HITS - Microsoft Teams


Overview

Introduction

What is Microsoft Teams

Table of Contents

Microsoft Teams is a communication and collaboration platform that keeps you connected with coworkers, project teams, and communities—no matter where you work. Whether you’re chatting, meeting, sharing files, or co-authoring documents, Teams makes teamwork simple and efficient.

Quick links:

 

 

person with checkmark Eligibility

Please note the following important information about using Microsoft Teams at the University of Michigan.

Aspect Description
Availability

Microsoft Teams is available to all U-M faculty, staff, and students.
Data Compliance

U-M Campus: The campus version of Microsoft Teams is not HIPAA compliant and should not be used to store or share sensitive data.

Michigan Medicine: The Michigan Medicine version of Microsoft Teams is HIPAA compliant and can be used to handle Protected Health Information (PHI) in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
Service Limitation

Users cannot migrate content or workflows from the campus service to the Michigan Medicine service.

 

thumbs up with plus sign Benefits

Microsoft Teams (MS Teams or, simply, Teams) offers the following key features to enhance collaboration:

  • Chat: Instant messaging with colleagues.
  • Video and Voice Calls: High-quality video and voice conferencing.
  • Calendar: Integrated scheduling and meeting management.
  • File Sharing: Collaborate on Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneDrive files.

 

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You can access Microsoft Teams in three primary ways:

Access Method Description
CoreImage Computers

Microsoft Teams is pre-installed on CoreImage devices. You can access it from your Windows Start menu.
Web Browser

Visit office.com (external link) to access Teams from any web browser on any device. Sign in with your @med.umich.edu email address and UMICH password. A VPN connection is not required.
Mobile Devices

Download the Teams mobile app from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. Ensure Microsoft Intune is installed on your device to use the mobile app.

 

books Additional Resources

Creating New "Teams"
  1. Open the Teams app and click Chat in the left menu. If you are using the separate view, Select Teams.
  2. At the top, select New Items, then click Create team.
  3. Choose to build from a template or use an existing Microsoft 365 group.
  4. Select privacy: Private (invite-only) or Public (open to your organization).
  5. Name your team, add a description (optional), and click Create.
  6. Add members and create channels to organize work by topic or project.

For a visual step-by-step guide, please visit: Create a team from a template in Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Support

For a step-by-step video, please visit: Create a team with team templates - Microsoft Support (Video)

 

Joining an Existing Team
  1. Open the Teams app and click Chat in the left menu. If you are using the separate view, Select Teams.
  2. At the top, select New Items, then click Join Team.
  3. Browse public teams and click Join team or enter a code for private teams.
  4. Once added, you’ll have access to channels, conversations, files, and resources.

Helpful resource: Find and join a team in Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Support

 

External Users

Inviting External Users to a Meeting

You can invite external users to Teams meetings by:

  • Adding their email in the meeting invite via Teams or Outlook.
  • Sharing the meeting link.

Important: External users wait in a lobby until they are admitted.

Limitations for external users:

  • External users can only chat during the meeting; chat access ends when the meeting ends.
  • External users cannot request device control.
  • External users cannot view meeting transcripts.

 

Microsoft Teams vs. Zoom and Slack

Collaboration and communication tools like Teams, Slack, and Zoom are essential for a flexible workplace. While all three allow chatting, calling, and videoconferencing, Microsoft Teams offers unique integration with the Microsoft 365 suite.

 

Key Differences
  • Integration: Teams seamlessly integrates with your email, calendar, and Office applications.
  • Real-Time Collaboration: Easily check colleagues' availability and collaborate on documents like PowerPoint within the same application.

For a full feature comparison, refer to this Microsoft Teams (M365) Guide. 

 

Storing Sensitive Data

The Michigan Medicine instance of Microsoft 365, including Teams, is designed to handle high-sensitivity data, including Protected Health Information (PHI).

 

For more details, visit the U-M Safe Computing Sensitive Data Guide (external link).

 

Learn More About Microsoft Teams

To learn more about Teams and how to use it for personal productivity and team collaboration, please visit the following resources:

 

Additionally, HITS offers virtual instructor-led training courses periodically. Search for M365 in Cornerstone (external link) to view available courses. New course dates are added monthly, so check back regularly. If courses are full, you can still benefit from the self-paced resources listed above.