Resources for Staff Working Remotely

1. Call your office phone number.
2. Once the voicemail system answers, press the * key.
3. Enter your “account” number, which is your 4-digit phone extension, then press the # key.
4. Enter your PIN then press the # key (if you do not know your PIN, contact the CSC to have it reset.)

Voicemails received by your office phone number can be sent as an attachment to your e-mail inbox. To set this up, please contact the CSC at csc@pnw.edu or 219-989-2888.

If you have a Cisco phone on your desk, you can forward your personal office number to any other phone number you would like.

How to Forward Your Calls

When on the “home screen” of the phone, look for the button below the words “Fwd All,” and press that button.  (On most phones, it will be the 3rd button from the left. If you have a light gray phone, it is the second button from the left.)

Enter the phone number you would like your calls forwarded to.

• If it will be an internal PNW number, you can type the four-digit extension.
• If you need to forward to an off-campus number, type 9 1 <areacode><phonenumber>.

The phone will automatically accept the number if the correct number of digits have been entered.

Ending Call Forwarding

Press the same button in step i. above, now labeled “Fwd Off.”

Having Issues?

If you have a different phone, need to forward a line that does not go into your phone, or have other questions, contact the CSC at csc@pnw.edu or (219) 989-2888.

• Do mute your microphone when you are not talking.  Most tools allow you to mute yourself, then use a “push-to-talk” key to only un-mute yourself when you need to talk.  (That key is often the “space” bar.)
• Don’t have a side-conversation with someone off-camera even if you are muted.  You wouldn’t look away from someone in an in-person meeting, so don’t do it in a video conference!
• Do assume you are always on camera and that you are always audible (even if you think you’re muted or video-disabled.)  People can read lips, and body-language.
• Don’t tap pencils, move papers around, rattle ice, set coffee cups down on table-tops, tap on keyboards, and other seemingly innocuous sounds. They are unbelievably loud and annoying to others on the call.  It may also make your camera shake, which can also be distracting.
• Do warn your family members not to wander through; some home-attire may not be safe for work!
• Don’t talk over others. Politely wait your turn and if you are talking for more than a minute at a stretch, pause to let others ask questions or seek clarification.  Use the chat function to ask questions while someone else is talking so that you do not forget to ask.
• Do make notes on what you want to say before the conference starts. Take notes on “action items” during the conference whenever you are asked to work on something. Don’t ramble on; be succinct and short. If it is a question that can be worked “offline” then do that!
• Don’t have personal or potentially embarrassing links, shortcuts, or bookmarks on your desktop, task bar, or web browser if you may need to share your screen!

To get started, visit Slack’s website and create a free account. You can then create workspaces and channels for your team to use when collaborating.

• Official Guide: Using Slack
• Advanced Slack Tutorial: 19 Tips on How to Use Slack 
• Tips, Tricks and Resources to Enhance Your Slack Experience
• Slack can be used within a web browser, or with a locally-installed desktop client (recommended.)  The desktop client can be downloaded from Slack or using the PNW Software Center if you are using a Windows PNW-owned IS-managed computer.

WebEx can be used through a browser, but works more efficiently with a client installed on your computer. The first time you attempt to host or join a WebEx meeting, you will be asked to install this client. It is safe and recommended to do so.

Get Assistance Using Cisco WebEx

• Visit the Google Meet website and sign in using your username@pnw.edu. You will then be asked to authenticate using your Career Account username & password.
• No local client is needed to host or join a meeting; the meeting will take place inside of the web browser.

Get Google Meet Assistance 

While Zoom is free, the free version does come with limitations. If three or more people join the meeting, the meeting will be limited to no more than 40 minutes. (Note: As of March 17, 2020, Zoom has removed the 40-minute limitation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  All versions of Zoom, paid or licensed, will no longer have a time limit on minutes.)

Paid versions are available, and are centrally funded by PNW for the 2020-2021 Academic Year.

Sign Up for a Free Account 

Zoom can run within a web browser but also offers a local client, similar to WebEx.  Download the Zoom client.

Click here for more information about Zoom.

Install Cisco AnyConnect

Cisco AnyConnect Mac Install Directions

Cisco AnyConnect Windows Install Directions

The general portal to connect to VPN is webvpn.pnw.edu. Any specialized teams will be communicated an alternative portal to use for services.

You will use your username and password to log into the VPN.

Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client can be downloaded from the Google Play store.  This application will allow you to make a VPN connection from a Chromebook.

1. Download the AnyConnect application from the Chrome store.
2. Go to Connections to add a new connection. Fill in the description of the VPN connection with something you will remember (ex: PNW VPN).
3. Enter the server address: webvpn.pnw.edu
4. Turn on the VPN connection
5. Enter your PNW username (without @pnw.edu) and your Career Account password.
6. Press Connect.
7. Say OK if prompted to confirm the Connection Request.
8. If you used push, check your mobile device with Duo Mobile installed for the request, and approve.

You are now connected to the VPN, and can confirm by clicking on the networking icon in the system tray.

Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client can be downloaded from the Google Play store and Apple Appstore.  This application will allow you to make a VPN connection from your mobile device.

1. Download the AnyConnect application from the Google Play store or Apple Appstore.
2. Go to Connections to add a new connection. Fill in the description of the VPN connection with something you will remember (ex: PNW VPN).
3. Enter the server address: webvpn.pnw.edu
4. Turn on the VPN connection
5. Enter your PNW username (without @pnw.edu) and your Career Account password.
6. Press Connect.
7. Say OK if prompted to confirm the Connection Request.
8. If you used push, check your mobile device with Duo Mobile installed for the request, and approve.

You are now connected to the VPN and can confirm by looking at your device’s notifications area and locating the Key icon, showing you are connected via VPN.

Microsoft Office is also available for installation on personally-owned devices for free, but it must be downloaded and installed by the individual user.

1. Go to Purdue’s “Office 365 for Students, Faculty and Staff” page  and click the link that says “Purdue Office 365 Portal.”
2. Sign in with your username@pnw.edu email address. You will then use your normal career account password to authenticate.

You can then use the Office programs directly from your web browser, or you can download and install them using the “Install Office” link on the top right corner of the page.

• First and foremost, technology alone cannot fully protect you –
  you are the best defense. Attackers have learned that the
  easiest way to get what they want is to target you, rather than
  your computer or other devices. If they want your password,
  work data or control of your computer, they’ll attempt to
  trick you into giving it to them, often by creating a sense of
  urgency.  The best defense against these attacks is you.  By
  using common sense, you can spot and stop many attacks.

• Almost every home network starts with a wireless (often
  called Wi-Fi) network. This is what enables all of your
  devices to connect to the Internet. Most home wireless
  networks are controlled by your Internet router or a
  separate, dedicated wireless access point. Both work in the
  same way: by broadcasting wireless signals to which home
  devices connect. This means securing your wireless network
  is a key part of protecting your home.
• When a site asks you to create a password, create a strong password:
  the more characters it has, the stronger it is. Using a passphrase is
  one of the simplest ways to ensure that you have a strong
  password. A passphrase is nothing more than a password made
  up of multiple words, such as “bee honey bourbon.” Using a
  unique passphrase means using a different one for each device
  or online account. This way if one passphrase is compromised,
  all of your other accounts and devices are still safe.
• Cyber attackers are constantly looking for new vulnerabilities in
  the software your devices use. When they discover vulnerabilities,
  they use special programs to exploit them and hack into the devices
  you are using. Meanwhile, the companies that created the software
  for these devices are hard at work fixing them by releasing
  updates. By ensuring your computers and mobile devices install
  these updates promptly, you make it much harder for someone to hack
  you. To stay current, simply enable automatic updating whenever
  possible. This rule applies to almost any technology connected
  to a network, including not only your work devices but Internet-
  connected TV’s, baby monitors, security cameras, home routers,
  gaming consoles or even your car.
• Something you most likely don’t have to worry about at the office
  is children, guests or other family members using your work
  laptop or other work devices. Make sure family and friends know
  they cannot use your work devices. They can accidentally erase
  or modify information, or, perhaps even worse, accidentally
  infect the device.

Source: SANS Security Awareness

Further reading: Telework and Small Office Network Security Guide (PDF)