Working remotely

How do i secure my home computer?

To ensure your computer is secure and encrypted for remote work, please ensure you have done the following:

1. Secure your home router and WiFi

   Insecurely configured home routers can lead to eavesdropping and/or attackers gaining remote control of your home computing devices. Follow key and fundamental security safeguards such as changing the default router password and using Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2).

   Learn More

2. Secure your home computer

   Keep up-to-date with patches/fixes/updates (including security, operating system, and antivirus updates).  Enable the computer's personal firewall and hard drive encryption.  Use a strong/secure password that is unique and not shared.

3. Minimize information management risks

   Do not save, store, or print University information locally (especially that which is personally identifying)

Can I remotely forward my work phone to my home phone or my cell phone?

If your work phone is a Cisco phone (VoIP) you can have your work phone forward any calls to your cell or home phone. To set this up, please follow this self help article.

If you are using a Nortel phone (PBX) at work, you will not be able to remotely set up call forwarding at this time.

Securely Working from Home

As a member of the University community, you are entrusted to manage University information responsibility and in accordance with the University's Information Management and Information Technology Policies.

Here are some information security safeguards to follow while working from home:

1. Secure your home router and WiFi

Insecurely configured home routers can lead to eavesdropping and/or attackers gaining remote control of your home computing devices.  Follow key and fundamental security safeguards such as changing the default router password and using Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2).

See the following guide for router/wifi security:

Router Security: How to Setup Wi-Fi Router Securely

2. Secure your home computers

Keep up-to-date with patches/fixes/updates (including security, operating system, and antivirus updates).  Enable the computer's personal firewall and hard drive encryption.  Use a strong/secure password that is unique and not shared.

3. Minimize information management risks

Do not save, store, or print University information locally (especially that which is personally identifying).  That is, securely connecting to and using University resources remotely keeps University information on the University system.  Examples of such University resources include UAlberta Google, faculty/department based file-shares, and enterprise systems such as PeopleSoft, EDRMS, SupplyNet and eClass.  Use the University VPN where appropriate and necessary to securely connect to the University network.

If you absolutely need to save, store, or print University information at home in order to do your job, obtain approval from your Director/Chair beforehand, and agree on security safeguards around version control, information sharing/exchange, encryption, and retention/archive/disposal, among others.