Working Remotely (Non-Managed Desktop Users)

When you work remotely, you have two primary options to securely access your work environment: OneDrive and Cisco AnyConnect VPN. This web page will help you determine which service to use when, and the steps you need to take to ensure you have access.

Please select the service(s) you need access to and read the accompanying recommendations. We ask that you test the option you select prior to working remotely to ensure that you have access to these services when you need them.

If you are a Digital Workplace client, please reference the Working Remotely with Managed Desktop page instead.

Identify your options

  1. I need to access Microsoft Office, email and my computer files remotely. I do not need to access ROSI and AMS/SAP.

    When working remotely on a U of T laptop or your home computer, most regular users will find that using Office 365 tools such as Outlook, OneDrive and SharePoint will be sufficient. As long as you are logged in, you can use Office 365 on the web on any device. Here are some key applications you can use when working remotely:

    Outlook: When working remotely, you can access your University email by using the UTmail+/Outlook web client. If you have not used Outlook Online before, you can learn how to access it through the U of T Digital Workplace UTmail+ page.

    OneDrive: OneDrive will be a key application for you to use when you work remotely: it allows you to access your computer files from any device, anywhere in the world. If you haven’t used OneDrive before, the set up is fast and easy. All you need to do is:

    1. Open the online OneDrive app by logging in to your online Outlook/UTmail+ account and clicking on the waffle in the top left corner. Select the OneDrive tool.
      OneDrive icon in the waffle menu at mail.utoronto.ca.
    2. When you open OneDrive you will see a list of all of your files that are currently uploaded.
    3. To add new files from your computer, simply click Upload and select whether you would like to upload Files or a Folder.
      Upload button on the OneDrive menu.
    4. Select the items that you would like to add and click Upload. The files will now be housed in your OneDrive!
      Select upload when you have selected your files or folders.

    As you can see from the image, you can upload all the folder and file types you need to work remotely. And you will never have to worry about running out of space – OneDrive has a storage limit of 1 TB.

    If you have the OneDrive application downloaded to your computer, you can also use the sync option to ensure that any files edited on OneDrive are also edited on your computer. To learn more about this option, access this Microsoft article.

     

    Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint: Online versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint are all available to you. To learn more about how to access them with your U of T account, you can explore the application pages from the University’s Microsoft 365 website.

     

  2. I need to access ROSI remotely.

    If you need to access ROSI from your U of T laptop or home computer you should use the Cisco AnyConnect VPN. You should use this option if you are not a Digital Workplace client (see Working Remotely with Managed Desktop). With the VPN, you can access ROSI from your home or work computer when off-site. You will need to be enrolled in UTORMFA.  To set up the VPN, follow the instructions on the AdminsysVPN (Cisco AnyConnect VPN) page.

    Please remember that confidential information should never be stored locally as per our Manage Confidential Information in Browsers page. If you have any questions about accessing ROSI from home, please log a ticket through the Enterprise Service Centre.

  3. I need to access administrative systems such as AMS/SAP remotely.

    If you need to access administrative systems such as AMS/SAP while working remotely you have two options. You will need to be enrolled in UTORMFA for both methods.

    1. The easiest and most streamlined way to access administrative systems when working remotely is to use the Digital Workplace Remote Desktop Service from your home computer. This service enables you to access your work computer’s desktop from an off-site computer. Note: this option is only available to Digital Workplace clients.
    2. If you are unable to set up the recommended Digital Workplace Remote Desktop Service option, the alternative option is to install SAP GUI on your work laptop or home computer and then set up the Cisco AnyConnect VPN.

    The instructions for SAP GUI installation can be found here: https://easi.its.utoronto.ca/help/software-hardware/.

    Once you install SAP GUI, you will have to set up Cisco AnyConnect VPN. View instructions.

 

Frequently asked questions

OneDrive

OneDrive

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Is OneDrive secure?

Yes, OneDrive is secure. To learn more about how OneDrive safeguards your data in the cloud, please read this article from Microsoft.

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What if I don’t have OneDrive?

Good news – all University of Toronto staff, students and faculty have access to OneDrive! Getting started is easy: to learn more about how you can use OneDrive at U of T, visit EASI’s OneDrive page.

Access OneDrive training through the University’s SuccessFactors website.

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Do I need to use a VPN to access my files on OneDrive?

You do not need to use a VPN to access your files on OneDrive. You can use the Microsoft web interface to securely access your OneDrive files from anywhere in the world.

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How can I access my work files from any device?

The simplest option for accessing your work files from home is to upload them to OneDrive. OneDrive is available to all staff, students and faculty at the University of Toronto, and you can access it through the Office 365 web interface.

To learn how to upload your computer files to OneDrive before you work from home, access OneDrive training through the University’s SuccessFactors website.

Using Microsoft 365 remotely

Using Microsoft 365 remotely

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When I open Teams I get a message that says ‘Windows Defender Firewall has blocked some features of this app.’ What should I do?

If you get this message, simply click Cancel and relaunch the Teams app.

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Can people dial in to my Teams meetings from their phones?

Yes, people can now dial in to University of Toronto Teams meetings via phone. For more information on how this works, please reference the FAQ page.

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What if my home computer doesn’t have Word, Excel or PowerPoint?

University of Toronto community members have access to online versions of Microsoft Office applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. To learn more about how to access these tools through the web, visit uoft.me/dwO365.

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How can I access my emails from any device?

When working from home, you can access your University email from any device by using the UTmail+/Outlook web client. If you have not used Outlook Online before, you can learn how to access it through the U of T Digital Workplace UTmail+ page.

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Can I still access SharePoint when working remotely?

Yes. You can access SharePoint from any web browser on any device.

Additional questions

Non DW FAQ

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Can I still work remotely if I need to access ROSI or administrative tools such as AMS/SAP?

You can absolutely work from home if you set up the eToken service.

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When do I need to use a VPN?

You should use a VPN when:

  • You do not have access to a home computer, but could bring your work laptop home. In this instance, you would use Cisco AnyConnect VPN to access secure systems such as ROSI and AMS/SAP.
  • You have your U of T computer at home, but you need access to your I: or H: drives. In this instance, you would use UTORcsi.
  • You need access to specific departmental shares.
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How can I determine which remote work option is best for the kind of work I do?

The work from home option you select will be determined by whether you have a U of T laptop that you can bring home.