Aligning identity with the wider digital landscape
This term, the focus of the University’s Identity Improvement Programme is on demonstrating how digital identity underpins secure access, data, devices and digital services, and supports both our everyday IT operations and continuous service improvement.
As part of our wider digital transformation, the Programme is in the process of modernising the way we manage digital identity to make your day-to-day experience of using digital services smoother, more secure, and better matched to your needs.
In this context, ‘identity’ refers to the University’s digital identity records – the information that tells systems who you are (for example, a member of staff, student, visitor or researcher) and what you should have access to across University systems. Background to this work is set out in this August 2025 news article on improving digital identity management.
Building identity into services
Identity is integral to how the University’s digital platforms work, including the Microsoft tools staff and students use every day. It plays a central role in how digital services are accessed, kept secure and supported. Rather than being approached as a separate piece of work, the Identity Improvement Programme is now more embedded in the way we deliver them all, because it provides the foundations that other digital initiatives rely on, helping to enable secure access and continuous improvement.
For example, work is underway within the Data Strategy Improvement Programme (DSIP), Halo (the CRM Programme) and the Data Reporting, Architecture and Modelling (DRAM) team, to create a shared view of how key Microsoft technologies, including Entra ID, Intune, Purview and Fabric, all fit together, and how digital identity enables them.
How will this help?
This integrated approach supports both strategic delivery and day-to-day work. It helps teams to understand how identity underpins security, access control, data management and new digital services, while enabling proportionate, auditable and locally managed access to applications and data, aligned with University-wide standards.
The Programme’s roadmap is structured across 3 phases:
-
Now: enabling teams across the University to move faster and manage identity locally, using tools and agreements already available.
-
Next: building shared services that reduce duplication and risk, while devolving management and business decisions to local teams.
-
Future: improving experience and confidence through better data, governance and lifecycle management.
Ultimately, the aim is to ensure that identity data reaches the people who need it – such as service owners, system administrators and local IT Support Staff (ITSS colleagues) – sooner and in a more usable and reusable form, to support more consistent access, security and service outcomes across the University.
Example: enhanced ability to restrict access to internal content
Some internal University content is intended only for specific users. Using consistent identity data and group management makes it possible to restrict access to selected intranet pages so that only authorised members can view them. This improves security, reduces manual administration, and ensures access remains accurate as membership changes.
A key part of the future identity landscape is Group management, which is being expanded following early pilots, with evaluation currently underway to inform wider adoption.
This term, ITSS are invited to complete the Group Request Form to outline proposed use cases, particularly for access management or eligibility checks.
