I'm not sure - I haven't asked as I don't work with R or Python. But it's not mentioned anywhere on our portal.

I think most of our research academics who would do this kind of thing probably use their own devices.


Katherine O'Brien (She / Her)
Application Administrator, Online Services
The University of Notre Dame Australia
Phone: +61 8 9433 0703 | University Library<https://library.nd.edu.au/home>
ND39 Fremantle Campus, Nyungar boodjar
I respect and acknowledge the Traditional owners of the land on which I live and work as the First People and Custodians of this country.


________________________________
From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Koshoffer, Amy (koshofae) <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 01 December 2025 12:17 PM
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] OpenRefine - seeking advice for institutional devices

Are you allowed to install R or Python?

Amy Koshoffer
Assistant Director, Research and Data Services, UC Libraries

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________________________________
From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Katherine O'Brien <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2025 10:52:12 PM
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [CODE4LIB] OpenRefine - seeking advice for institutional devices

External Email: Use Caution


Hi all,

I'm trying to get approval to install OpenRefine on my university-owned device, but my request has been rejected due to security and management concerns. I'd love to hear from anyone using OpenRefine in an institutional context. How do you or your IT department manage it?

Here are the main concerns raised by the IT department:


1.
Lack of vendor support for open-source software
I explained that OpenRefine has an active developer and user community, plus plenty of online training resources. This is no longer a concern.
2.
Manual update processes
I shared that OpenRefine is available through various package repositories, which they agreed could work.
3.
Microsoft Defender cannot detect OpenRefine
The issue is that OpenRefine uses a non-standard installation architecture and lacks a digital signature for its CPE, preventing Defender from identifying it. They said that since there’s no way to manually intervene, it creates challenges for vulnerability management.

I posted about this on the OpenRefine discussion board<https://forum.openrefine.org/t/misunderstood-requirements-preventing-the-use-of-openrefine/1865<https://forum.openrefine.org/t/misunderstood-requirements-preventing-the-use-of-openrefine/1865>> and got helpful feedback, but Point 3 remains a blocker. Has anyone successfully addressed this issue with institutional devices?

Thanks in advance for any insights!

Katherine

Katherine O'Brien (She / Her)
Application Administrator, Online Services
The University of Notre Dame Australia
Phone: +61 8 9433 0703 | University Library<https://library.nd.edu.au/home<https://library.nd.edu.au/home>>
ND39 Fremantle Campus, Nyungar boodjar
I respect and acknowledge the Traditional owners of the land on which I live and work as the First People and Custodians of this country.

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