Your guide to remote working tools

The Digital Workspace program allows staff to work anywhere, anytime, on any device. Read on for information on some of what’s available through the program and take advantage of these tools to help you work remotely.

Video conferencing

The preferred video conferencing tool at ACU is Microsoft Teams for internal meetings and chat. MS Teams is our all-in-one collaboration tool with enhanced data privacy and cyber security capabilities, encompassing chat, meetings, one-on-one calling, and file storage. By the end of April, we will also have introduced calls to external numbers including landlines, mobiles, and ACU extensions.

Until the end of April, Skype for Business can still be used but users will then be migrated to MS Teams. Until then, please use Skype for Business for calls to and from external numbers. We have recently enabled this feature for all staff accounts that have voicemail. Read more here.

If you don’t have voicemail and would like to make external calls, you can raise a request through Service Central.

You may also have heard about Zoom video conferencing. This tool is reserved for academics delivering lectures or tutorials only and should not be used for internal meetings. 

File storage

There are three main cloud file storage options at ACU; Microsoft Teams storage, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft OneDrive for Business. These tools do not replace file storage tools used for specific purposes (e.g. Trim).

Microsoft Teams

Each team that’s created in Microsoft Teams has file storage built in. Use this option for collaborating with your team on working documents. 

SharePoint Online

We are working through migrating all directorates and faculties to SharePoint Online. This will replace your existing network drives in the future, and will mean you can access your files anywhere, without connecting to VPN.

We recommend using SharePoint Online for sharing documents with other teams and business units.

Microsoft OneDrive for Business

This is your personal file storage in the cloud and will be replacing your home (“H:\”) drives in mid/late April. Use this for your own draft documents. 

Want more info?

• Training on these tools is available here.
• Instructions on using these tools are available via Service Central.
• Get updates and tips by joining the IT Updates Workplace group.