Microsoft Power Automate

Power Automate is a self-service, low-code process automation tool available within the Microsoft 365 environment. It allows university faculty and staff to streamline and automate repetitive tasks using three types of flows:

• Cloud flows – automate tasks across cloud services like Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Desktop flows – enable robotic process automation (RPA) for local, repetitive desktop tasks.
• Business process flows – guide users through defined stages of work to ensure consistency and compliance.

This service includes the provisioning and management of Power Automate environments, role-based access configuration, compliance enforcement, and user education.

This service is available to university departments, faculties, and administrative units who require process automation to improve operational efficiency. Individual staff and faculty with appropriate Microsoft 365 licensing may also be eligible to create and manage flows within approved environments.

To get started with Power Automate:

• Submit a request to have an environment set up for your department or team.
• Access Power Automate through your Microsoft 365 account at https://flow.microsoft.com.
• Use available documentation and web-based guides to create your own flows or request assistance from IT staff for more complex configurations.

    •    Power Automate is included in most Microsoft 365 licenses, but some premium connectors or additional environments may incur extra costs. Departments should coordinate with IT for licensing needs.
    •    Limitations:
    •    Access is controlled via role-based permissions and security groups.
    •    Use of flows and connectors is subject to Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies.
    •    All automation activities must comply with university governance and data protection standards.
    •    Regular audits are conducted to ensure compliance, and violations may result in flow deactivation or access restrictions.