Software Requests and Purchases

All software requests are made through the ANUConnect portal. For any issues or further information, contact the Service Desk at https://anuconnect.anu.edu.au or call +61 2 612 54321.

There are three paths, depending on what you need.

1. Standard software

Standard software is licensed, managed and supported by ITS and shown in the Standard Software list on the Request Software catalogue item. No Software Assessment or procurement process is required. To request it:

  1. Log in to the ANUConnect portal.
  2. Go to the Software category and select the Request Software catalogue item.
  3. Search for the software under the Software Required field.
  4. Complete the details and submit.

After you submit, a representative from the Service Desk will contact you.

Note: Microsoft Planner and Project and Microsoft Visio require a licence to be purchased; you can select these in the Software Required list.

2. New or non-standard software

If the software you need isn't on the Standard Software list, first check whether it's available through another existing ANU source before requesting it as new:

  • The Standard Operating Environment (SOE) — applications pre-installed on University devices, managed by the Digital Workspaces Team.
  • The Company Portal (Windows) or Self Service (Mac) — additional software packaged and supported by the Digital Workspaces Team.
  • The ANU Software & Systems catalogue — software and systems available across the University.
  • The ANU Library's resources — many tools and databases are available through existing Library subscriptions.

If it's genuinely not available through any of these, request it as new software:

  1. Log in to the ANUConnect portal.
  2. Go to the Software category and select the Request Software catalogue item.
  3. Under the Software Required dropdown, select "Other."
  4. Complete all sections of the form and submit.

Once submitted, the Service Desk will confirm whether a Software Assessment is required. A Software Assessment ensures a new product is appropriate and compatible for use in the University's IT ecosystem, and protects ANU data. Where one is required, the following process applies:

a. Provide information and complete the assessments. You'll be asked to provide the following about the software product:

  • The name of the software product and a link to its website (URL)
  • What it will be used for
  • Roughly how many people will be using it (concurrent users)
  • Whether it will integrate with any other ANU system (and if so, whether this is Single Sign-On only, or something more)
  • The estimated annual cost, and whether this is a research project/HDR activity funded by a College or research grant
  • Where the software will run (e.g. installed on a managed ANU device, or cloud/web-based)

You'll also be asked to complete two short self-assessment forms and to let us know the outcome of each, and to arrange a review of the software's Terms and Conditions by the Legal Office (Legal.Office@anu.edu.au). These can all be done at the same time. The forms are:

A response is mandatory to progress your request.

b. Evaluation. The Service Desk will review your responses and the form outcomes, and may ask for additional information. If the software is low risk and raises no privacy or security concerns, it can be approved for you to install or purchase. If risks or concerns are identified — for example around cost, privacy, data, integration or security — your request will be referred to the Technical Design Authority (TDA) for review and formal approval. This may include a Privacy Impact Assessment or a comprehensive cyber security risk assessment by the Information Security Office, with your completed forms feeding into that review.

c. Next steps. Your request remains with the Service Desk throughout. Once the assessment is complete and your request can proceed, a representative will contact you to help with it.

Procurement. Where a purchase is involved, ANU Procurement rules apply:

  • Under $5,000 — one quote required
  • $5,000–$50,000 — two written quotes, sighted by delegate
  • $50,000–$250,000 — three quotes and a purchase order raised
  • Over $250,000 — full procurement activity

For further information visit the ANU Procurement procedure. Otherwise, an exemption from procurement is required through UPCO.

You should also make yourself aware of your responsibilities under the relevant ANU policies — Records and Archives Management, Research Data Management, Data Governance, Privacy, and Information Security. Appropriate support should be established by contacting the vendor directly; ITS may assist in procuring the product but it will not be supported by ITS.

3. Academic software for the Information Commons (IC)

Academic software for IC computers must meet two sets of requirements:

  • The same assessment as other non-standard software — the Privacy and Information Security self-assessment forms, a Terms and Conditions review by the Legal Office, and the ANU Procurement rules for any purchase.
  • The IC deployment process run by Information Services — needs analysis, technical analysis, and user acceptance testing — to confirm the software is suitable for the IC desktop image. Requests are called for before the start of each semester; requests placed outside those periods need a minimum of six weeks' lead time. See the Academic Software Requests guidance for the full process and the current request dates.

To request IC software:

  1. Log in to the ANUConnect portal.
  2. Go to the Software category and select the Information Commons Teaching Software catalogue item.
  3. Complete all sections of the form and submit.

For more information, contact the Information Commons Liaison at IC.Software@anu.edu.au.

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