Required software

This software helps to protect you and the HMS community from security risks. Visit our page on security software for more information on required and recommended apps and tools.

Systems management software (SMS)

Systems management software (SMS) helps HMS IT protect your system by enabling the distribution of applications crucial to the School's information security. Check if SMS is installed on your computer and install systems management software if needed.

Antivirus and anti-malware

For faculty and staff – Quad-based faculty and staff at HMS, HSDM, and Wyss must install SMS. When SMS is installed, CrowdStrike will protect the computer from viruses and malware.

For students and others – Other members of the HMS community must also have antivirus protection on both Windows and macOS. Windows usersEnsure that Microsoft Defender Antivirus is activemacOS users:  Download free antivirus protection from Avast One.

Popular software

Adobe Creative Cloud

Faculty, staff, and students at Harvard Medical School (HMS), Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM), and Wyss can access Adobe Creative Cloud through HarvardKey.

Visit our page on Adobe Creative Cloud to learn more.

Microsoft Office

Harvard University offers access to popular Microsoft software like Word, Powerpoint, Excel, and Endnote. This software is available to faculty, staff, and students.

Read more about Microsoft 365 from Harvard Univerity Information Technology (HUIT).

CrashPlan

CrashPlan continuously backs up the data on your computer so that you can restore it if you lose your computer, your hard drive breaks, or even if you accidentally delete something.

Quad-based faculty, staff, and students are eligible for CrashPlan. Learn more about CrashPlan at HMS.

Research software

Harvard and HMS offer several apps to help you with your work, including EndNotePaperpile, and data analytics software like SAS, SPSS, and Tableau.

Research Computing has a list of additional research software that you can use.

Additional information