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Zoom

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What Is Zoom?

Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing platform designed for secure, high-quality virtual communication. It offers a range of tools that make it easy to host online meetings, webinars, group chats, and more.  Key features include:

  • HD Video and Audio Conferencing: High-definition video and clear audio for real-time communication on both desktop and mobile devices.
  • Online Meetings: Seamless collaboration with teams, clients, or classmates.
  • Collaboration Tools: Includes screen sharing, breakout rooms, and chat for enhanced group interaction.
  • Phone Bridge: Enables participants to join by phone for audio conferencing.
  • Whiteboarding: Interactive whiteboard for brainstorming and collaborative sessions.
  • Annotation and Co-Annotation: Tools to annotate shared screens, allowing collaborative input from all participants.
  • Virtual Classrooms: Ideal for remote learning with specialized classroom management features.
  • Interview Hosting: Structured environment for virtual interviews.
  • Webinars: Supports large-scale presentations with options for audience engagement.
  • Instant Messaging: Provides quick, convenient communication across the platform.

Zoom FAQs

Zoom is available to all faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students, enabling them to initiate and schedule meetings, conferences, and other virtual gatherings. Participants can join from anywhere in the world and do not need to be affiliated with UHD as students, faculty, or staff. This accessibility makes Zoom a versatile tool for connecting with both internal and external collaborators globally.

You can access the UHD Zoom portal to download and install the Zoom client on your PC, tablet or phone.
After installation, launch the program and log in using the SSO option with your UHD credentials.
For detailed instructions, visit the Getting Started with Zoom guide.

No, you can access and use Zoom anytime, from anywhere with an internet connection. You do not need to be connected to UHD's network or use a VPN to access Zoom.

Faculty and staff can participate in training sessions provided by the Technology Teaching and Learning Center (TTLC) at UHD. For Zoom training schedules, consult the TTLC. Additional training sessions can also be found on the IT Training Calendar.

With the increased use of telecommuting due to COVID-19, there have been incidents where public Zoom meetings have been disrupted by unauthorized participants, a practice known as "Zoombombing."
Zoom has posted a blog with helpful tips to prevent unauthorized access and protect your meeting controls.  Additionally, you can review our article on securing your Zoom classes for more guidance.

One of the most important tips is to restrict screen sharing to hosts only. Here's how to do it:

  1. Log into your Zoom account.
  2. Click on the Settings tab on the left side of the screen.
  3. Search for Screen Sharing.
  4. Under "Who can share?", change the setting from Participants to Host Only.
  5. Save your changes.

This simple step can greatly enhance the security of your Zoom meetings.


Zoom share settings
When hosting a public meeting, do not use your personal Zoom Meeting ID. Create a separate meeting event for any link you share publicly.

Zoom offers a variety of built-in security features to help manage online classrooms, prevent disruptions, and support effective remote teaching. Explore our tips and best practices to ensure your virtual classroom stays secure while using Zoom.

We’re excited to announce the latest version brings significant security improvements, including support for AES 256-bit GCM encryption, offering enhanced protection for meeting data and increased resistance to tampering.
Be sure to update your Zoom client to take advantage of these new features. For more details, visit the Zoom blog.

Launch the Zoom client and log in.
  1. Click the Settings icon (wheel) in the upper-right corner of the Zoom window.
  2. Select Virtual Background from the menu.
  3. Click the + icon next to Choose Virtual Background.
  4. Select your desired background image, and it will install automatically.
  5. Once installed, choose the background, and you're all set!

For more information, refer to the official Zoom Virtual Background Instructions.