Over the past three years, the University has delivered a series of upgrades designed to make your day‑to‑day digital experience faster, safer and more reliable. Behind the scenes, a huge amount of technical work has taken place – but the outcome for you is simple: systems that work better, tools that are easier to access, and stronger protection for your data and learning.
Faster, more reliable technology in the clusters
We’ve significantly improved the performance and availability in the cluster PCs:
- Log-in times in clusters are now under 5 minutes, compared to previous waits of up to 30 minutes.
- Clusters now start the day with 99% availability, meaning you can get to work without delays.
- University-wide, there has been a 30% reduction in major outages, so fewer lectures and study sessions are disrupted.
What this means for you:
You can get working faster, experience fewer interruptions, and rely on campus facilities when you need them most.
More ways to access the software you need
We’ve made it easier to access software – both on campus and beyond.
- The number of applications available in all clusters has grown from 15 to 123 giving you much more choice and flexibility of where to study,
- Our new BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) application delivery, makes it possible to access some software securely from your own laptop.
- Off‑campus cluster access, means students who need to can access software remotely.
What this means for you:
Study your way – on your own device, on campus, or from anywhere.
Systems that work better — and improve faster
We’ve modernised how University systems connect to each other, making it easier to enhance and upgrade the tools you use.
- A new platform which connects all our systems, simplifies how information is shared which means it is easier to implement new systems and improvements such as Canvas.
What this means for you:
Digital tools evolve quicker, changes roll out smoothly, and the systems behind your studies are more dependable.
Stronger security for your accounts and data
The University has significantly strengthened identity management and cybersecurity – these improvements increased the Microsoft secure score from 32% to 56%.
What this means for you:
- Protects data – reduces the risk of account compromise and identity theft.
- Prevents learning disruption – lowers the chance of ransomware and cyber incidents that can impact classes or block access to systems.
- Improves email and phishing protection – helps stop malicious emails before you click them.
- Secures collaboration tools – makes platforms like Microsoft Teams safer for sharing and group work.
Better protection of University devices
Our endpoint compliance rate rose from 36% to 96%, meaning nearly all University‑managed devices meet required security and performance standards.
What this means for you:
- Protects devices – ensures devices have security updates, antivirus protection, and encryption enabled.
- Reduces cyber risk – prevents malware, ransomware, and unsafe apps from compromising systems.
- Minimises learning disruption – keeps devices compliant and functioning properly, reducing downtime
Better backup and recovery of your work (postgrads only)
In November 2025, the University introduced a new Microsoft 365 backup solution.
What this means for you:
- If you accidentally delete coursework or overwrite a document, IT Services can now recover it more quickly and more precisely
- Backups are more granular — meaning individual files or versions can be restored
- Shared project files in Teams or SharePoint are safer, reducing the risk of losing collaborative work
- If there’s a wider system issue, the University can restore data faster, keeping disruption to a minimum