Working off-campus

When the need arises, you may have to work off-campus. Staff must be aware of secure internet practices when working off-campus to protect themselves, University equipment, and data from unwanted access or attacks.

Public Internet

Public internet or Wi-Fi is never entirely secure, especially if it doesn’t require a password to access the internet. Even your home network is technically public Wi–Fi if you don’t have a password. Here are some ways you can secure your data while working off-campus:

• Connect to legitimate networks – scammers often set up malicious connections or networks in public places to lure in unsuspecting users.
• Secure your login and password information - avoid saving your password in browsers, leaving it on a sticky note or written down near your computer. Instead, create a passphrase to make it easier to remember but harder for someone else to crack.
• Look, lock, and leave - ensure your device is always locked or logged off when you are not working online.
• Be aware of new SPAM and malware scams - working off-campus means we rely on email, zoom, text messages and Skype to contact others. Unfortunately, scammers use increased online communication to send phishing, scareware, and malware to try and access personal and University data.
• Keep your anti-virus up to date - ensure any device used to access University systems has anti-virus installed. Sophos and Windows Defender are approved for personal use.
• Be mindful of your surroundings - while accessing University information, be mindful of who can view your screen or hard copy documents.
• Minimise saving documents as a local copy - save all University documents back to the Notre Dame network using mapped drives. Mapped drives keep documents on a secure central storage system regularly backed up, with permissions to prevent unwanted access.
• Follow University standards, policies, and procedures - while working off- Campus, the University's standards, policies, and procedures apply. For example, review approval & compliance to see what software requires approval before use.
• Keep your desk tidy and your screen clean - keeping your desk tidy can help you think clearly, easily find documents and stay organised. Keep your screen tidy by minimising browsers or applications when not required.
• Keep physical copies safe - hard copies of data can easily fall into the wrong hands or be misplaced off-campus. Minimise the number of hard copies taken from the office and store them securely, preferably under lock and key.

VPN Usage

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) gives you an extra layer of security and privacy when using the internet in public places such as cafes, hotels, or airports. A VPN will encrypt your data and hide your IP address to prevent scammers from tracking your data.

Connect your computer with our Sophos VPN, so your home network has a secure link to the Notre Dame network and allows access to applications and resources while off-campus. Also, ensure the VPN is being used to access University data in a public space, and always keep personal devices and physical documents with you.