Keep Working
If you need to work from a different location, use the tools and preparations on this page.
And as always, remember to make sure your devices are secure before working!
Return to Campus
Starting up Your Office Computer
If you have been working remotely recently, your office computer may have been turned off or asleep during that time.
On your first day back on campus:
- Your computer may take hours to complete updates that built up while your computer was “offline”.
- The computer may need to reboot multiple times to properly install the backlog of updates.
- Unless you bring in a laptop, you will not have access to a computer during this time.
- Do not forcefully turn off your computer in the middle of these updates. It is normal for the machine to appear “sluggish” during an update.
- Once your computer has completed the updates, you should be able to use your computer just as you would normally.
- If you have a wireless keyboard or mouse, the batteries may need replacing.
- Plan to restart your computer at the end of your workday just in case there are additional updates that need to be finalized overnight.
Work from Anywhere
Most key services, such as Google Apps and Blackboard, are available from any computer, without connecting to your desktop remotely.
And as always, remember to make sure your devices are secure before working!
Access Easily
When you're working remotely, you can access the following tools/programs from a home computer (without RD Gateway/DUO)
- Virtual SINC Site (access to software/programs you might not have on a home computer)
- Google Apps (e.g., Mail, Calendar, Drive)
- OneDrive (Create/edit/share/store Word, Excel, PowerPoint files from anywhere on any device)
- Blackboard and SOLAR
- Download/install Office365 ProPlus (If you need Microsoft Office at home, you can install it on up to 5 computers using your NetID)
- Softweb - Download university licensed software.
- Reset your NetID Password Online New!
(start by updating your profile, and then you can reset your password)
Access Your Computer from Home with RD Gateway and Duo
To access these tools/programs, you'll need to use RD Gateway with DUO*
- Nolij
- PeopleSoft
- Other SBU Secure Databases
*Here's how to access these:
- If your work computer is Windows: Use RD Gateway with DUO to access it from a home Windows or Mac computer.
- If your work and home computers are Mac: Use VPN to access a Mac computer from a Mac computer.
- For other cases: the Virual SINC Site may be used to access site-licensed, academic software.
*Here's how to Map a Drive/Access a Shared Departmental Folder to a Local Computer:
Prepare
Prepare Your Computer
To connect to your work computer remotely
- DUO: If you don't have one already, request a DUO account
- Windows: Set up your Windows computer for remote connections with RD Gateway (for access to a work Windows computers from home Windows or Mac) and Find and note your Windows work computer's full name
- Mac: Set up your Mac for remote access and note your Mac's Name and address, and IP Address
- Leave your computer on when you leave so you can access it remotely
Prepare Your Phone
- Have your office phone calls forwarded to another phone number
- Request an account to make/receive your office calls from an iPhone or Android phone or browser.
You can also call into your voicemail from any phone.
Set up Backup and Sync
If you have files you need to access remotely, you can use Google Drive Backup and Sync to sync folders from your computer with Google Drive so you can access those files from your home computer (does not work for department shared folders)
Hold Meetings Remotely
You can use these tools to hold meetings remotely
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Zoom for video/audio conferencing, screen share, whiteboard, recordings, and more New!
-
Google Meet for video conferencing (not available for School of Medicine and School of Dental Medicine; up to 250* people in one room; includes chat, screen share, captions, call in/out to phones; *record Meet session and save to Drive; *live stream up to 100,000 viewers)
*Google has temporarily increased the limit from 100 to 250, added Meet recording, and added live streaming through September 30, 2020
Videos on SBU Remote Connectivity Tools
Recommended Services
In an effort to maintain efficiency and reliability of computer equipment at Stony Brook University, DoIT's Customer Engagement and Support department has instituted software support standards.
Google Apps for Education is the primary email system for everyone at Stony Brook University except Hospital employees and members of the School of Medicine and School of Dental Medicine. Stony Brook's Google Apps suite of products includes Mail, Calendar, Drive, Contacts, Sites, Groups, Hangouts and a host of other applications to enhance communication and real-time collaboration across campus.
Google Calendar is the calendar feature offered with Google Apps for Education. It allows users to easily create, share, edit, and delete meeting invitations, calendar events, and tasks. These are easily accessed and synced between computers and mobile devices.
Google Chat is a collaborative messaging tool. It allows you to chat, share content, schedule meetings, and more in a shared space with your team or 1-to-1. And all of your teams can have their own spaces, called Rooms. You can even create external Rooms to collaborate with people outside Stony Brook. It works in desktop browsers and as Android and iOS apps. Starting in July 2020, Google Chat is in Gmail, too.
Google Drive provides a single place to store, create, sync, and share documents, files, and folders of all types. Access files anywhere - at your desk, from home, or on a mobile device.
Use Google Meet for video conference meetings and screen sharing with up 250* participants.
*Starting October 1, 2020, we will no longer have access to Google Meet Recordings or Live Streaming, and the participant limit returns to 100.
In an effort to maintain efficiency and reliability amongst computing equipment on the Stony Brook University Campus, the Division of Information Technology's Customer Engagement and Support department has instituted Hardware Support Standards.
Get software, Windows updates, and security patches on your Stony Brook owned machine!
Stony Brook University uses PeopleSoft as its core administrative system for managing Financial, Human Resources and Student Administration operations.
Qualtrics is a hosted survey and research tool that Stony Brook University has subscribed to in order to conduct quality surveys with the end result of collecting and analyzing data. It is available to all students, faculty, and staff who have an active NetID.
The Virtual SINC Site provides a way for students, faculty, and staff members to access site-licensed, academic software titles directly from their personal computers from either on or off campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students can also use the Virtual SINC Site to access the Print From Anywhere service using any device or operating system.
Announcement - Virtual SINC Site now requires DUO 2-Step Login.Zoom is a video and audio conferencing tool with easy collaboration, chat, screen sharing and more across mobile devices, desktops, and telephones.
**Get the Zoom App and log in via SSO (use your NetID and NetID Password)**
Be sure to check for and apply updates on your Zoom app on your computer regularly.
Starting June 1st, 2021, Zoom cloud recordings older than 180 days will automatically be deleted and sent to the Zoom Cloud trash. Deleted Zoom Cloud recordings can be recovered for 30 days and shared through Google Drive or OneDrive. Learn more.
Additional Resources
Files & Links
For Help & Support Information
If you have any questions regarding the content on this page please contact