Technology has made it easier than ever to work remotely, using almost any mobile device. At the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, we provide a variety of services to connect you with colleagues and students in the event that you are working from an alternative location.
Points to Consider:
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VPN IS NOT REQUIRED to access resources from the My Pitt Portal
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Most employees on campus do not actually need VPN to work from home
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Many software titles are available for free for home use or at low cost
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Personal files can be stored in the Cloud and many departmental shares can be migrated to the cloud.
You should only request VPN if you ACCESS any of the following to accomplish your day-to-day work:
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Specialized Software like:
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Infomaker
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Symantec Encryption Desktop
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Perceptive Content (If you can't use the Web Interface for your job Role)
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Other Software licensed only to your Office Computer
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Departmental Shares
My.Pitt.Edu is Pitt's Portal to access various services anywhere, from any device, including, but not limited to: PRISM, PantherExpress, email, Courseweb, Canvas, Panopto, Qualtrics, and more.
Are You Prepared to Work Remotely?
If you’ve never worked remotely and will be using your personal computer, follow these steps to prepare. Test your equipment to make sure it works as expected.
- Identify the computer that you will use to work remotely. Make sure it’s in good working order and securely connected to the internet.
- Ensure that your computer is updated and secure. If you don’t have an Pitt-owned laptop, you’ll need to take extra steps to make sure your work stays secure. Download the latest updates and patches to ensure your security software is up to date. Install Symantec Antivirus from software.pitt.edu or ensure you have an active subscription for your own Antivirus product. Run a Full Scan.
- Locate the equipment you’ll need to be productive. Think about calling into meetings or video conferencing. Does your computer have a built-in microphone and speaker? Do you need a headset? Are you setup for Duo multi-factor authentication remotely using your cell phone or a key fob?
- Even though you’re working remotely, you have access to almost all of the same tools and applications that you would on-campus that enable success. The most challenging part will probably be how you communicate and collaborate with your colleagues and peers. These applications may help:
Communication and Collaboration
You can access your Pitt Email at any time through https://my.pitt.edu. The Outlook app is also available to download on iOS and Android.
Phone and Voicemail
Accessing Voicemail From Off-campus
To access your voicemail from off-campus dial 814.362.0999. After the system answers and when prompted, enter your 5-digit extension number followed by #, then your voicemail PIN followed by #
Forwarding Your Desk Phone
- Please submit a help ticket for assistance
Messaging and Video Conferencing
Best practices for video chatting
- Use a headset to talk whenever possible. This allows for the clearest sound quality.
- If you are not speaking on the call, please mute your microphone. There are many small details and noises that microphones pick up that may disrupt the rest of the call if your microphone is not muted.
Skype for Business -- sign in with your Pitt Credentials
Whether you need video conferencing, desktop sharing, or instant messaging, you can use Skype for Business. This unified communication tool makes it easy for students, faculty, and staff to conduct web conferences, share applications or their desktop, send instant messages, work together on online white boards, view real-time presence indicators for colleagues, and more.
Microsoft Teams -- sign in with your Pitt Credentials
Microsoft Teams is an online collaboration workspace that brings together instant messaging, threaded conversations, meetings, audio or video calls, desktop and file sharing, and more. It works seamlessly with Office 365 apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, SharePoint, and OneNote.
Creating Documents, Spreadsheets and Slideshows
Microsoft Office 365 at Pitt
Office 365 features online versions of recognized Microsoft applications, Pitt Email and Calendar (Outlook), and five terabytes of cloud file storage. For more information on specific services, click one of the links below.
Accessing Your Files Remotely
Cloud Collaboration (Box and OneDrive)
When you save your files to the cloud, you can always access the latest version of your files no matter where you are located as long as you’re connected to the internet. Log into my.pitt.edu and choose Box or My Pitt Email and then One Drive.
It is best to work with CTM services to move any Departmental Shared data to the cloud to ensure the safety and security of the information.