Students’ IT services

By selecting a degree programme you are able to see the general content as well as the possible degree programme-specific content. You do not have to select a degree programme to see the Open University's instructions.

University IT services and related support are provided by the IT Center. Complete descriptions of the services are available in the IT Center service catalogue.

At the start of studies: username and email

The University username and email are your keys to the University community. Activate your user account and start using your email as soon as your studies begin.

  • Once you have accepted the offered study place, your details are entered into the University’s student records within a week or so.
  • You will receive an email notification when this has been done. You can then activate your username.
  • Instructions for activating your username are available on the IT Helpdesk website.

Use the University email address for all study-related matters. This makes identification easier and speeds up service. Email is also an important communication channel, so make sure you read your emails.

Here are links to other useful resources for new students:

 N.B. Students may not purchase devices through the University.

Support and guidance

Helpdesk

The IT Helpdesk instructions site provides instructions for the most popular applications and IT services at the university.

IT Helpdesk provides students and employees at the University of Helsinki with user support on the university’s IT services, key applications and information systems. You can contact IT Helpdesk via chat, by telephone or by e-mail. If you need to reach IT Helpdesk quickly, you should preferably use chat. You may also call in urgent cases. If the matter is not urgent, use e-mail.

ID Point identification

With the ID Point identification service, you can verify your identity for IT Helpdesk telephone services. The service is available to all who have a valid university user account. For additional information and instructions, see IT Helpdesk.

 

Logging in and connections

Kirjautuminen ja yhteydet

Username and password

You will need a username and password to log in to your university computer and to use university IT services, such as e-mail, intranet and home directory. Your user account will be valid for a limited time.

Wireless network connections

The university’s eduroam visitor network provide you with wireless connections. Read more about wireless connections on the IT Helpdesk instruction page.

Remote access to network and materials

You can remotely access the university’s internal network services. Read more about remote access on the IT Helpdesk instruction page.

Students can also use the Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) remote desktop service. AVD is a remote Windows desktop which you can use to access University services, applications, and your own files conveniently from any location. Start using AVD with IT Helpdesk instructions.

Information security and privacy protection

Sinä olet tietoturvan tärkein lenkki!

Information security is the responsibility of everyone at the university. Read the instructions below.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) states the minimum requirements on the processing of personal data in EU countries.

The IT Center’s information security team (Flamma) is responsible for the overall information security and its development at the university.

University of Helsinki IT Security Test

In the background an image of binary code and the shape of a heart, University of Helsinki logo.

Information security at the University of Helsinki must be protected at all times. One obvious example of information security threats are the repeated phishing e-mails that many of us have seen in our inbox. Online criminals have used phishing campaigns successfully to hijack several user accounts, thereby gaining access to the information of university staff and students as well as the university. At the same time, information security also means daily actions. We often automatically act in an unsecure or unsafe manner in terms of information security, without actively considering what would be good practices.

What is the University of Helsinki IT Security Test? 

The University of Helsinki IT Security Test educates the university community on current issues and correct procedures related to information security. The short, annual test is mandatory for all staff members and degree students.

If you do not take the test by the due date, your user account will be locked and you can no longer access university services.

If you are both a degree student and a staff member, the email reminder about the test informs you which test you must complete.

How does taking the test benefit me?

  • You will know how to keep your important information secure.
  • You will be able to act even more safely in the university’s IT environment.
  • You will minimise the risk of opening wrong links and becoming the victim of an online scam.
  • The questions of the information security test focus on current threats and help you keep your information security knowledge up to date.

When will I take the test?

Do you want to know in which month is your IT Security test deadline? Open IT Security Test schedules in Flamma.

Complete the test once each academic year. The times for taking the test are staggered throughout the academic year, and are assigned based on username.

You will receive an email notice when it’s your turn to take the test. The first email notice will arrive two months before the due date. Several email reminders will be sent after the first notice. The emails arrive from the address noreply@helsinki.fi.

If you are planning to go abroad for more than two months, complete the test for the ongoing academic year in advance before your departure. The test for the new academic year is published during the first week of July.

Example of an e-mail message informing you when to take the test. Message is sent from noreply@helsinki.fi.
Example of an e-mail message informing you when to take the test. Message is sent from noreply@helsinki.fi.

How to complete the test

  • The test is taken in the university’s Moodle learning environment:
    Moodle area: University of Helsinki IT Security Test for students (academic year 2023-2024)
  • It only takes approximately 15 minutes to complete the test.
  • In the test, you are asked five questions which are randomly drawn from the question bank. The pass limit of the test is 80/100 points.
  • You can retake the test as many times as necessary to pass it.
  • If you do not complete the test by the due date given to you, your user account will be locked.
  • If your user account is locked and you have not taken the University of Helsinki IT Security Test, please contact IT-Helpdesk using the chat, by phone (029 41 55555) or via e-mail (helpdesk@helsinki.fi). The chat is often the quickest way to solve a problem if the IT-Helpdesk is congested!

NB! If you wish to unenrol from the course area after completing the test, do it the next day at the earliest. If you unenrol from the area immediately after completing the test, information on completion does not move forward to the background system of the test.

Accessibility

The test has been built with accessibility in mind. The accessibility of the test has also been assessed by an external expert organisation. Read more from the University of Helsinki accessibility report for student's IT Security Test. However, if you feel that you are unable to take the test due to an impediment, please contact IT-Helpdesk. We can figure out a solution together.

Frequently asked questions

Question: Why must I take the test?

Answer: The university’s management has decided to introduce the test because our information security has been tested heavily in recent years. Information security is a shared responsibility of all members of the university community, and upholding the university community’s IT security skills and awareness of current IT security issues is therefore important.

Question: Who prepares the questions and the test? Who can I give feedback to?

Answer: Several university units have participated in the preparation of the test and the questions. You can use the Feedback form for the IT Security Test to give feedback about the questions or the test.

Question: My user account is locked! What shall I do?

Answer: Please contact IT Helpdesk.

Question: What happens if I do not pass the test?

Answer: You can retake the test as many times as necessary to pass it. Don’t worry. The test is not difficult. The main purpose of the test is to raise awareness and focus attention on important matters in terms of information security. If you do not take the test by the deadline, however, your university user account will be locked and you will not be able to access the university’s systems. In this case, you can contact IT Helpdesk using the chat, by phone (029 41 55555) or by e-mail (helpdesk@helsinki.fi) and request an extension for taking the test, if you have justified grounds to do so.  The chat is often the fastest way to solve a problem if the Helpdesk is congested!

Question: I have already completed Student’s digital skills and/or other studies on the subject. Do I still have to take this test?

Answer: Yes. All university staff members and degree students must take the University of Helsinki IT Security Test.

Question: I’m both a staff member and a degree student, which IT security test should I take?

Answer: In the email reminders it is stated which test you must complete.

Question: I'm an exchange student visiting at the University of Helsinki. Do I need to take the test?

Answer: The test is compulsory only for degree students completing a Bachelor's, Master's or a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki. If you are an exchange student or an other non-degree student, you don't need to take the test – but you can if you want to.

Collaboration and publication

Tallennus

Office 365

Office 365 is a communications and time management package for university students and staff. Read more about Office 365 on the IT Helpdesk instruction page.

E-mail

Your license includes an e-mail account and a personal @helsinki.fi address. The service also includes junk mail and malware filtering. Additional services include mailing lists and shared service addresses. You can log in to your university email here. Enter your username in the format 'username@ad.helsinki.fi' (e.g. rkeskiva@ad.helsinki.fi). Read more about university e-mail software on the IT Helpdesk instructions site.

Encrypted e-mail

The encrypted e-mail service allows you to encrypt the e-mails and attachments you send. See instructions on how to send encrypted e-mails on the IT Helpdesk instruction page.

Blogs

A service for the administration and publication of blogs. Read instructions and get support for the blogs service here.

Unitube

A collection of services for producing, publishing and viewing video and audio material at the university. Read more about Unitube on the IT Helpdesk instruction page.

Video communications

The university offers various possibilities for video conferencing and online meetings. Read more about video communications on the IT Helpdesk instruction page.

Saving files

Tallenus

Personal storage space

Secure and backed up disk space for you to save your files. In addition to your personal storage space, there are several other storage methods that are suitable for sharing information with others and for working with editable documents.

Printing and software

Kaisakirjasto

Printing

The printing services are implemented by Unigrafia. For students, all printing is subject to a charge, the prices can be found in Flamma. You can buy printing credits at Unigrafia's online store

See the instructions for printing on the IT Helpdesk instruction page.

Online learning tools

For online teaching, the university utilizes for example Moodle, Teams and Zoom. Please see page  Moodle instructions. Instructions on how to use Teams and Planner as well as instructions for using the video communication service Zoom are available on the IT Helpdesk website.

Software

The IT Center manages the acquisition and use of the most important software licences at the university and provides software for use through the Download Centre. Read more about university online services on the IT Helpdesk instruction page.

University software licenses

The IT Center has acquired extensive licences for a variety of software applications used at the university, covering, in addition to the university computers, the personal computers of the students, depending on the contract. Read more about University software licenses on Flamma.

The Download Centre

The Download Centre is a distribution service for software acquired by the university for home use by students and staff. Read more about how to use the Download Centre on the IT Helpdesk instruction page.

Office 365 ProPlus

If you use Office 365, you can use the Office 365 ProPlus package free of charge, including the right to install the Microsoft Office suite on your own devices. Read more about Office 365 ProPlus on the IT Helpdesk instruction page.

Unix and Linux

In addition, the university provides you with a Cubbli-Linux for installation on university computers. You can also use it via a remote desktop. You can use the Cubbli with your normal university user account and you will have access to the key services provided by the university. See the Unix and Linux instructions on the IT Helpdesk instruction page.

Sisu

Sisu is the University’s student information system. In Sisu you can plan your studies, register for courses and, when the time comes, submit your graduation request. If you have questions on Sisu, please contact the University’s Student Services. Read more on the page Sisu instructions for students.

Complete descriptions of the services provided by the University IT Center are available in the IT Center service catalogue.