Across the University, we rely on Microsoft tools every day to teach, study, research, and run services. Behind the familiar apps you use on your computer or phone sits a growing set of shared core technologies that make those experiences safer, more reliable, and easier to use. This article sets out our vision for developing these technologies: what you can expect to see, how you might use them, and why they matter. All this is part of our ongoing investment in digital services.
From tools to outcomes: the role of Microsoft core technologies
What do we mean by Microsoft core technologies? At Oxford, we‘re talking about the common Microsoft platforms that sit beneath everyday digital work. It‘s easy for them to go unnoticed when they work well – but they make it possible for everything else to come together.
Think of it as two layers:
- What you see and use – email, calendars, files, meetings, devices, and apps that help you get work done.
- What sits behind the scenes – the identity, security, device management, and data protection that keep those tools working reliably and safely.
Our vision is to strengthen this foundation so that you can focus less on how technology works, and more on what you want to achieve.
What to look out for
A simpler way to access services
You will increasingly use one University account to sign in to both central and local systems – whether that’s Microsoft apps, specialist tools, or locally run services. This reduces password frustration, improves reliability, and makes support easier.
Devices that are easier to manage and more secure
Using Intune as our shared device management platform, laptops and desktops can be set up, secured, and kept up-to-date more consistently. For most staff and students this simply means devices that ’just work‘; for local IT teams it means better tooling, without losing local control.
Clearer and safer handling of information
With Purview, data protection becomes built in rather than bolted on. Information in Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive can be labelled and protected appropriately, helping to prevent accidental sharing, and supporting compliance without adding unnecessary burden.
A trustworthy foundation for AI
As AI tools become more visible in day to day work, these core technologies will help you to use the right data, navigate access controls appropriately, and stay within agreed guardrails. They will help us all to use AI safely and confidently.
How this helps different roles
All this will mean that:
- Academic staff can collaborate across institutions, access teaching and research systems with fewer barriers, and trust that sensitive information is protected.
- Professional services staff benefit from simpler access to HR, finance, and operational systems, fewer account issues, and stronger support for compliance and audit.
- Local IT teams gain modern management and security tools they can use directly, while relying on a centrally delivered, resilient foundation.
- Students experience more consistent access to learning resources and services, across departments and colleges.
Why this matters
Whether it’s simplified login, shared device management, data protection controls, or secure AI, these technologies are essential because they:
- Reduce complexity and duplication across the collegiate University
- Improve cyber security and resilience in line with modern threats
- Enable local flexibility without sacrificing shared standards
- Create the conditions for future transformation – including AI enabled services.
This is a critical element of our ongoing digital transformation: it’s not just about new tools, but having a joined up platform behind those tools that quietly supports the way we want to work today – and sets us up for how we’ll work in the future.
So, what’s next?
Over time, you will start to see changes in how devices are managed, how you sign in to services, and how information is protected. Local IT teams will be invited to participate in specific roll outs and pilots as these capabilities are adopted.
The University’s digital architecture is stewarded by the Digital Governance Unit (DGU) and delivered and maintained by IT colleagues across the University.
For more information, contact the Digital Governance Unit.
