This is a reference guide for obtaining commercial software for use at work at Mass General Brigham.

Microsoft Office Products

The Office 2016 upgrade for Macintosh, non-standard PC or personally-owned computers used for business is available for self-installation.

See: HOWTO: Install and Activate Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise (Microsoft Office) for the most up-to-date information

Mass General Brigham Standard Workstations

  • Microsoft 365 Apps are preinstalled on Mass General Brigham computers. Please contact the IS Service Desk if they are not installed on a standard workstation.

Non-Standard Windows Devices 

  • From your browser, go to the Microsoft 365 portal at https://portal.office.com. Click Install Office, then Microsoft 365 apps from the drop-down menu. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
  • These are PC's without the Mass General Brigham screensaver. To learn more about what is considered a "standard vs. "non-standard" computer at Mass General Brigham, please read this Knowledge Base article.

Macintosh Devices

Academic Software

The Research Computing Core resells software licenses to researchers at academic or bulk pricing.

Adobe Software - See pricing alert, dropdown

We were recently informed by Adobe that MGB no longer qualifies for educational pricing despite our affiliation with Harvard University. Adobe now requires health care organizations to be wholly owned subsidiaries of educational institutions to qualify. Insight, MGB Digital, and MGB Contracting leadership continue to appeal this decision and proposed pricing to Adobe management. We are actively engaged in exploring a low-cost alternative to Adobe Acrobat Pro.

We were recently informed by Adobe that MGB no longer qualifies for educational pricing despite our affiliation with Harvard University. Adobe now requires health care organizations to be wholly owned subsidiaries of educational institutions to qualify. Insight, MGB Digital, and MGB Contracting leadership continue to appeal this decision and proposed pricing to Adobe management. We are actively engaged in exploring a low-cost alternative to Adobe Acrobat Pro.

 

Purchase Adobe products through Mass General Brigham's software vendor, Insight:

  • Contact @email, (888) 213-8430, to request the software title quote. ​
    • Researchers must specifically request Educational pricing and verify proof of eligibility. Eligibility is expedited if a school email address, for example, one that includes harvard.edu, is used. Please see the KnowledgeBase article, Education Discounts on Software Purchases through Insight, for additional details regarding eligibility. 
  • Once you get the quote .pdf, place the order in eBuy and attach the quote .pdf.
    • Insight Vendor ID is 0000365687
  • NOTE: To ensure that the accounts are setup in the proper end user name, provide the full name and email address for each account to Insight and also in the note field in eBuy.
  • The license does not immediately become available.  Adobe processes the order and then a welcome notice is sent, this typically takes 24 – 48 from when Insight receives the PO.
  • This email address will become the user's Adobe ID.
  • If you are looking for help after the initial purchase, see the KnowledgeBase article, How Do I Activate and Renew Adobe Cloud Subscriptions? 
Mac Downloads

Downloads for frequently used plugins available for Mac & Linux devices to work with Mass General Brigham applications.

This section contains downloads for frequently used plugins available for Mac devices to work with Mass General Brigham  applications. Mac users can find these downloads and more in Self Service, the Mass General Brigham app store that provides Enterprise software, hotfixes and resources. Learn more about Self Service by visiting Macintosh Systems in the IT Services section of this website.

 

All other Software

When no discount is available through the institution or the Core, orders may be placed through Insight, MGB's software reseller.

When no discount is available through the institution or the ERIS Research Computing Core, orders can be placed through Insight, Mass General Brigham's software reseller. Once you get the quote, place the order in eBuy (this website is internal only). 

How to purchase software through Mass General Brigham​'s software vendor, Insight:

  1. Contact @email, (888) 213-8430, to request the software title quote. 
    • Researchers must specifically request Educational pricing and verify proof of eligibility. Eligibility is expedited if a school email address, for example, one that includes harvard.edu, is used. Please see the Knowledge Base article, Education Discounts on Software Purchases through Insight, for additional details regarding eligibility. 
  2. Once you get the quote .pdf, place the order in eBuy (this website is internal and attach the quote .pdf.
  3. NOTE: To ensure that the accounts are setup in the proper end user name, provide the full name and email address for each account to Insight and also in the note field in eBuy.

Consult the MGB Vendor Risk Assessment website to determine whether the software name, vendor name, or software type has already been reviewed by Information Security.

Visit the Knowledge Base for additional information regarding using Electronic Signatures (compliance, security, purchasing options & FAQs).