The purpose of this article is to assist in working from an alternate location. Office of Information Technology (OIT) provides a variety of services to connect you with systems and colleagues remotely so that work can continue from any Internet connected location.
An important component of working from home is the computer you will use. OIT makes the following recommendations, provided in order of preference. If none of these recommendations fits your situation, please contact your TSP or Local Support. All remote work practices must be in compliance with all policies listed in U of I APM Chapter 30.
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You must use a U of I issued laptop for remote work. Personally owned computing equipment is not
- A limited quantity of U of I laptops are available for checkout - please submit a request to ITS to check out equipment. Be sure to log into the borrowed machine on campus before taking it home to use.
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If you have a U of I desktop, download the VPN client to a computer you have at home and use Remote Desktop (instructions) from the home device to do your work on your work machine
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If you must work from your home/personal machine:
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Do not use an untrusted machine (e.g., kiosk, hotel, or Internet Café) for U of I work.
Reminder: Per FSH 3250, any of U of I equipment that you take off campus must be tracked by your department.
Preparation is the key to success in working remotely:
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Make sure you have access to and have tested the following equipment/services at home before you fully move to working remotely:
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Laptop or desktop computer w/keyboard and mouse if desired.
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Microphone - this may be built into your laptop or computer, or you may use an external device such as a USB microphone or headset (recommended). If you're looking to purchase a microphone, request service from OIT.
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Webcam - a camera may already be built into your laptop, but you can also use an external USB camera for video conferencing. If you're looking to purchase a camera, request service from OIT.
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Be sure you know how to use Zoom for audio and video conferencing
3. Be prepared to use Duo while working remotely. You are encouraged to set up additional devices with the Duo Mobile app. You can use the “Manage Devices” feature to add, remove, or change the devices that Duo can use to verify who you are. You can also request a hardware token from your TSP or Local Support person as a backup. The code provided in the Duo mobile application or a hardware token works even if you have no cell phone service at your current location.
If you do not have equipment at home that meets these standards, if you have special needs, or if you have any questions or issues submit a ticket at support.uidaho.edu or contact your TSP or Local Support.
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During a time of great change and disruption, criminals will take advantage of this to trick you into taking actions you wouldn’t normally take (clicking links or opening attachments, for example). Be extra wary of phishing and other social engineering attempts. Verify unexpected information through established channels. Report phish or suspicious messages using the “Report Phish” button in Outlook.
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U of I business still must be conducted using U of I accounts under policy. Don’t use a personal account (Gmail, Yahoo) for conducting U of I business, and expect the same of others.
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If you have an encrypted device, it is most secure when it is powered off. Like you would when traveling - turn it off when not in use.
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Avoid the temptation to use your U of I device for personal use. While some minimal use is allowed under policy, using your U of I device for web surfing and entertainment could increase the chance of getting malware.
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Don’t install unapproved software on your U of I device.
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If you must connect to an insecure or untrusted WiFi network, such as one at a café, airport, or a neighbor, always use U of I VPN to secure your connection.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
U of I’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates a “tunnel” between your computer and the campus network. This may be required for some services, including:
NOTE: Avoid doing personal activities on a machine connecting to VPN, and especially large downloads or video streaming while on VPN.
When you save your files on OneDrive you can always access the latest version of your files no matter where you're located if you're connected to the internet.