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AI-Assisted Productivity Tools

""  Overview and Key Features:

With Microsoft Copilot Chat, you can ask the AI chatbot questions and get detailed responses with footnotes that link back to original sources. Because it is connected to Microsoft’s search engine, it can provide users with up-to-date information and real links, which may make it a better research and teaching tool than ChatGPT.

The Microsoft Copilot service is currently available to the public, but the public version does not have full privacy and data protections; instead, the University has access to an enterprise edition, which does conform to the University’s usual privacy and data protections. This document describes how Faculty, students and staff (with access to the Microsoft toolkit) can access this protected version of Copilot.

Key Features:

  • Uses web search and will provide links to the sources of information it quotes/finds.
  • Your chat data is not used to train models. The data is not available to Microsoft.
  • Copilot cannot access your other Microsoft 365 data.  It does not work on Outlook email, Teams messages, SharePoint files, etc.
  • You can upload a local pdf file or document file and ask contextual questions, for example, “Make 10 quiz questions based on chapter 3 of this pdf”.

 

""  Getting Started:

You can access Microsoft Copilot Chat by navigating to m365.cloud.microsoft/chat and follow the prompts to login to your University of Toronto Microsoft 365 account.

Your interactions with the AI-powered chat tool will not be in the protected environment if you do not sign in with your University of Toronto account.

Cloud Subscription Management

""  Overview and Key Features:

An Azure subscription provides access to Microsoft’s cloud platform enabling University of Toronto departments to deploy, manage and consume services such as virtual machines, storage, databases and networking. Each subscription acts as a logical container for billing, service usage and resource management within U of T’s Microsoft tenant.

At the University of Toronto, Azure subscriptions are provisioned by Enterprise Apps & Solutions Integration (EASI) and transferred to designated departmental owners for day-to-day operations. Departments are expected to have sufficient technical expertise to manage their Azure environments, including billing independently.

For additional support beyond initial provisioning, departments may contact Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) by submitting a request through the Enterprise Service Centre (ESC).

Key Features:

  • Azure Subscription Access: Provides U of T departments with full access to Azure cloud services under the University’s Microsoft tenant.
  • Departmental Ownership: Departments are assigned as subscription owners to manage their Azure resources, security and costs.
  • Cost Responsibility: Departments are responsible for monitoring, managing and funding their Azure resource consumption.
  • Optional Support: Support is available through EIS by opening an ESC ticket as needed.
  • Billing Integration: Departments must provide their CC and CFC information for billing and financial tracking.

Governance Compliance: All subscriptions must comply with the University of Toronto’s cloud governance, security and operational policies.

 

""   Getting Started:

To request a new Azure subscription at the University of Toronto:

Submit an ESC Ticket

Open a ticket through the Enterprise Service Centre (ESC) system. Include the following information:

  1. Requesting department name
  2. Primary subscription owner and alternate contact
  3. Purpose of the subscription or project description
  4. Any specific configuration requests (if applicable)

Provisioning and Handover

EASI will provision the Azure subscription and assign ownership to the requesting department’s designated contacts.

Post-Provisioning Support

Departments requiring additional Azure support may submit further ESC tickets to EIS for assistance, consultation or issue resolution.

Password Management Service

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""Overview and Key Features:

1Password is a cloud-based, cross-platform password management solution that allows users to organize and store all passwords in one secure place.

Password re-use (using the same password across multiple accounts) is a significant contributor to data breaches, as stolen credentials can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to other accounts. To address this vulnerability, the University of Toronto has acquired 5,000 1Password Business licenses for staff, faculty and librarians and six years of 1Password Families at no cost for students.

""Getting Started:

To set up your 1Password account, visit:

"" Get Help:

For more information and FAQs, visit the password manager page.

Directory and Authentication Services

""   Overview and Key Features:

Enterprise Active Directory (EAD) is a platform that provides authorization, roles and group services. It is a central database containing users’ information that is used for authentication and authorization. EAD is integrated into almost all major computing systems in the University and provides access to services such as Office 365.

There is no specific front-end usage of EAD. What it does remains transparent while it authenticates and authorizes you to access services – no action is needed from users. For additional information about EAD, see the Enterprise Service Centre Knowledge Base.

""   Getting Started:

There are over 65 separate instances of active directories within U of T. If you are managing one of these instances and would like to integrate with EAD, please submit a ticket through the Enterprise Service Centre to discuss your application.

""   Get Help:

EAD is managed and maintained by the Identity and Access Management (IAM) team. To contact IAM about EAD, please create a ticket through the Enterprise Service Centre.

There is a mailing list for EAD, which is used to send messages about the bi-monthly update meeting. To subscribe, send an email containing “SUBSCRIBE ENTERPRISEAD-L” in the message body to listserv@listserv.utoronto.ca.

Cloud Infrastructure Hosting

""  Overview and Key Features:

The ITS Azure Cloud Infrastructure team, part of the Systems and Solutions Group (SSG) within Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS), provides expert guidance and hands-on support for departments and divisions looking to adopt Microsoft Azure solutions.

We offer consultation services, establish secure and scalable landing zones, and deliver Platform as a Service (PaaS) capabilities through a shared Azure subscription.

Available Services include:

  • Cloud Consultation: Architecture and planning support for Azure adoption

  • Azure Landing Zones: Design, implementation, and ongoing management

  • Azure Cloud Platform as a Service (PaaS): Hosting and infrastructure services within the EIS Azure environment

Learn More:

""  Getting Started:

""   Get Help:

 

System Management

Product overview - Free business icons   Overview and Key Features:

The System Management service provides expert design, implementation, and management of Windows Server and Linux operating systems, along with associated subsystem server software, for divisional and enterprise partners. Systems can be hosted across various platforms, including the ITS Private Cloud and public cloud environments.

This service includes:

  • Configuration of system resources (storage, CPU, memory, etc.)
  • Database access
  • Firewall setup
  • OS upgrades and patching
  • Security: Collaborating with service partners and the Information Security group to identify security requirements and implement tailored solutions, including defensive measures, processes, and regular vulnerability scans.
  • Hosting and management of LAMP stacks (Linux, Apache, MariaDB, PHP/Python/Perl)
  • NET and MS SQL website hosting
  • Performance and resource monitoring
  • DevOps support and integration
  • Complex Problem Solving: Collaboratively solving complex issues with service partners and other technical groups, addressing challenges related to networks, servers, cloud services, and applications.

   

Help - Free computer icons   Getting Started:

   

Question mark - Free communications icons   Get Help:

Research Data Management Platform (REDCap)

""   Overview and Key Features:

REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) is a free and secure data-management web application for building and managing online surveys and databases. While REDCap can be used to collect virtually any type of data, it is specifically geared to support online or offline data capture for research studies and operations.

For a comprehensive list of REDCap features, visit: https://projectredcap.org/software/

 

Help - Free computer icons    Getting Started:

To be eligible for a REDCap user account at the University of Toronto individuals must have:

  • A valid University of Toronto UTORid
  • Receive approval through their division/department
  • UTORmfa

Divisional Approval

The University of Toronto is rolling REDCap on a per-division/department basis. The criteria for eligibility are determined by appointed divisional and/or departmental leadership. Persons wishing to request a REDCap account should complete the onboarding form.

 

Question mark - Free communications icons   Get Help:

This REDCap resource webpage contains the relevant training and resources that will help you get started with the REDCap. Faculty members, staff, and students can access this webpage using the link  https://cris.utoronto.ca/redcap-resources/

Support Contact: redcap@utoronto.ca

Telecommunications Services

Product overview - Free business icons    Overview and Key Features:

The Telecommunications (TC) team in Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) in Information Technology Services(ITS) provides comprehensive support to clients for all telecommunications services at the University of Toronto, including MS Teams phone, TELUS VoIP services, U of T corporate cellphone plan and the contract for legacy Bell Centrex lines used primarily in elevators and Code Blue emergency call boxes.

Services:

  • MS Teams phone
  • TELUS/GoCo VoIP (edge-case)
  • Corporate cell phones
  • Bell Centrex landlines
  • Fax lines
  • Voice messaging
  • Voicemail to email
  • Common area phones
  • Conference calling

U of T Phonebook/Directory

 

Help - Free computer icons   Getting Started:

To request support for your telephone services, contact your local departmental coordinator (usually the Business Officer or Administrative Assistant within your department/faculty).

 

Question mark - Free communications icons   Get Help:

Campus Wi-Fi

"" Overview and Key Features:

  • Students, staff and faculty:

Registered students, staff and faculty have access to the wireless network, including wireless printing.

  • A note for U of T faculty and staff:

U of T faculty and staff with valid UTORid credentials can create up to five unique guest Wi-Fi credentials. The duration of these credentials is valid for a maximum of up to five days. To create your guest Wi-Fi credentials, visit the eVA self-serve portal at: eva.eduroam.ca.

  • Alumni and Visitors:

Alumni and visitors can use the wireless network if sponsored by U of T staff and faculty. These sponsored accounts are known as short term (shorter than 5 days) and long term guest accounts (greater than 5 days). See the Sponsoring a UTORid web page for further information.

"" Getting Started:

Device Guides:

""  Get Help:

System Status Page

Product overview - Free business icons   Overview and Key Features:

The ITS System Status Page provides an overview of current service status messages and scheduled maintenance for major University of Toronto systems and services. The System Status Page is maintained by the Joint Operations Group (JOG) in Information Technology Services (ITS) and welcomes contributions from IT providers across the University Community.

Service:

  • Communicates status of Mission Critical IT Applications and Systems

Features:

  • IT Administrators contribute status updates in real time

Help - Free computer icons      Getting Started:

Need to post an event or maintenance period to the University Community?

Need to be aware of events or maintenance period in the University Community?

  • Go to The System Status Page
  • Click on the “Subscribe to Updates” (Top of page)
  • If you select email notifications, we recommend using a non-UofT email address so that you will still receive notifications in the event there is an outage that prevents access to university email services.

   

Question mark - Free communications icons   Get Help: