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What are services?
When talking about computers, "services" generally refer to programs that listen for and respond to network traffic. Examples include:
- Web servers, file servers, FTP servers, email and proxy servers
- Remote access programs such as Remote Desktop
- Open ports
- Allowing others free access to your computer and your files
Why turn off unnecessary services?
- Many computer break-ins are a result of people taking advantage of security holes or problems with these programs.
- The more services that are running on your computer, the more opportunities there are for others to use them, break into or take control of your computer through them.
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How can you tell if services are necessary?
If you need assistance determining what services your computer is running or determining whether they are appropriate, contact the ITS Support Center. In general, services are necessary if:
- There's a clear University business or educational need for them
- They are generally appropriate given your role at the University
- They don't allow anonymous access or guest access to your computer or files unless there is a specific business need to do so (this is normally controlled with file sharing settings)
Services also must not:
- Introduce a security risk
- Interfere with other University resources or the network
- Create an excessive burden on campus infrastructure or resources
GETTING HELP:
Contact the ITS Support Center if you would like your computer configured to meet these requirements. For fastest response, open a request. You can also email help@ucsc.edu or call 459-HELP (4357).
Contact the ITS Support Center or your ITS Divisional Liaison with questions or concerns about any of this information.
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