There are two different methods that can be used to access a computer at the University of Otago from off–campus. Either a desktop or electronic files may be accessed remotely.
It is important to plan and test each method of access, as remote access cannot be easily set up once staff have left their workplace.
UOW staff access files from either Pandora (if they are still on the UOW domain), HCS shares, or OneDrive instead of office desktops.
Accessing desktops remotely
Remote desktop access allows users to interact with their office computer as if they were sitting in front of it. To properly use this feature, the remote location must have a fast and reliable internet connection as images of the computer screen will need to be transmitted. Video, audio, and microphone use may be unreliable when using remote desktop access.
For Windows computers, Remote Desktop (installed with Windows) and the University of Otago VPN Service is recommended to access a desktop remotely from off–campus. VPN can be used to connect directly to on–campus–only services, such as:
- Business Objects reporting
- Central file storage
- Finance One
macOS, users can use an application such as LogMeIn or TeamViewer to access a desktop remotely from off–campus (the free versions of these programs work well but may contain ads):
Accessing files remotely
This allows a user to view or modify any downloaded and uploaded files saved on an office computer.
Most applications will not work correctly if copied in this way, so the right software must be installed on the off-campus computer or mobile device to work with any files downloaded.
There is a range of programs that may be used for file transfers and synchronisation.
Contact AskOtago for advice about the best file transfer software to use.
Remote file access is recommended if:
- The software is available on the remote computer to open files.
- Offline work is preferred, with synchronisation to a work computer occuring later.
- Small files, such as documents, that do not contain confidential information are typically worked on.
This is often the only option if the internet connection at a remote location is slow, unreliable, and/or intermittent.
Use a secure data–sharing application to access files remotely from off–campus. The recommended service for this is Microsoft OneDrive, which can also be used to synchronise files from Microsoft Teams.