Using Third-party Application with Microsoft 365 at OHIO
This article explains how app consent works when third-party applications request access to your OHIO Microsoft 365 account. Understanding this process helps protect your data and ensures that only trusted applications are granted access.
What is App Consent?
When you connect an app (like Zoom, Grammarly, or Drop box) to your OHIO Microsoft 365 account, the app will ask for permission to access your data, which is called app consent. This is the process of granting an application permission to access certain resources on your behalf, such as your personal or organizational data. When an app requests consent, it asks permission to perform specific actions on your behalf, which may include accessing sensitive or confidential information.
Why We Manage App Access
These permissions may involve sensitive or private data, so to protect your personal information and University data, only certain third-party apps are allowed to connect to Microsoft 365 at OHIO. Many third-party applications include connectors to Microsoft 365 applications to provide enhanced capabilities while using the app. When a user attempts to use those connectors, it generates what is known as an "app consent", an automated response regarding next steps to use the application with Microsoft 365. Ohio University members may only connect University-approved applications to the OHIO Microsoft 365 environment. This has been done to better protect University accounts and data, as well as to ensure all software being utilized on campus adheres to acceptable legal, security, and accessibility standards.
Which Apps Are Allowed?
Third-party app consent requests that are low risk and verified by Microsoft are automatically approved but are subject to periodic review and may have access revoked if necessary. Allowing access from a third-party app to the University's Microsoft 365 environment does not mean that the University endorses or provides support for the third-party app. You can still use third-party apps on your own, but they won’t be able to connect to your OHIO Microsoft 365 account unless approved.
What Happens If an App Is Blocked?
Only applications that are verified by Microsoft and already approved for use at OHIO will be permitted, and all other applications will be denied. We strongly encourage our OHIO community members to refrain from using unverified applications. If your request is directly related to a course requirement, please follow up with your instructor.
Reviews for exception requests will be processed within 30 (thirty) days of the request submission and once a review is completed, you will be notified via the IT ticketing system.
If you load an application that requires application consent, you will be presented with the following window.
In the window, please enter a justification for your request and select "Request Approval". Your request submission will prompt an email to you that includes additional information about the review process.
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