GC Remote Working/Home

Welcome to GC Remote Working

This new forum was created by experts at Shared Services Canada in an effort to help GC workers newly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic who find themselves working remotely.

This is an unprecedented situation; and one which is continually evolving. Remote workers need easy access to the latest information on the available tools and solutions as well as tips, best practices and updates.

Our aim with GC Remote Working is to gather the relevant remote working information in one place. We are only getting started. Our content is based on available information from all corners of the Government of Canada.

We plan to dive into topics such as security, information and document management, making “smart” use of your smart phone, using alternative tools and an introduction to Microsoft Office 365 and Teams.

Bookmark this page and check back often for more content as the situation evolves.

If you have tips and trick you would like to share, please contact us at: ssc.gcremoteworkinggcrw-gctravailadistancegctd.spc@canada.ca.

Remote Working: Audio and Visual Conferencing

By now, we are all (mostly!) adjusting to remote working. Because we can no longer meet face to face, we are relying heavily on both audio and video conferencing tools to collaborate with our colleagues. In these times, it’s also nice in these times to hear a familiar voice and see a friendly face (and sometimes kids and cats, too).

In this post, we have gathered and shared the most recent and helpful information on how you can make the most of GC audio and video conferencing. From etiquette to security to ways to find support – check out our post to see how we are helping you make the best of the virtual meeting tools available.

Etiquette and Best Practices:

Shared Services Canada (SSC) already had great tips and best practices prepared for using audio and visual tools for meetings and collaboration. Check out this handy printable guide which outlines etiquette and preparation tips for successful video conferences. Click Here

Security Considerations for using Audio Visual conferences

Using video-teleconferencing software correctly goes further than good business etiquette. On April 14th, the Canadian Security Establishment (CSE) published an alert to video conferencing users: “Care should be taken in the implementation and use of these to ensure that expected levels of integrity and confidentiality are maintained.”

Media reports mention “Zoom Bombing” – which means some video conferencing tools can be vulnerable to third-party infiltration or high jacking which disrupts business to even compromises computer systems. They CSE alert also addresses how link and file sharing in VTC applications may lead to risks similar to those present when opening links or files from emails.

Check out the CSE Alert.

Want to learn more about the security features of the audio and video conferencing tools you use? Here is a list of some of the VTC tools approved for use in the GC.

• Microsoft Teams - security features and security architecture vs. cyber-attacks

• Cisco WebEx - security best practices to employ for a WebEx meeting

Meet the Audio and Web Conferencing Community!

Want to connect with others about audio and web conferencing? Through GCConnex, you can join this open group of 4,000 other Government of Canada employees that are interested in learning and using GC audio/video products. Find the Audio and Web Conferencing GCConnex Community here

We have also created a list of other helpful resources related to remote working from across the GC:

General Guidelines and Tips for Working Remotely

• The Transition to a Remote Workforce: What You Need to Know
• COVID-19: Working Virtually
• COVID-19: Working Remotely - Tips for Team Members
• COVID-19: Working Remotely - Tips for Team Leaders
• Virtual Team Toolkit
• Virtual Team Charter Guidelines

Mental Health

• COVID-19 and Mental Health @ Work
• Mental health tips for working from home

Cyber Health

• Staying cyber-healthy during COVID-19 isolation

M365

• M365 Training Materials

For the latest COVID-19 updates, please visit: Canada.ca/coronavirus, Canada.ca/coronaviruspublicservice or GCIntranet.