In order to work remotely, you may need some or all of the following:

• Internet access
• Computer security program (anti-virus & VPN)
• Communication and Collaboration tools (email, calendar, chat, etc)
• Work-related programs (office productivity, Creative Cloud, etc)
• Remote desktop access to your computer at work

For questions and technical support, please Get Help from DoIT.

Internet Access

Security while working remotely

When working remotely, safety and security are of the utmost importance. Please be sure to keep your operating system up to date, use Antivirus software, enable your firewall, use strong passwords, and enable multi-factor authentication. For further details on how to stay safe while working remotely please see this document: How to Stay Safe Online While Accessing Campus Remotely.

Antivirus Software

The Office of Cybersecurity recommends downloading these free anti-virus software options: [Link for document 101730 is unavailable at this time]

WiscVPN Service

Use WiscVPN - GlobalProtect to create a secure connection between your computer and campus.

Communication and Collaboration Tools

Below is a general overview of the different collaboration tools on campus. For more information on collaborative work/storage options, see: What is the difference between Google docs, Box, OneDrive, and DoIT Shared Drive?. For an overview and comparison of the web conferencing tools, please see: Which video conferencing or webinar tool should I use? (Google Meet, Cisco Webex , Microsoft Teams, Zoom) .

• Cisco - Campus Phone Service

Our campus uses to Cisco VoIP for our phone system. Employees can use the phone system through a physical phone, as well as through software called Jabber. For more on Jabber, please see Cisco VoIP - Jabber for Voice Only Overview and Sign in Information and Cisco VoIP - Jabber Software Installation for Computers.

In the Cisco VoIP - Self Care Portal, you can change your telephone PIN, add/change call forwarding, change voicemail notifications, and more.

Cisco VoIP has a voicemail portal to listen and delete messages, as well as change greetings. To access the voicemail portal, you must either be on UW-Madison campus or using WiscVPN. Voicemail portal access is for individual accounts, not shared office lines. For more information, please see Cisco VoIP - Voicemail Portal Sign in and Overview.

• Microsoft 365 - Email Access

To access your email, simply point your browser to http://email.wisc.edu. Enter your NetID and password, and you should have full access to your university email account.

DoIT recommends using a Microsoft Outlook client to receive your mail: Microsoft 365 - Setup/configure Outlook on mobile device or desktop computer

• Microsoft 365 - Online Calendar

  Microsoft 365 is a great tool to keep track of meetings, appointments, and events. You can also schedule meetings, invite colleagues to meetings, and view colleagues' agendas.

  For more information on calendaring in Microsoft 365, please see: Microsoft 365 (Outlook on the web | Outlook for Windows/Mac) - Best practices when using the calendar

• Box - Online File Access

  Box is a good tool for working remotely, as it allows you to upload and download files from any computer anywhere in the world. Point your browser to uwmadison.app.box.com, click continue, and log in with your NetID and password.

  More information about Box can be found here: https://it.wisc.edu/services/box/

• Microsoft Teams

  Microsoft Teams allows you to communicate with easily and efficiently with your colleagues. You can access Microsoft Teams by going to teams.microsoft.com. At the Microsoft Sign in page input your netid@wisc.edu email address, click next and you will be sent to our NetID Login. Log in with your NetID and password and know you are logged into Microsoft Teams web client. To download the desktop application, click on the download button on the bottom left of the screen.

  More information about Microsoft Teams can be found here: Microsoft 365 - Getting Started with Teams.

• Webex Meetings

  Webex Meetings is an app for continuous teamwork with video meetings, group messaging, file sharing and white boarding. Please note that you must log in with your primary email (often first.last@wisc.edu). If you are unsure which address is your primary email address, you can check or set it here: Microsoft 365 - Change your Primary Address 

  More information on how to install Webex Meetings can be found here: [Link for document 89217 is unavailable at this time.]

• UW-Madison G Suite

  UW-Madison G Suite is a collection of cloud-based productivity and collaborative tools including: Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Sites, Google Keep, Hangouts Meet, Hangouts Chat, and more.

  More information can be found here : G Suite (formerly Google Apps)

• UW-Madison Zoom

  UW-Madison Zoom provides video and online chat services through a cloud-based peer-to-peer software platform and is used for teleconferencing, telecommuting, distance education, and social relations.

  More information about getting started with UW-Madison Zoom can be found here : UW-Madison Zoom Workplace - Getting started

Work-related Software Programs

If you are a faculty or staff member, and you require specific software for working remotely, inquire with your department about purchasing a copy of the software for your home/remote use.

Microsoft Office applications can be downloaded from the Microsoft 365 portal: Microsoft 365 - Microsoft 365 Installation Information

Eligible faculty and staff can install the Adobe Creative Cloud suite on their personal devices by following the instructions in: Adobe Creative Cloud - Logging in with Your UW-Madison Account. For questions on eligibility, please refer to Eligibility for Adobe Creative Cloud Licensed By University of Wisconsin System's ETLA.

Other software programs are available through the Campus Software Library, like Matlab, Smart Draw, and more. For information on access to software while working remote, please see Remote Working and Learning - How to Get Software While Remote.

Remote Desktop Access to your Work PC

Certain departments allow remote desktop access so that employees can access their work computer remotely. Access to this service varies by department, operating system, and various other factors.  Contact your local IT support staff for more information about whether this option is available to you and for assistance with setup.

You may also consult the library's webpage "Off-Campus Access to Online Library Resources."

For more questions and technical support, please contact your local IT support staff.