You’ve probably read about the security issues schools and businesses are having with Zoom video conferencing as they work and learn remotely. Reports of uninvited guests joining conference calls to troll, harass and deliver hate speech and abuse to attendees have turned into the latest Zoombombing “craze” so-to-speak – not to mention the unwanted recordings and sensitive data being published online.
According to an April 3 New York Times article, ‘Zoombombing’ Becomes a Dangerous Organized Effort, the publication did an analysis and found hundreds of social media accounts, private chats and message boards where thousands of people organized “Zoom harassment campaigns, sharing meeting passwords and plans for sowing chaos in public and private meetings.”
During this global pandemic, streaming video and conferencing technologies are helping to keep schools and businesses running virtually. The security breaches allowing people to join an online class and deliver racial slurs or a confidential alcoholics anonymous meeting are an unanticipated reality, especially when everyone is seemingly trying to work together. However, it is a needed reminder to everyone about the importance of data security – make sure you put your valuable content where you know it’s safe.
Real-time conferencing is still necessary right now, but it’s not all you need
Some schools have stopped using Zoom completely [New York Post: DOE bands schools using Zoom for remote learning amid security concerns], and business are urging employees to use alternative platforms.
This is where it gets tricky. The real-time collaboration facilitated with these video apps like Zoom, WebEx and Poly is a key piece of the puzzle if schools and businesses are going to be successful during this virtual time.
However, conferencing technologies are not designed to be robust distance learning or corporate training solutions. Instructors shouldn’t deliver lectures online live while students simply sit and listen. Video calls are meant to be interactive. Afterwards, these systems are also not designed to be content management platforms for all of your recordings.
Likewise, streaming solutions such as Mediasite are not engineered for one-to-one engagement. They’re meant to deliver one-to-many learning on-demand. Mediasite is, however, a robust and secure online video hub for all of your videos, from any source.
How do you ensure you’re using the right tool for the right job? We recommend creating on-demand video learning content in Mediasite. Then, use video calls for learners to discuss what they saw, but use some basic precaution. Take those extra few minutes to change your settings and require a password to enter, which Zoom has made the new default. Finally, upload your collaborative calls to Mediasite (you can put any video file/format into the system) so all your learning and communication materials are in one safe place.
Security is Mediasite’s top priority now and always
Not every video is meant for everyone, and Mediasite gives you the controls to guarantee only authorized users have access. More importantly, it delivers end-to-end protection of your entire library and all content creation, management and editing functions.
With Mediasite, you ensure easy access to your content with single sign-on support from other applications your users might have like a learning management system. Plus, you can use role-based authentication and permissions to control access to all videos. Student assignments, class lectures, CEO communications and private employee meetings – they’re safe in Mediasite.
You can even take it one step further than just uploading your video call recordings into Mediasite. If you invite Mediasite Join to your call, it will automatically create a digital meeting transcript.
Mediasite Join records and manages everything said and shown so attendees can refer back to important discussions, course materials, training details or missed meetings. Again, guarantee only authorized viewers see the recording via role-based permissions in Mediasite.
How do you ensure you’re using the right tool for the right job? We recommend creating on-demand video learning content in Mediasite. Then, use video calls for learners to discuss what they saw, but use some basic precaution. Take those extra few minutes to change your settings and require a password to enter, which Zoom has made the new default. Finally, upload your collaborative calls to Mediasite (you can put any video file/format into the system) so all your learning and communication materials are in one safe place.
Ready to take your campus or meetings online? Learn how Mediasite’s quick start packages can fast-track your virtual environment at www.mediasite.com/coronavirus.
