ITX Goals
The University of Michigan’s IT Transformation (ITX) initiative, led by Information & Technology Services (ITS), is a campus-wide effort to standardize core IT services that are most vulnerable to security risks. Services include identity and access, device operating systems, servers, databases, storage, virtual workstations, and networks. LSA Technology Services is partnering with ITS on this campus mandate to align with campus security goals and ensure local service levels and support remains strong.
This initiative is a direct result of the August 2023 campus IT security incident and is designed to strengthen cybersecurity across campus. Since the incident, ITS and LSA Technology Services leadership have partnered to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats while mitigating overall risk.
Ted Hanss, LSA Chief Information Officer, states that "LSA Technology Services’ top priority throughout this campus-wide effort is keeping our community secure while preserving the personalized support LSA relies on. We are acting as your primary partner and advocate to ensure these security upgrades integrate seamlessly into your daily teaching, research, and work."
What Is Changing in LSA?
The primary change affecting LSA colleagues is upgrading every eligible device to MiWorkspace Core, which includes Windows, Mac, and print services managed by ITS. MiWorkspace Core delivers a unified campus device management and security strategy that complies with current university security policies. LSA Technology Services staff retain the ability to customize MiWorkspace Core devices for specific teaching, learning, and research needs.
This transition affects every faculty member, researcher, staff member, and graduate student with an LSA-funded device that can move to MiWorkspace Core. Migrations to this service will likely occur in calendar years 2027 and 2028. Colleagues that are due for upgrades during this period will receive MiWorkspace Core on their new device. Colleagues not due for an upgrade will need a scheduled rebuild of your device which will be completed around your academic and research cycles.
Ongoing technical support in LSA is not changing, meaning the same local team and familiar faces will still be available to support you and your devices. You can continue using the same help request channels you rely on today, and LSA Technology Services remains your primary point of contact.
"Our aim in complying with these central infrastructure and security standard mandates is to protect LSA’s operational resilience while maximizing local resource efficiency. I am working with university leadership and my finance peers to ensure rate structures and campus funding support for the transition are aligned to smooth the adoption for the college and our departments," noted Steve Schlecht, LSA Chief Finance Officer and Chief Operating Officer.
Other Device Changes
MiWorkspace Core is compatible with Macs running the current (Golden Gate) or previous (Tahoe) operating system, as well as an approved list of Windows 11 hardware. An additional change is that MiWorkspace Core enforces a strict six-year device retention limit, which will affect secondary faculty devices or older research and graduate student machines. LSA Technology Services will continue to maintain recommended standard and performance computer models, and can configure supported Mac or Windows chassis to meet custom performance or storage needs.
Research Exceptions and Support
Devices that are not compatible with MiWorkspace Core (e.g., those with unique research hardware, specialized software, instrumentation, custom code, or unsupported operating systems) require a formal campus security exception process and approval. This process generally applies to machines that are self-managed, retained past their supported operating system lifespan, or cannot load required campus security titles. LSA Technology Services desktop support and security teams will assist the research community in October with uploading existing exceptions and creating new requests.
Trisha Wittkopp, LSA Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education explains, “We recognize that scientific discovery depends on specialized hardware, custom code, and unique lab instrumentation. LSA Technology Services will work hand-in-hand with our research community to navigate the exception process so your vital work remains both fully supported and secure."
Staying Connected and Getting Support
LSA Technology Services acts as your partner and advocate with ITS to ensure this mandate does not disrupt your teaching, research, or work. For campus-wide project details, service overviews, and answers to FAQs, visit the central ITS ITX website or LSA Gateway ITX website. If you have questions about navigating this change in LSA, migrating your devices, or partnering on exceptions, please contact LSA Technology Services directly.
