Introduction
Applications within this portfolio provide stand-along value in support of the administrative offices across campus. These applications are often used by staff outside of the services designed and managed by IT Services.
Capabilities, Benefits, and Key Features
Each specific application in this portfolio has a unique use case. This service offering exists to help navigate that portfolio. Each application contained here:
- Meets accessibility requirements
- Contains terms and conditions deemed acceptable for Miami students and staff
- Defines a support tier for addressing questions and problems
- Defines an acquisition method to specify how it is licensed and installed (local, cloud, remote, etc)
- Defines the authentication method used to access the application, if needed
Out of scope
There are many applications that are component for a larger service, such as TeamDynamix is part of the IT Service Management and Enterprise Service Management services, or Cisco Webex is a component of the Conferencing and Collaboration service, or Banner is a component of the Enterprise Resource Management (ERP) Service. While each of those applications is integral to the performance of those services, they are not made available or managed in the same way the applications in this portfolio are made available.
What can I expect?
Support Tiers
- Tier 1 - Best Effort: While approved for use there is no institutional support for the application. IT Help would make an effort to assist using general technical knowledge. If unable to do so, the user would need to resolve the issue on their own or contact a commercial vendor for assistance.
- Tier 2 - Sponsor Support: If students were to contact IT Help, they refer the user to an individual sponsor, typically an instructor of a given course. The sponsor would work directly with the vendor on any unresolved issues.
- Tier 3 - Divisional/Departmental Support: Divisional/Departmental Support: Miami IT resources exist to support the faculty within their respective academic divisions. In cases where individual users contact IT Help, they receive best effort support. If unsuccessful, they would refer the user to contact the instructor of their course. Instructors seeking support for unresolved issues would be escalated to their divisional IT team.
- Tier 4 - Central IT Support: Faculty and students who contact support would receive help with escalation to a predefined IT team who provides expert support.
Limitations / Technology Requirements
Each application has its own requirements that may include:
- Necessary computing capability, such as RAM and CPU
- Internet connectivity
- Secure (VPN) Connection to Miami
Who may use it?
The applications in this portfolio are intended for current students and instructors of current courses.
How do I get started?
Each application will list the specific method for acquiring and installing that application. There are a variety of models for making such applications available to individual students and instructors. In some cases, the method might vary depending on your status as a student or instructor. See the entry for the specific application for details on which acquisition model, licensing model, and authentication model is used.
Acquisition Models
- Direct Download: Software is downloaded to a local computer and installed to run from that specific device.
- Registration: Online user account is used to login to the application each time of use, frequently using Miami's Identity and Access single-sign on capability with your Miami UniqueID and password.
- Remote Access: Miami provisions a host for instructors or students to use to access the application. Installation of software to access that host may be required. In some cases, a secure (VPN) connection to Miami may be required.
- Administrator Assigned: Designated Miami staff assign individual licenses, typically used when licenses must be individually purchased in order to use the application.
Licensing Models
- Registered User License: The license is included with online registration.
- Local user license: The license is included with the initial installation. In rare cases, a local license file may need updated periodically to contiue to use the application. Check the entry for that specific application for instructions to do so.
- Site license: Miami has negotiated terms that allow for all current students and instructors to use the application.
- User license server: Miami or the Vendor hosts a license server that the application uses to checkin and validate that you still have permission to use the application. The license server typically has one or more administrators that review and ensure the licenses have been deployed according the terms and conditions of use.
Authentication Models
- None: No authentication is required after the application is acquired.
- Miami Single-Sign-On (SSO): Uses Miami's identify and access management to authenticate user as a current student or instructor.
- GSuite or Azure: Application allows for users to login using a federated login to Google or MS Azure. If using your Miami account, @miamioh.edu, on these services, the login is subject to the same requirements as though you logged into those services directly. In many cases, it is possible to use a personal Google or Microsoft account that is unrelated to your Miami account.
- Independent Registration: The user is required to create an account individually with the application vendor.
Is there a charge to me or my department?
The acquisition model for each title determines if there is a charge. See the specific entry in the service catalog for specific information about the initial charge and ongoing subscription costs.