The Zoom virtual meeting platform has made it easier for everyone to do business. Whether from home or from around the world, teams can conference live and attend important meetings. All Zoom meetings should be secure. But when you’re doing sensitive work like IT consulting or performance reviews, security is even more important. Fortunately, there are five easy steps you can take to keep your meetings safe and private.
1. Don’t use Personal ID for Public Meetings
When you start a Zoom meeting, your personal meeting ID launches as the default. This is fine for private meetings, but if you’re hosting a public meeting such as a work conference, using a randomly generated Meeting ID is safer. With a random ID, only those members of the public who have been invited to attend will know how to join.
2. Require a Passcode
In addition to using a random meeting ID, requiring a passcode for all new meetings gives an extra layer of security. Strangers or hackers can’t access the meeting if they don’t have the right passcode.
3. Disable Join Before Host
To maintain control from the beginning, do not let participants join the meeting before you do. If attendees come to the meeting early, they’ll see a message that asks them to wait for the host. Essentially, guests will be left in the Waiting Room. Before opening the meeting, you can screen the waiting room to ensure no one who has not been invited is there.
4. Lock Your Meeting
Once invited attendees have all arrived, you have the option to lock your meeting using the Zoom security menu. From the same menu, you can also disable private chat if it is a distraction and control the option for screen sharing. Screen sharing is a great way to support collaboration during a meeting, but it can lead to unwanted interruptions. Once your meeting is locked and private chat and screen sharing are disabled, you have full control of the meeting and attendees’ full attention.
5. Remove Participants
If you follow these security steps, you should never have to deal with an unwanted Zoom guest. But if an invited attendee does need to be removed for any reason, you can take care of that easily. Use either the Security menu or Participants menu. Mouse over the person’s name and click on the option to “Remove.” You can also opt to prevent them from returning.
6. Updated Software
Always use the most updated version of Zoom to ensure the most recent security fixes protect you. Sign in to Zoom desktop client. Click your profile picture then click Check for Updates. If there is a newer version, Zoom will download and install it.
Zoom for IT Consulting and More
Clients and employees have the right to expect their privacy and personal information will be safe during a work meeting. Even when that meeting is virtual. Taking these simple steps will help ensure you, your company, and your Zoom attendees are protected. If you rely on virtual meetings for consulting or other IT-related services, Northern Star recommends that you stay secure while staying connected.