For cyber security reasons, WaTech discontinued Outlook Web Access (OWA). However, you can still access Ecology email from your state-issued cell phone or via VPN. For more information, read this email from Ecology's CIO.
From: Cristie Fredrickson
To: ECY DL ECOLOGY ALL
Sent: Dec. 10, 2019
Outlook Web Access (OWA) Being Discontinued – December 10, 2019
Good afternoon,
Outlook Web Access (OWA) will be discontinued due to increased security threats targeted at email. The planned discontinuation was this evening at 6pm. Ecology staff are reporting they no longer have access, and we are in the process of confirming if the service was discontinued several hours earlier than anticipated.
IT and cyber security are a growing threat and continue to be an area of focus, not only here at Ecology but across all state agencies. OWA is a service that has been provided by WaTech at no additional cost to all state agencies; and we here at Ecology have leveraged this service to conduct business. We know that Ecology employees have concerns about it going away.
However, there’s been an increase in phishing email campaigns and the use of compromised account credentials in OWA which caused outbound state email to be blacklisted or throttled by Yahoo, AOL, and Frontier. This adversely affected several agencies. Therefore, this service needs to be discontinued as it presents significant risk not just to Ecology but to all agencies that use the State Governmental Network (SGN).
How does this affect me?
- While current agency policy makes an exception and allows staff to access their work email on personal devices, that option will no longer be possible after WaTech makes the change later this evening at 6pm. Staff will no longer be able to access their email through a personal device. This change will NOT affect email access through VPN on an agency issued PC, laptop, or tablet; and will NOT affect email access through an agency-issued mobile device.
- Ecology staff will still be able to submit their timesheets through eTime.
- With the addition of GovDelivery, staff can receive building closure, delay notifications, or building safety updates via text message to your personal mobile device, or staff can continue to call the appropriate building phone numbers to receive updates.
OWA is vital to my job. Are there alternatives?
- Yes. Executive Leadership was briefed on alternatives for OWA.
- WaTech will allow agencies to create a security group for individuals who need OWA for critical business needs. WaTech is offering this service as an exception process, and in the event of future security incidents can be traced back to OWA the security group service may also be discontinued.
- The Office of the Chehalis Basin is one example of a critical business need. Their board members, who are not Ecology employees, are required to use Ecology email addresses when conducting business on behalf of the Agency. This allows all records to be accessed as part of Public Disclosure Requests. These board members will be added to the security group to allow them to conduct business on behalf of Ecology.
How do I request to be added to the security group?
- Please discuss your critical business need with your supervisor or section manager to gain program approval to request to be added to the OWA security group.
- Complete the Request for OWA form, which includes a detailed critical business reason for the request. Please note this is in the process of becoming an official Ecology form; due to the timing of the service being discontinued a draft form has been attached for your convenience.
- The form will require the program manager’s signature.
- Scan and email the completed form to the IT Help Desk at ECY RE IS HELP DESK ECYREISHELPDESK@ECY.WA.GOV for ITSO and CIO review.
We understand this is a change that is disappointing and I am sorry this service is going away. It was a convenient option that many of our Ecology team members appreciated.
However, as stated above, it’s our responsibility to keep our systems and data healthy. That includes having a secure way of conducting business that doesn’t knowingly introduce increased security threats into the state’s network. I appreciate your flexibility as we adapt to this ever changing landscape.
Cristie Fredrickson, Chief Information Officer
Department of Ecology
Cristie.Fredrickson@ecy.wa.gov
Download this email as a PDF
iPhone passcodes
See step-by-step instructions for resetting your iPhone passcode.
Accessing Voice Mail when you're out of the office
For statewide remote access, dial 360-407-1111 and follow the prompts.
eTime — time sheets and leave requests
You can use eTime from the same URL whether you are logged in to your work computer at work or using VPN from home, or on any computer or mobile device: etime.wfsaas.com/workforce/SSO.do.
eTime is cloud-based so no special application is needed. When not accessing eTime from within the Ecology network, use the same credentials you use to access your email and calendar.
Employee Self Service (ESS)
ESS is used to view your earning statements from home, when you're not connected to the network via VPN. It's a part of the Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS) Portal.
To log on to ESS, you will need to use your personnel number and an assigned password. Your personnel number is assigned to you as a state employee, and can be found on your earnings and deductions statement (paycheck) in the box in the top, right-hand corner.
Note: Your user ID must be an 8-digit number, using leading zeros to make it 8 digits. For example, if your personnel number is 12345, the correct User ID would be 00012345.
Information about building closures and suspended operations
Emergency conditions may require Ecology managers to temporarily suspend operations. Examples of emergency conditions include severe or inclement weather, natural disasters such as earthquake or flood, and public utility failures.
Employees are responsible for accessing information about suspended operations by using the following resources:
All facilities
Contact: 1-866-590-7090. Make sure to let InfoCentre know you are an Ecology employee and which facility you are calling about.
Lacey building
- Call the 24/7 help line at 360-407-4357 (HELP) and press 1 for InfoCentre for status of the building.
(When you use this number, InfoCentre knows you are an Ecology employee calling.)
- Check individual voicemails for a bulk system message regarding the emergency.
Regional, field Offices and other facilities
- Bellingham Field Office, call voicemail
- Northwest Regional Office, call voicemail at 425-649-7274
- Manchester Lab, call 360-871-8801 or 360-871-8701
- Vancouver Field Office, call 360-690-7170
- Central Regional Office, call 509-575-2490
- Eastern Regional Office, call 509-329-3555
- Richland, call voicemail
Receive text notifications
We use a notification system called GovDelivery, along with information on InfoCentre and updated reception voicemail messages.
All agency emails and agency-issued cell phones are automatically enrolled to receive staff notification via text and email. If you don't have an agency cell phone, you can sign up to receive text notifications on your personal cell phone.
All you need to do is:
- Click on this link (https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAECY/subscriber/new)
- Under "Subscription type" select "SMS/Text message"
- Enter your wireless phone number
- Click "submit"