Working Remotely Checklist

Things to consider before you bring your work home with you

Off-campus Checklist

Hand holding a pen on paper completing a checklist
  1. We strongly recommend that you use a UI-owned and managed devices for all UI work. Please see our Equipment Recommendations for more information. If you do decide to use a personal device for your work, here is what you can expect for support of personal devices.
  2. Plan communication with your team members and test how to conduct remote meetings. Review your video conferencing options and when to use Skype for Business, Microsoft Teams, and Tools. 
  3. Evaluate the speed of your home internet connection. If you don't have internet or if it is too slow to work effectively, review the Internet and Networking Troubleshooting Guide.
    1. It is recommended to have at least 12Mpbs down and 1Mps up for your home ISP speed. This is the bare minimum and you may require faster speeds depending on the needs of your household. Other people doing things such as work, streaming videos, or playing video games will require faster speeds. As a general rule, add an additional 12Mbps down for each additional device that is in use at any given time. The required speed for uploading will vary depending on the need.  
  4. Test making and receiving voice and video calls from home. Will you require a headset? Is the area you are in quiet enough for calls? Does your webcam work as expected for video calls/meetings? Will you need to use your mobile phone to make and receive Skype telephony calls? 
  5. Review these online meeting etiquette tips to make sure your meetings are productive.  
  6. Make sure you have access to the files you need. Put your own personal files on OneDrive for Business or in your home drive. If you have departmental files, make sure you can access the shared drive(s) you need. Researchers have RDSS or LSS as options too. If you work with sensitive data, review the types of data that can be used with different IT services and tools and don't store sensitive UI data on your personal computer or in personal storage locations such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, etc. For additional guidance, refer to the University of Iowa Institutional Data Policy or contact the ITS Help Desk.
  7. If you need to access services that require Virtual Private Network (VPN), ask to have it installed on your UI-owned device or you can download and install the Cisco AnyConnect software. Make sure to test your VPN access from home.
  8. If you will need remote access to your campus computer (most employees won't), learn how to configure a Windows computer for remote access and how to use screen sharing to connect to your Mac.
  9. Be prepared! Test access to your equipment and resources at home before the need arises, and contact us if you have questions or issues. If you do not have equipment at home that meets these standards, please consult with your supervisor. 

Online Video Courses: Tips for working remotely

Preparing to work remotely will help set you up for success. The following LinkedIn Learning courses are designed to provide tips and tricks for making your remote work transition as easy as possible.