MBIM IT offers procurement support for desktops, laptops, tablets, and monitors for all UBC faculty and staff — with pricing, compliance, and setup handled for you.
Why buy through MBIM IT?
- Discounted pricing — volume purchase agreements with vendors mean lower costs for your department.
- Policy compliance — equipment meets UBC technical standards, security, and privacy policies out of the box.
- OS compatibility — all hardware is validated for Windows 11 and current operating system requirements.
- Security software — pre-configured with UBC’s university information security software suite.
MBIM department policy
Research grant purchases require IT coordination. All MBIM members purchasing computer equipment using research grant funding must do so in cooperation with MBIM IT. This ensures every device is properly set up, inventoried, and registered within the department.
New device setup checklist
Each device is configured to meet the UBC Information Security Standards and Acceptable Use of UBC Electronic Information and Systems policy, including:
- Device enrolled in UBC asset inventory and assigned a department tag
- UBC security software installed and activated (antivirus, encryption, endpoint management)
- Operating system and firmware updated to current supported versions
- UBC network and VPN access configured
- User account provisioned and linked to UBC identity systems
- Compliance verified against UBC Information Security Standards
Deciding whether to replace a computer
Before replacing older equipment, it’s important to weigh the productivity costs of keeping an aging system against the upfront cost of replacement — for both administrative and research workloads.
Intel’s SMB PC cost study (16 countries) provides a structured framework for assessing productivity gain or loss when evaluating whether to keep or replace a system. Read the full report →
Computer repairs
Computers break down — it’s a fact of life. MBIM IT is your first point of contact when this happens. We repair laptops and desktops in-house, and can facilitate warranty services with the manufacturer when applicable. Please contact us as soon as you notice any issues; the sooner we’re notified, the better our chances of resolving the problem.
- In-house repairs — we service laptops and desktops directly for common hardware and software issues.
- Warranty support — we can liaise with manufacturers on your behalf for covered warranty repairs.
- Report issues early — early reporting improves outcomes; don’t wait until a problem becomes critical.
Back up your data before any repair. Prior to any repair carried out by MBIM IT or a third-party solutions provider, ensure you have an up-to-date backup of all data using one of our recommended backup and file services. A reminder: you are ultimately responsible for keeping your data safe and secure.