Need Help?

Help Desk Central is the main contact point for technology-related questions. Contact us via email at helpdesk@tamu.edu or phone at 979.845.8300. If you need help with departmental IT resources, contact your department's IT support person. We also have a list of FAQs for working from home. 

Campus technology outages and degradations are posted at ITalerts.tamu.edu. Subscribe to Enterprise IT Alerts to get text alerts for issues for the most popular campus tech services such as internet, Howdy, Canvas, email, and more.

Securely Working From Home

All remote work associated with Texas A&M's AWL program should be done utilizing university or agency-issued computer equipment. Use of a personal monitor, mouse, keyboard or other peripherals is permitted. If an employee needs to conduct occasional work outside their office, they may use their personal cell phones and computer devices. Personal devices, including laptops or desktop computers, should be password protected, used minimally and with discretion to avoid unintentional security risks. Occasional use of personal devices to access university email, calendars and other platforms with a secure log-in is acceptable.

Personal cell phones and other devices may be used for validating credentials with Texas A&M's multi-factor security systems like Duo and authorized web-based systems such as email. Personal devices may be subject to university policies and procedures if used to remotely operate authorized university assets and web systems. Security protocols within the AWL program are not intended to replace any statutory requirements in our research programs. In all situations, employees are expected to maintain security protocols appropriate for the specific law, contract or legal framework governing data access and use. Data regulation guidance found here.

Replacement of technology equipment varies across campus departments. Departments are not required to provide new technology (docking stations, laptops, webcams, etc.) before a scheduled replacement to accommodate an AWL; but may do so at their discretion.

Connectivity Requirements

Microsoft Teams and Zoom meetings require minimum bandwidth levels and steady internet service to conduct online meetings.

Call Forwarding and Voicemail

Call forwarding allows you to forward calls from your office telephone to another telephone, such as your home phone or cell phone. You can also check your office voicemail from off campus. The first step to getting these features set up is to confirm what type of phone you have: Cisco phones are branded and Centrex phones are analog phones that do NOT show Cisco branding.

Cisco VoIP

**Please note: Cisco is the only phone system that can be managed remotely. Instructions are available via the instructions download.

• Forwarding - Call forwarding instructions can be viewed on the instructions download.
• Voice mail - Voicemail instructions can be found on the instructions download.
• Jabber Soft Phone - An application that is installed on a Windows or MAC device that can place and receive calls just like you are at your office desk. Instructions are available via the instructions download to add the Jabber client on your computer.

Manufacturers Quick Start Guides

• Cisco 7821-7841
• Cisco 7832
• Cisco 8841, 8845, & 8851

For support using the VoIP service, contact Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300 or email tcom-request@tamu.edu.

• Cisco Self Care Portal

Utilize Video Conference: Microsoft Teams and Zoom

Microsoft Teams and Zoom meetings allow you to have online meetings with anyone who has an Internet connection - including mobile users. You will be connected via audio and/or video and can share content from your computer which lets you see the same things at the same time - like PowerPoint files, Word documents or even browse the web together.

You have two options for Teams and Zoom audio: use the microphone/speaker in your computer or the mobile app for your phone, tablet or smart watch. To view your computer's available speakers and microphones, follow the instructions on IT.tamu.edu. To get started, visit Teams or Zoom.

Note: Teams Meetings and Zoom have requirements for user operating systems, devices, internet bandwidth and more. Visit Teams, Zoom for Windows, macOS, Linux or Zoom for iOS, iPad iOS, Android for full details on all requirements 

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

For security reasons, there are some resources, including websites or files, that you can only access when you are connected to the campus internet. VPN allows you to be "on campus" from anywhere by providing the same level of access to resources as being directly connected to the campus network.

Get started at the Virtual Private Network page and follow the instructions for connecting through Windows or macOS using the Cisco Secure client. VPN requires Duo Two-Factor authentication to log in. 

**Texas A&M Health VPN Note: If you are accessing the Texas A&M Health VPN only, follow the instructions for connecting through the Texas A&M Health Virtual Private Network for either Windows or macOS using the Cisco Secure client.

Saving Files

Work-related files should be saved using university-approved storage services or methods that are offered to you as a university employee. All employees have access to cloud-based storage in Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive. Please consult with your department’s IT personnel to see if additional storage solutions are available to you.

If you work with financial information, student records or other confidential information, please encrypt all data, files and email messages that you use from home. Visit Encryption, for more information. If a file is downloaded to a personal device, employees are expected to promptly remove the file(s) from their personal device.