Remote Access Dos and Donts

Things to remember when working remotely

When working while off-campus, it is important for University staff to be aware of the following:

• Complete our online IT Security Awareness training.
• Only remotely connect to secured resources using official methods as listed on the University's Remote Access web pages. 
• Only use official University platforms, including Canvas and the University’s Microsoft 365 environment (which includes Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint and Microsoft Teams).
• Keep your device in a safe location and minimise who else can view your screen.
• Lock your device if you do have to leave it unattended for any reason. Make sure your devices are stored carefully when not in use.
• Take extra care that devices, such as USBs, phones, laptops, or tablets, are not lost or misplaced. The use of removable storage devices (such as USB sticks) is not recommended.
• Before sending an email, double-check its addressing to ensure you’re sending it to the correct recipients.
• Avoid saving University data onto any personal device. Be aware of saving duplicate copies of data where they may be visible to unauthorised individuals.
• Do not use personal email accounts for work.
• Keep any paper documents that contain University data secure when working at home. Where possible, avoid paper.
• Follow Guidance on how to collaborate and keep in touch with colleagues when working from home as outlined here.
• Consult with the University's Data Protection website to ensure that you are familiar with our Data Protection Policies and Procedures and read guidance from the Data Protection Commission.
• The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) have published working from home security guidance.