Computer/Device (BYOD) Recommendations and Security Protocol

Many are bringing their own devices (BYOD) to campus. In order to ensure that you have what you need to do your work on your personal computers/devices, TTS has outlined the following computer recommendations and security guidelines.

Recommendations for ALL Laptops

We recommend computers should not be more than 2 years old and have the following specifications:

  • Laptops
    • Mac (OS X 12/Monterey)
    • Windows PC (Windows 10 Professional 21H2 or later)
  • Intel i5 processor (or greater) or Mac M1 Pro processor (or later)
  • 13-15" Screen
  • 16 GB of RAM
  • 512 GB or greater (Solid State Drive) SSD Hard Drive

Details for all recommendations by model can be found in the accordians below.

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office 365 is available to all students for FREE. We strongly recommend that students not buy Microsoft Office from laptop manufacturers or retail stores.

Extended Warranties

We strongly encourage students to purchase extended warranties that cover three to four years. When possible, purchase additional protection that covers drops and liquid damage to the device.

Student Discount

Tufts maintains a list of discount agreements with many computer vendors.  

Contact TTS

If you are unsure about which computer to purchase, or if you have specific computing needs for your major or discipline, please contact TTS for assistance:

Call: 617-627-3376
Email: it@tufts.edu

The Technology Support Center recommendations for new laptops are as follows:

Laptops

Purchase a Mac (OSX 12/Monterey) or Windows PC (Windows 10 Professional 21H2) laptop with an Intel i5 processor or M1 processor and a 13-15" screen.

Solid State Drive (SSD)

Ensure you have a 512 GB or greater SSD - hard drive.

16 GB RAM

Ensure your laptop has 16 GB of RAM (random access memory).

When purchasing a Windows computer, TTS recommends the following:

  1. Purchase a PC - Windows 10 Professional 21H2 or later laptop with a 13-15" screen (touch screen recommended)
  2. Purchase a computer with a Solid State Drive (SSD) of 512 GB or greater.

Antivirus Software

Check out AVG and MSE for free anti-viruses before purchasing a product. If you would like to purchase an anti-virus we recommend Kaspersky or Norton

Microsoft Office

It is strongly recommended that students NOT buy Microsoft Office from laptop manufacturers. The Tufts Microsoft Campus Agreement makes Microsoft Office 365 available to all students at a discounted price. See Office 365 University (PC or Mac) for more information.

Warranty

Accidents happen and the cost of a repair can often exceed the value of the computer. It is strongly recommended that you purchase an extended warranty.  

When purchasing a Macintosh computer, TTS recommends the following:

  1. Purchase a Mac (OSX 12 Monterey) 
  2. Purchase a computer with a Solid State Drive (SSD) of 250 GB or greater.

Microsoft Office

It is strongly recommended that students NOT buy Microsoft Office from laptop manufacturers. The Tufts Microsoft Campus Agreement makes Microsoft Office 365 available to all students at a discounted price. See Office 365 University (PC or Mac) for more information.

AppleCare

It is strongly recommend students buy Applecare (the extended warranty) for their apple laptops. Tufts Technology Support Center is an Apple Certified Service Center and can perform in warranty repairs on computers covered by the AppleCare Protection plan at no charge.

** Please note that the Information Stewardship and Supporting Information Policies prohibits connecting an Apple Airport or Time Capsule to the Tufts network. We recommend a USB hard drive for student backup.

Tufts strongly recommends that all students with mobile devices (i.e. Android phone or tablet; iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch) have the most recent operating system.

  • Android tablet or phone - OS 12
  • iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - iOS 15

NOTE: Ensure your device is set for automatic updates by the vendor to ensure your device is always on the most current operating system.

Disk Encryption

Tufts strongly recommends that personal devices - specifically laptops, tablets, and phones have disk encryption toggled on.

  • Windows PC's
    • Select the Start  button, then select Settings  > Update & Security  > Device encryption.
    • If device encryption is turned off, select Turn on
  • Mac - use File Vault for encryption
    • Under the main Apple menu (top left), go to Systems Preferences ; select Security and Privacy; and File Vault and turn on.

Browser Security/Updates

Browsers (i.e. Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari) should be set to automatically update to ensure you have the latest patches/security fixes for browsers.

Screen Savers

Tufts recommends that screen savers be set to the 10-15 minute setting on all devices.

For students: It is suggested you purchase a privacy screen for your laptop or tablets.

Passcodes and Yubikeys

Ensure passcodes and/or biometrics are enabled for devices to ensure data security.

Tufts strongly encourages that students use a Yubikey to protect your devices from unauthorized access. Learn more about Yubikeys.