Technologies for Working Remotely

Below are services and useful resources to connect you with colleagues and students remotely. Reach out to your local IT support for any additional departmental guidance. The 24/7 IT Support Center can assist with campus IT services.

NOTE: Prior to working remotely, please prepare in advance by setting up the various resources or connections needed. Most of these resources will need to be established on campus. Copy files from your desktop to online or portable storage and forward your desk phone.

NetID+ Multifactor Authentication

Don't get locked out! Make sure you have set up the NetID+ second step of the authentication with a method that is available to you in a remote situation.

Visit netid-plus.arizona.edu to add methods and/or print bypass codes.

See instructions on the Support, How-To’s and Info tab at NetID+ (Plus).

Internet Service

Check to see whether your internet service provider and/or wireless hotspot is sufficient for the work you need to do. Consult with your departmental IT support.

You can access the UAWiFi and eduroam networks in "parking lot" hotspot locations on campus and around the state.
See also Public Library WiFi Availability for parking lot hotspots at libraries throughout Arizona. A green pin means available 24/7; yellow means business hours only; blue, extended hours; grey, no data.
Comcast is allowing free access to their Xfinity hotspots.

Connecting to the UA Network

The UA Virtual Private Network (VPN) provides a secure connection to the campus network when you are working elsewhere.

Not Required: When working from a secure network, such as your home internet connection with password protected wireless. Most campus services (email, D2L, Box, etc.) are available without VPN.

Highly Recommended: When you are on an unsecured wireless network (e.g., coffee shops, airports). Never work with private, sensitive, or financial information while on unsecured wifi.

Required: May be required for some sensitive campus services, such as UAccess Research and UAccess Financials.

You will need to download Cisco AnyConnect and log in. Be sure to have your computer/device password as well as NetID and NetID+. See instructions on the Support, How-To’s and Info tab at UA Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Your department may also have VPN service.

Meeting Virtually – Video, Chat, and Voice

Video & Voice Conferencing

Zoom: Share screens and real-time voice and/or video conversations. NetID is not required for people outside the university to attend a UA Zoom meeting.
- Log into arizona.zoom.us to setup your Zoom account (if you haven’t already) and test your microphone and speaker.
- If performance is lagging, turn off video and use voice only.
- Protect your meetings from unwanted intruders and "Zoombombing"—Zoom security options.
Microsoft Teams: Secure collaboration application in Office 365. Includes audio and video conferencing among many other collaboration tools.

Online Chat

Microsoft Teams: Includes a chat-based workspace for real-time collaboration.
Skype for Business: Another Microsoft chat tool.
Slack: Not a University service, but many units use it for chat and collaboration. If your unit has adopted it, ensure that all employees have accounts and know how to access Slack remotely.

Collaboration / Storage

Be sure files you need to work with are backed up to somewhere you can access them.

Microsoft Office 365 : Word, Excel, and PowerPoint online, and storage in One Drive. Access and share from anywhere. Log in at office.com with <netid>@email.arizona.edu, your password, and NetID+.
Google G Suite for Education: Docs, Sheets, and Slides online, and storage files in Drive. Access and share from anywhere. Log in at catmail.arizona.edu with <netid>@email.arizona.edu, your password, and NetID+. Faculty and staff must request a campus Google account to get access.
Box@UA: Online file storage with secure, managed access. From Box storage, open and work on Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents collaboratively with online Office 365. Check with your local IT department for other specific requirements they might have about file storage on Box.

Telephone Services

Voicemail: If you have voicemail service, you can phone in to check messages, or have messages sent to your email. See the Support, How-To’s and Info tab.
Call Forwarding: Send your desk phone calls to another number while you are away from the office.

Know Before You Work Remote!

Prior to working in a remote location, make sure that the equipment you are using will function for the required tasks.

Laptop or desktop computer, with current antivirus (such as Sophos) installed.
Software—go to softwarelicense.arizona.edu and/or check with your departmental IT staff if you need to download software to do your work.
Internet connection from a home internet service provider (e.g., Cox, CenturyLink), wifi location such as the public library (use VPN), or hotspot from your mobile device (can incur data charges).
Microphone—may be built into your computer or you can use a plug-in microphone.
Webcam—may be built into your computer or you can use a plug-in webcam.
Follow best practices for working remotely.

Support

The 24/7 IT Support Center can assist you with your questions about setting up, using, or resolving issues with University IT services for working remotely.

Call (520) 626-TECH (8324)
Open a chat at support.arizona.edu. You can share your desktop with the technician, or even give control of your desktop to the technician.

See Self-Help How-To's for VPN, Zoom, Sophos, Adobe, and Microsoft.

Practice Safe Computing

Always practice safe computing.

Keep a current antivirus subscription up to date. Your IT staff can install Sophos Central on University-owned machines. For your home computers, the free Sophos Home Premium antivirus software is an option.
Use  safe email practices. Be mindful of phishing attempts, and follow the  best practices to avoid phishing scams.
Use appropriate technologies for the classification of data, as defined in the Data Classification and Handling Standard, and communicated by the service owner of the technology. If you need information on which technologies can be used with Regulated Information, please check with the appropriate Compliance Partner.
- Please see the guidance on communicating protected health information online.
Don’t accept untrusted certifications if warned by the browser’s security.
If any technology you are working on contains University data and goes missing, report it to the police, then fill out the Lost or Stolen Device Form.