Zoom Security

Keeping your Zoom class sessions private and secure is a top priority. To prevent uninvited guests from attending your Zoom class meetings and adding unwanted disruptions or capturing shared screen content, we recommend utilizing the following practices. If you receive a Zoom meeting invitation and are in doubt that it is legitimate, always confirm with the meeting originator or check your Scheduled Meetings in Zoom. Also, please be mindful of the information shared or discussed so that you do not violate any HIPPA or FERPA privacy rules. Always refer to UF Privacy statement to ensure that your Zoom practices are consistent with the UF policies and with the laws and regulatory practices of the State of Florida. 

FERPA and Zoom

Please visit the Registrar’s FERPA for Faculty and Staff page for information regarding FERPA and the use of video conferencing for class sessions.

We strongly encourage reviewing the settings of any existing or pre-scheduled Zoom meetings with the following recommendations to ensure the security and privacy of your sessions is maintained.

Quick Settings to Keep Your Zoom Classes Secure

Download this PDF of quick suggestions to keep your Zoom classes secure.

Should I Lock My Session?

To add another level of security to your Zoom meeting, you can lock your session after it has started so that no additional participants can join, even if they have the meeting id and password.

To lock your session after it has started, click Security button at the bottom of the Zoom window. Then the the Lock Meeting button.

Best Practices for Zoom Meetings

• Enable or disable chat, screen sharing, annotation, video, unmuting, or renaming by participants using the “Security” button.
• Lock the meeting once all attendees arrive using the "Security" button.
• Avoid publicly sharing the meeting Passcode.
• Consider setting your default Screen Sharing option to "Host Only" in the UF Zoom "In Meetings (Basic)" Settings. You can easily toggle this feature on and off from the screen sharing menu, as well as the security menu in the meeting.
• Pre-set your meeting to mute participant’s microphones upon entry.
• Instead of a Large Meeting, consider a Webinar instead - Ideal for large audiences or events that are open to the public. One or a few people speak to attendees who join without their audio or video turned on. Attendees can view, listen, answer polls, and use Q&A.