Hardware Standards and Replacement Cycle for State-Owned Devices

Device Applicability

This article applies to: 

• State-Owned Devices: Equipment provided to university employees and managed by Minnesota State University, Mankato. 

Please Note: If this article specifies "State-Owned Devices," the steps, tools, or solutions may not work on personal devices due to administrative restrictions or licensing requirements. 

Replacement Cycle 

Computers should be replaced on a regular four year cycle to ensure up-to-date performance, security, and compatibility. Why replace devices every four years?

1. Security
   • Staying current means having up-to-date security protections and reducing risks to your data, the network, and our students (see Minnesota State Board Policy 5.23.1.5 Security Patch Management)
2. Support
   • Standardizing within this cycle supports IT in resolving issues faster and avoiding unexpected problems from outdated devices. (Therefore, it also saves the university money.) 
3. Performance
   • Newer devices run smoothly with the latest software, minimizing downtime and allowing people to work as efficiently as possible.
4. Predictable Budgeting
   • Budgeting for devices will remain predictable and consistent from year to year.
   • Most devices will also be covered under warranties during this period, minimizing possible significant repair costs.

Device Standards

To ensure optimal performance, all devices must remain sufficiently up-to-date with adequate memory and storage to support current operating systems and software.

Form Factor

• Recommended: Laptops for all employees

Supported Brands

• Apple
• Dell
• Windows

Unsupported Devices

• Chromebooks
• Android tablets

For assistance in establishing a healthy computer replacement cycle, submit a ticket to schedule a consultation.

Department purchases for new devices are available online through the Campus Computer Store.