IT and Library Services

Zoom

Zoom is an online video conferencing system. Microsoft Teams is the recommended technology for this requirement at University of Greenwich.

Video & Webinar Tools - Allowed (Not Supported)

Key Service Information

Eligibility

We recognise that communication tools provided by the university may not cover all scenarios. From 2024 onwards, our position on Zoom has been revised. Previously, we supported using Zoom in exceptional cases. For example, regional constraints impacting delivery of remote teaching sessions or student recruitment events. However, Microsoft Teams has now been adopted across many of our partnerships internationally, such as in mainland China where it has accessibility, stability, and usage in higher education institutions. This change enables us to enhance consistency across our university. Therefore, we kindly request that Microsoft Teams be adopted as the preferred platform.

If you use Zoom, we maintain these guidelines to help reduce the risk to your devices and to university data while you use the application.

If you have a scenario where you believe Zoom is essential for the sessions you plan to host, please submit a request to purchase a University of Greenwich licensed Zoom account. Please include the business case for your request. Please note that these requests will be reviewed and approved by exception.

Please regularly review the updated functionality to get the most from Microsoft Teams, in conjunctions with Panopto, Moodle and TurnItIn, to ensure students benefit from a consistent approach. To help with this we will publish regular updates on new functionality added by Microsoft on Internal News.If you use Zoom, we have developed these guidelines to help reduce the risk to your devices and to university data while you use the application.

Guidelines for using Zoom

Regularly
  • Update the Zoom application so it has the latest security changes.
  • Review our essential tools for updates which might negate the need to use Zoom.
Always
  • Use a password for Zoom meetings.
  • Share links and passwords for meetings via private channels.
  • Review the list of attendees who can present.
  • Check Twice, Click Once when opening links and files shared by attendees.
Consider
  • Using the web client rather than the application to attend sessions.
  • Using the waiting room feature so that attendees can only join once the host has invited them into the meeting.
  • Limiting screen-sharing ability to the host.
  • Turning off in-file transfer to prevent file sharing through chat.
  • Disabling private chat.
  • Allowing only signed in or registered users to join.
Avoid
  • Sharing meeting links on social media.
  • Creating a free Zoom account using your university email address or username.

Help & further information

University Information: A further update on university approval for using the Zoom application.

Help Documentation: Provided by Zoom