Publication Date: June 20, 2005
Author: G. Kay Jacks, General Manager, FSA Application, School Eligibility and Delivery Services
Summary: New release date for SAIG security enhancements and EDconnect 7.0
Posted on 06-20-2005
The Department of Education is pleased to announce upcoming enhancements to Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) security and a new release of the EDconnect software. The goal of this communication is to inform you of new changes to SAIG mailbox security that will affect all users, including TDClient/EAClient mainframe/midrange platforms and EDconnect users. These changes are planned for late June 2005.
This network message replaces the information in network message # 035, dated April 11, 2005.
The following rules will go into affect when creating a new network password using all SAIG products including TDCM web tool, EDconnect, and TDClient or EAClient.
--- Password must begin with an alpha character.
--- Password must be a minimum length of eight characters.
--- Password must contain at least one upper case and one lower case alpha character, plus one numeric character.
--- The EDconnect network password cannot be changed back to "PASSWORD" (ignore case) by the user. Only CPS/SAIG Technical Support can reset a password to "PASSWORD".
--- Password cannot be any of the last four passwords used.
--- Password cannot be a password that matches the User Name or TG number.
--- Password will be locked out after three failures. (You must call CPS/SAIG Technical Support to have the password reset.)
NOTE: If you currently use TDClient or EAClient to transmit data via a mainframe or midrange platform, then check the tdclient.ini or easyacc.ini file for the following parameter: "case=U" (this parameter should have a blank ' ' or 'L' instead of 'U' to allow for both upper and lower case characters in the password.)
We want to assure you that EDconnect functionality has not changed significantly. Enhancements were made to the software to add Section 508 accessibility and to tighten password security to SAIG. Section 508 requires that federal agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities. As most of you are aware, EDconnect is the Windows-based software that the financial aid community uses to transmit Title IV data to send and receive data from the Department of Education.
If you need further information, you can reach CPS/SAIG Technical Support Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. (CT), at 800/330-5947 or e-mail CPSSAIG@ed.gov.