Keep yourself safe after the Canvas outage

Is Canvas fully operational now? 

Instructure has informed us that Canvas is fully operational. Out of an abundance of caution, the University's Office of Information Technology (OIT) also conducted an assessment before making it available to users. Instructure’s Incident Update page contains the most recent updates. 

What other information is available regarding this incident? 

Additional information and the most recent updates about the incident can be found on the Instructure Incident Update page. 

What should I do if I’m contacted by someone who claims to have my data? 

If you are contacted by someone who claims to have your data or asks for your passwords or financial data or similar information, do not click on any links or share your financial or other information and report it immediately to University Information Security (UIS) at [email protected]. You may also reach out to Technology Help at [email protected] or call 612-301-4357. 

Who can I talk to about questions, concerns or misunderstandings related to the outage and my course?

The University's Student Ombuds Service is available to support students and instructors who would like guidance, clarification, or assistance navigating classroom situations connected to the recent Canvas outage.

What you need to know 

• The bluff: Scammers often use small pieces of leaked data (like a name or email) to make their threats seem more credible than they actually are. 
• The goal: Their goal is to create panic. They want you to act quickly without thinking or verifying the threat. 
• The University’s practice: The University will never contact you via a third-party website, nor will we ever ask for payment, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to "secure" your account or delete your data. 

Recommended actions 

• Do not engage: Engaging with a scammer only confirms that you are a responsive target. 
• Do not click: If you receive a threatening email or text, do not click on any links or download any attachments. 
• Report it: If you receive a communication that feels suspicious, please report it immediately to OIT and forward the message to [email protected]. 
• Secure your accounts: Ensure you have updated your University password. 
• Continue to exercise good cybersecurity safety practices. 

While this incident concerns a third-party vendor’s environment, we encourage our University community to be vigilant and maintain good data security habits – such as using unique, complex passwords and remaining alert to sophisticated phishing attempts. 

For more tips, review OIT’s Recognize and Report Email Scams webpage. 

What should I do if I think I’ve fallen for a phishing attempt? 

If you suspect you’ve fallen for a phishing attempt, email University Information Security (UIS) right away at [email protected] or contact Technology Help at [email protected] or call 612-301-4357. 

What is the University doing to protect data from future incidents? 

While the incident occurred on a vendor platform, OIT regularly takes additional steps to protect University information, including logging and data redundancy practices.

Last updated 05/14/2026