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The University Managed Desktop (UMD) is provided by UIS & provides a secure and managed platform for devices to connect to University services, keeping them more secure too.
Not only can operating system security updates be managed and installed, any applications pre-installed, or installed via the macOS Self Service or Windows Company Portal, will be periodically updated to ensure security is maintained too.
Given CSCS customers have now moved to Exchange Online, the UMD service is a great solution as it allows you to login onto any UMD device using your “Raven”/Office365 credentials & it will set up Outlook, MS Teams, OneDrive, MS Office etc.. using seamless-sign-on (SSO) which makes set up and access to Office365 services much easier.
UIS provide the platform, support is provided by the local institution, i.e. CSCS.
So what laptop
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or desktop
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can I have?
UMD is available for both Windows & macOS devices, and at this time we are issuing devices running Windows 11 & macOS 15/Sequoia.
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To be able to run UMD there is a minimum hardware requirement, so if your device is very very old, it may need replacing. Under “recovery” we are offering like-for-like replacement devices for exampler , i.e. if you have a Windows desktop, you will receive a replacement Windows desktop. However, if you state on the audit form you would like to move from a desktop to a laptop, you will receive a Windows laptop; the operating system will remain unchanged.
For details on what laptops and desktops are available via recovery, see the pages below for the minimum hardware and the replacement models available:
Windows devices - https://cscs-itsupport.atlassian.net/l/cp/J1tU6CsP
macOS devices - https://cscs-itsupport.atlassian.net/l/cp/gwNBPGDY
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If you would like a different specification than the one ones we have available, then you will need to fund this yourself. |
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What type of UMD solutions are there?
UMD can be set up for either a “Single-User” or “Shared-Use” experience, which are detailed below as separate services to chose:
Single-User solution - is when 1 person logs onto 1 device.
Shared-User solution - when multiple people will log on to 1 device, for example, if a desktop is placed in a lab and various people log on to it with their own University CRSIDs.
Scientific Instrument solution - when multiple people will log on to 1 device, for example, if a desktop is used to run instrument attached equipment or bioinformatics.
Seminar, Lecture & Meeting Room solution - when multiple people will log on to 1 device, for example, a laptop or desktop used in a meeting room that is used to make video calls or run presentations, where not everyone may have a University CRSID.
Training Room solution - when multiple people will log on to 1 device, for example, a desktop used in a training room where various different courses are run
Student/Library solution - when multiple people will log on to 1 device, for example, a desktop PC in a library that University students would like to pick up their email on.
Other/Display Signage solution - when multiple people will log on to 1 device, for example, a device that can be set up to run in reception to show room availability.
A table below summarises the options available:
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When requesting a device set up, it’s important we understand how you plan to use it, so we can select the most appropriate solution. A table below summarises the options available:
UMD Name | How many people can use it? | Who can use it? | Can you use shared accounts? | Operating System? | Applications Pre-Installed? | Are more applications available for install via Company Portal or Self-Serve? | Can updates be re-scheduled? | Available for use? |
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Single-User | One person | Anyone with a University CRSID & Raven/Office365 account | No | Windows macOS | On Windows - Yes, a few like Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, eg. Outlook, OneDrive, MS Teams, 7-Zip, Edge, Oracle Java & anti-virus etc.. On macOS - None, other than anti-virus | Yes | No | Yes |
Shared-User | Multiple people | Anyone with a University CRSID & Raven/Office365 account | No | Windows macOS | On Windows - Yes, quite a few like Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, eg. Outlook, OneDrive, MS Teams, 7-Zip, Edge, Chrome, RStudio, MatLab, SPSS, Zoom, Oracle Java & anti-virus etc.. On macOS - Yes, a few like Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, eg. Outlook, OneDrive, MS Teams, Chrome, Zoom, Firefox & anti-virus etc.. | Yes | No | Yes, however we do recommend a wired connection for ease of use. |
Scientific Instrument | Multiple people | Anyone with a University CRSID & Raven/Office365 account | No - not at this time | Windows | On Windows - None, other than anti-virus On macOS - Yes, a few like Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, eg. Outlook, OneDrive, MS Teams, Chrome, Zoom, Firefox & anti-virus etc.. | Yes | Yes | For Windows only |
Seminar, Lecture & Meeting Room | Multiple people | Anyone with a University CRSID & Raven/Office365 account | No - not at this time | Windows | On Windows - Yes, a few like Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, eg. Outlook, OneDrive, MS Teams, 7-Zip, Edge, Oracle Java & anti-virus etc.. On macOS - Yes, a few like Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, eg. Outlook, OneDrive, MS Teams, Chrome, Zoom, Firefox & anti-virus etc.. | Yes | No | For Windows only |
Training Room | Multiple people | Anyone with a University CRSID & Raven/Office365 account | No - not at this time | Windows | On Windows - Yes, quite a few like Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, eg. Outlook, OneDrive, MS Teams, 7-Zip, Edge, Chrome, RStudio, MatLab, SPSS, Zoom, Oracle Java & anti-virus etc.. On macOS - Yes, a few like Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, eg. Outlook, OneDrive, MS Teams, Chrome, Zoom, Firefox & anti-virus etc.. | Yes | No | For Windows only |
Student/Library | Multiple people | Anyone with a University CRSID & Raven/Office365 account | No - not at this time | Windows | On Windows - Yes, a few like Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, eg. Outlook, OneDrive, MS Teams, 7-Zip, Edge, Oracle Java & anti-virus etc.. On macOS - Yes, a few like Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, eg. Outlook, OneDrive, MS Teams, Chrome, Zoom, Firefox & anti-virus etc.. | Yes | No | For Windows only |
Other including Display Signage | Multiple people | Anyone with a University CRSID & Raven/Office365 account | No - not at this time | Windows | On Windows - None, other than anti-virus On macOS - Yes, a few like Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, eg. Outlook, OneDrive, MS Teams, Chrome, Zoom, Firefox & anti-virus etc.. | Yes | No | Not yet |
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For any devices used by multiple people (ie. Shared-User, Scientific Instrument etcc, Seminar, Lecture & Meeting Room etc..), we do recommend that these devices are connected to the wied wired network now available, for the best experience. Whilst eduroam Eduroam will work, it will require everone everyone who logs in to set up Eduroam every time, as Eduroam is a University service set up for individual people and sharing credentials would not be allowed. |
What about applications?
Certain UMD solutions will come with some applications pre-installed, others won’t have any installed at all, see the table above for details.
You can also install applications from the Company Portal on Windows, or Self-Serve on macOS yourself and there are currently 100’s of applications available, many of them free but some where licenses are still required.
At this time, for single-user set up, the following applications pre-installed on the device https://help.uis.cam.ac.uk/service/desktop-services/umd/university-managed-desktop/software-university-managed-desktop (the software listed under “Shared Use”)
If you find the application you want is missing, you can contact the CSCS Service Desk by logging a ticket who can then put in a request or help you install it if it’s urgent.
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