teams/Zoom/Deltapath; and more.
Security Enhancements with Microsoft Intune
Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based service that helps securely manage university devices. In addition, registering for Passwordless authentication will further streamline your login experience. We're implementing Intune across all departments and need your cooperation for a smooth transition.
Web Application Security Strategy
In response to increasing cybersecurity challenges, ITSO has adopted a comprehensive web application security strategy focusing on proactive vulnerability assessments, stronger authentication protocols, and stricter compliance. This approach aims to create safer digital environments for all users engaging with HKUST’s web platforms.
We're committed to providing you with a seamless and reliable Wi-Fi experience across campus. A comprehensive Wi-Fi site survey is being conducted to improve connectivity, address speed issues in high-traffic areas, and enhance coverage in specific campus locations. The campus-wide deployment of Wi-Fi 7, the next generation of wireless technology, is ongoing. The first phases of 600 Wi-Fi 7 installation in core teaching venues, the library, and selected hall areas will be proceeded in Q1.
Foxit PDF Editor, which supports advanced PDF editing and annotation, is available for both students and staff. You can find it, along with other software available for students here.
ITSO offers IT training sessions and workshops throughout the year to help you leverage the latest IT technologies effectively. You may review Effective Storage Management, Introduction to Foxit PDF Editor, or Open WebUI, as well as participate in our upcoming workshops.
We hope these updates will support your teaching, research, and administrative activities effectively. You can also get a general idea of ITSO’s services through the Information for Staff. For a comprehensive overview of all IT services, please refer to our Service Catalog or chat with our AI-Assistant anytime.
If you require further assistance, do not hesitate to reach out to our Service Desk.