Work remotely

Visit our hardware purchasing and consulting website for recommendations on computers, monitors, and accessories. 

Required security software must be installed on any Harvard-owned or grant-purchased system connected to the HMS network or used to conduct HMS business.

• Systems management software (SMS) – Install systems management software (SMS) to enable HMS IT to keep systems up-to-date with the latest security patches and virus definitions. After you install SMS, the threat-monitoring software CrowdStrike will automatically be installed.  
• Threat-monitoring software – Install CrowdStrike, which helps Harvard respond quickly to advanced attacks using malware and stolen credentials.
• Antivirus software – Install ESET antivirus software if you are quad-based faculty and staff. We recommend that others install Avast for macOS or use the built-in Windows Defender for Windows computers. 

If you need any assistance, contact your local IT support team.

Make sure any machine that you are using for work is running Windows 10 or macOS 10.14 or later.

• Windows users can learn more from Microsoft about upgrading to Windows 10
• Mac users can upgrade their operating system by following Apple's instructions

With an updated operating system and the right security software (see the sections below), you can use your personal computer for remote work. However, if you have brought your work computer home, we need your help to track this and any computer equipment that has moved off-campus for HMS business conducted at home. We have created a simple form for you to use for this purpose: Remote Work Computer Equipment Form.

Thank you for completing this form to help us track this equipment.

Prepare your remote work environment

• Ensure that your computer has a working webcam and microphone and that its operating systems and applications are up to date with the latest releases and patches. 
• Ensure that you have high-speed internet access at your remote work location. Use tools such as speedtest.net or your internet provider's support tools to determine if the speed of your connection meets the needs of video conferencing tools such Zoom.
• Check with you service provider to confirm the data limits for your account. 
• Many American internet providers have pledged to "keep Americans connected." See this list to find out if a provider in your area is included.
• If you do not have internet access at home, consider purchasing a prepaid hotspot such as the Verizon Ellipsis Jetpack, the AT&T Velocity Hotspot, or others. Look up the cellular signal strength in your remote location using this tool.
• If you require access to Wi-Fi and your device doesn't have Wi-Fi built-in, you can purchase a wireless adapter. We recommend the TP-Link Mini - AC600 USB 2.0 Wifi Adapter

Visit the Environmental Health & Safety ergonomics website for all your ergonomics resources, including recommendations on home office setup, preferred vendors and pricing, the EH&S Computer Workstation Self Evaluation Assessment online training program, and much more.

Review Getting Started with IT, which will guide you through obtaining an HMS account, HarvardKey user credentials, and email access. You should also enable two-factor authentication (2FA).

Connect with your department administrator(s) for requesting campus access.

HMS has updated its guidance regarding the submission and approval process for HMS campus access requests. HMS staff can now request one-time equipment and item retrieval, or access to an office or instructional space. The Campus Access Request knowledge article outlines the information that is required for submission.

You can connect with your colleagues directly using our conferencing services Zoom or Webex. You can use whichever tool you are most comfortable with.

• Zoom Overview

Improve connectivity

If you are having trouble getting a good connection when you are in a Zoom meeting, follow these tips:

• Move closer to your Wi-Fi router—or try a different spot—so you can get a stronger connection.
• Reduce video and music streaming to ease the demand on your home network.
• Switch off video sharing and continue the meeting using only audio.

Improve privacy

To enhance privacy while using Zoom review our Zoom Security and Privacy Tips

Visit our Teach Remotely website for all your remote teach tools and training resources. 

While you are out of the office, you can access your HMS email and calendar from any web browser using Outlook on the web.

• Access your HMS email inbox on the web

While you are out of the office, you can turn on call forwarding so that calls to your work phone will ring your cell phone, home phone, or any other alternate phone. You can even set it up to ring multiple lines at once so you can answer from wherever is most convenient. You can also configure your voicemail to relay your messages to your email address.

• Set up Harvard Phone through the User Account Portal
• Manage Harvard Phone voicemail

Jabber softphone allows staff to answer their office lines through a softphone on their mobile device, desktop, or laptop. This enables users to place and receive calls directly from their published Harvard phone number. Additional benefits of Jabber:

• Allows calls to be placed and received on the Harvard infrastructure at no cost to the user’s devices and home services (long-distance and international calls)
• Continue to utilize published Harvard phone numbers
• Continue to run business operations
• Leverage the University Voice mail system and directory dialing
• Using HarvardKey and single sign-on (SSO)
• Ability to cover multiple shared office lines (multi-line Jabber)

Jabber for Multi-lines provides up to eight extensions within the Jabber desktop client. If you use several lines for your daily tasks (answer calls for a department line, lab, faculty member, and so on), multiline allows you to leverage all the advanced calling capabilities, even when you are away from your desk or working remotely.

Visit Jabber Softphone for more information and instructions on downloading the Jabber Application.

• Learn more about the service.

If you need to access documents or run applications that are on your work computer, you need to configure remote desktop access. You must directly configure your work computer before you can access it remotely.

Once configured, you can interact with the screen of your work computer from anywhere that has a high-speed connection (a wired Ethernet connection to a DSL, cable, or fiber internet service is ideal).

• Set up your Windows computer for remote desktop access
• Set up your Mac computer for remote desktop access

To remotely access the files and applications on your office computer, network servers, or other network resources, you need to set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection for secure access from a remote location. For files on your office computer, you will also need to set up remote desktop access.

After you have configured your work computer for remote desktop access, how you connect to it depends on which operating system you are using on the machine you are connecting from.

• Access a Windows PC from another Windows PC
• Access a Mac from another Mac
• Access a Windows PC from a Mac

You can access your files remotely by using cloud storage offered by Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive, or by storing your information on a file server managed by HMS IT.

• Request an HMS Dropbox account
• Getting Started with Harvard OneDrive
• Overview of HMS file servers

Zoom

When should I use Zoom?

Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT) is monitoring our technology platforms carefully, working directly with our vendors to ensure stability and continuity of services. We are pleased with their performance thus far. However, given the extraordinary additional demand anticipated, and our need to prioritize academic use, below are some basic guidelines for using Zoom sensibly:

• Consider whether you need to hold a meeting. A phone call or email might suffice.
• If you hold a Zoom meeting, keep it short.
  • Video calls are most effective when they are 45-min or less
  • Consider adopting a 10-min “stand-up” approach—a meeting not long enough to sit down—and focus on priorities of the day
• If you experience any bandwidth issues during your Zoom meeting or remote class, turn off your video when not speaking.
• Close your Zoom session when you are done. Do not host a persistent Zoom session.

As we continue to monitor Zoom performance, if the guidance above needs to change, we will update the community on best practices.

When should I use Zoom versus phone calls?

Zoom is an open real-time video and file-sharing collaboration environment. It is designed for teams to collectively share conversations, video communications, documents, and comments (chats). Whereas it is optimal for rapidly sharing a wide variety of media among an open group, it is not suited for private conversations or collaborations where sensitive data are exchanged.

Phone calls are limited in their ability to engage multiple parties in broad data sharing. They are more suited for private conversations. Phones do have multi-party capability (conference calls).

My Zoom session is experiencing bandwidth issues, what should I do?

If you experience any bandwidth issues during your Zoom meeting or remote class, turn off your video when not speaking.

Are there privacy concerns when using Zoom?

You can review Zoom's privacy policy and follow these Zoom security and privacy tips for preserving privacy when using this service. 

Hardware service and support

What do I do if I need my computer repaired or upgraded?

HMS IT will repair any Harvard owned computer, printer, or monitor, whether it is located on campus or if you are using it at home. Complete details on how the repair process works depending on location is outlined in the Computer and printer repairs during COVID Knowledge base article.

Software and service support

If there is an issue with the network, storage, or another service, will it be resolved?

Yes, during this time all mission-critical services are being monitored and staff will respond as necessary to any events.

Will O2 be available during this time?

Yes. O2 compute, support, and training services will continue to operate during this time. All RC training and office hours consultation will take place in virtual Zoom sessions. You do not need a VPN to login to O2 or copy files to the transfer cluster, and performance will likely improve if you are not using a VPN. For more details, please visit https://it.hms.harvard.edu/our-services/research-computing/research-computing-response-coronavirus

Connectivity

What should I do if I don't have an internet connection at home?

If you do not have internet access at home, you may be able to tether your computer to devices connected to cellular data plans. Check with your cell phone carrier about possible fees or usage caps.

A similar option is to set up a mobile wifi hotspot. This hotspot is a dedicated device that provides a wifi signal that connects you through your cellular data plan. Check with your carrier for compatible devices and for guidance on setting up a mobile hotspot.

If you have a wired internet connection in your home but no wireless connection, your provider may provide a router or other device that enables a wireless wifi connection. Check with your internet service provider for more information.

If you have any questions or concerns, please visit the HMS IT Service Desk online resources,  contact us by phone at 617-432-2000, or by email at itservicedesk@hms.harvard.edu.

Harvard University and Harvard Medical School have additional information and updates about the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

• Harvard University Coronavirus guidance
• Harvard Medical School Coronavirus guidance