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Using Windows on a Mac at UCSF
- Audience: Affiliate, Faculty, Non-UCSF, Staff, Student, Technical Partner, Volunteer
- Service Category: Desktop Support
- Owner Team: IT Desktop Engineering
ADVISORY: Running Windows on Apple silicon Macs is not supported by UCSF IT until further notice as we only support current Windows versions that are developed for Intel processors at this time, not ARM-based processors like Apple's M1 and M2 chips.
Running Fusion on an Intel Mac and upgrading to an M1/M2 Mac? Click here for details.
Background
UCSF policy requires almost all computers to be encrypted. (Details: Device Encryption.) A UCSF Information Technology team spent many months with feedback from parties across the entire University when selecting an enterprise-wide solution to protect UCSF computers with encryption.
Although this solution fits UCSF’s needs very well in nearly all cases, it does not protect the Boot Camp Windows partition in a manner consistent with University policy. Consequently, Boot Camp may be used at UCSF in only two scenarios.
How to use Windows on a Mac with an Intel processor at UCSF
You have two choices:
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RECOMMENDED: Remove Boot Camp, encrypt the Mac partition and install Windows using virtualization software such as VMware Fusion, Parallels Desktop for Mac or Oracle VM VirtualBox. With this solution, you may use either the Mac or Windows for UCSF business, research or studies.
Of these three choices – Fusion, Parallels Desktop, and VirtualBox – we recommend Fusion, because (1) UCSF students, faculty and staff are eligible to receive a free license to VMware Fusion through our VMware Academic Program Subscription and (2) UCSF IT supports it. You’re welcome to use Parallels Desktop or VirtualBox, but UCSF does not provide support for those applications. -
NOT RECOMMENDED BUT ACCEPTABLE: If the Windows partition in question will never hold legally protected data, request a device encryption waiver. If approved, install Boot Camp, then encrypt the Mac partition.
Consequences of noncompliance
If you choose not to comply with this policy:
- Your device might be refused connection to the UCSF network when attempting to connect from an unencrypted partition.
- You might be sent to prison or held personally liable for damages if your device containing legally protected data on an unencrypted partition is lost or stolen.
- If you encrypt a Boot Camp Windows partition with the encryption software UCSF provides, your computer might fail to operate properly, potentially causing you to lose data that has not been backed up.
More info
- Device Encryption
- How to Encrypt Your Computer
- Boot Camp: Remove Windows from your Mac
- VMware Academic Program Subscription
- For help and more details, contact the IT Service Desk (415-514-4100).