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Working Remotely

With the majority of EDSI staff working remotely by the end of the week, the EDSI IT Team has two priorities:

  1. Allow EDSI staff to work out of the office for their health and safety.
  2. Keep EDSI data 100% secure.

In order to accomplish both priorities, personal or non-EDSI sanctioned computers used to access EDSI data (Such as e-mail, files, websites, reports, and more), must have EDSI’s approved antivirus and firewall software installed. The links below will guide you through the download and install process. Once again, this is mandatory for all computers *not* provided by EDSI.

Windows

Mac

After you’ve successfully installed the required program(s), feel free to browse the rest of this guide which contains tips, links and best practices for working remotely.

Introduction

In this guide, you will find a variety of options that will assist you in working remotely. Please read this guide or feel free to use the Table of Contents to help you find what you are looking for. We understand that not every office or employee has the same needs and tools, so if you need guidance on something that isn’t listed on here, or something isn’t working as intended, please open a Zendesk ticket.

Table of Contents

Accessing Your EDSI Office 365 Account Remotely

To access your EDSI Office 365 account remotely, you will need access to a web browser like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge. Microsoft Internet Explorer also will work, but it is recommended to use another browser like Chrome or Firefox for ideal browsing.

  1. Open your web browser, and go to https://www.office.com
  2. Click "Sign In" in the middle of the page.
  3. Enter your EDSI e-mail address, such as jdoe@edsisolutions.com, and then click next.
  4. Enter your password, and then click next.
  5. If you have an additional layer of security enabled on your account, which is most likely, a text will be sent to your phone with a six digit code. Enter that code, and then click next.
  6. If you see the screenshot below, you have successfully logged into your EDSI Office 365 account remotely! (Depending on your account level, you may see less icons in the screenshot below.)

- How To Install Office Applications On Another Computer

If you wish to install Office programs such as Word and Excel on another computer, such as your home computer, you can get started from your EDSI Office 365 account's dashboard.

  1. Click on "Install Office" in the top right corner.
  2. In the dropdown that appears, choose "Office 365 Apps".
  3. Follow the prompts to install software. The install may take up to 15-20 minutes with periods of inactivity in the installation progress bar.

Note - Your EDSI Office 365 account may not have the ability to install Office programs. Only select "Office E3" 365 accounts have access to this feature.

Accessing E-Mail Remotely

After successful completion of the EDSI Office 365 steps above, accessing your EDSI e-mail is an easy next step.

Once you have access to your EDSI Office 365 account, click on the Outlook icon in the panel of icons.

Accessing SharePoint Remotely

After successful completion of the EDSI Office 365 steps above, accessing your EDSI SharePoint sites is an easy next step.

Once you have access to your EDSI Office 365 account, click on the SharePoint icon in the panel of icons.

For a detailed walkthrough video of this process, please click here to view.

Note - Your EDSI Office 365 account may not have a SharePoint icon. If you feel that you should have SharePoint access, but do not see it, please open a Zendesk ticket.

Accessing OneDrive Remotely

After successful completion of the EDSI Office 365 steps above, accessing your EDSI OneDrive is an easy next step.

Once you have access to your EDSI Office 365 account, click on the OneDrive icon in the panel of icons.

Note - Your EDSI Office 365 account may not have a OneDrive icon. If you feel that you should have OneDrive access, but do not see it, please open a Zendesk ticket.

How To Add Your EDSI E-Mail To Your Mobile Devices

Adding your EDSI e-mail to your iOS device, whether it is an Apple iPhone or iPad, it a straight-forward process. Full instructions with screenshots are provided at this link.

If you have an Android device, click on this link to view a video about the process.

How To Get Started With Microsoft Teams

Do you need help getting started with Microsoft Teams and want to create teams to better collaborate with your staff? Click on this link to watch a video on how to get started!

How To Share Files With Someone Outside Of EDSI

If you wish to share files with someone within EDSI, you can use either SharePoint or OneDrive to complete this task. (Note - You will need access to these Office 365 services to share files with these platforms.)

  • However, if this person is outside of EDSI, sharing files can only be done with OneDrive. For a detailed walkthrough video of this process, please click here to view.

If you are having any issues sharing files, please open a Zendesk ticket and someone from EDSI IT will get back with you.

Accessing Your Allworx Extension Remotely

Depending on your location, you may have an Allworx phone at your desk. The Allworx phones are located at these offices:

  • Dearborn, MI
  • Land Title in Philadelphia, PA
  • Raleigh, NC
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Prince George's, MD

- How To Access Allworx Voicemails Remotely

To check your voicemail remotely, dial 301-333-4757. Follow the voice prompts when entering your extension and PIN. Once you are able to log into your voicemail, follow those voice prompts to listen to your voicemails.

- How To Forward Calls From Your Extension To Another Phone Number

With the Allworx phone system, it is possible to forward calls to your desk extension to another phone number, such as another Allworx extension or your personal cell number.

If you wish to turn this forwarding on, please open a Zendesk ticket and request the forward.

Setting Up A Google Voice Phone Number


It is understandable that you wish not to share your personal cell number for work purposes, but Google Voice is a free app on your smartphone that can be used as a work phone number. Google Voice will give you a new phone number that is tied to their app.

To setup Google Voice, it is a two-step process of using your computer and your smartphone. To get started, click here on your computer. You will need a Google account to use Google Voice, so you may need to create one if that’s the case. Once you click on that link above and follow the steps, it is pretty self-explanatory.

If you need help during the process, this is helpful guide to walk you through the process - http://www.wikihow.com/Set-Up-Google-Voice.

Once you complete the Google Voice setup, download the Google Voice app on your smartphone. Once the app is downloaded, open the app and sign in using your Google account and viola – Google Voice is now operational on your smartphone.

The app is pretty simple as far as features go. It is recommended to setup a voicemail greeting with Google Voice in case you do not answer if someone calls. You can setup your voicemail and edit other Google Voice settings by clicking on this link.

Data Usage - If you are connected to a WiFi network, Google Voice will not use data from your personal plan. However, if you are on a cellular network, personal data will be used.

Tip - With Google Voice, you can set the caller ID for call forwarding to be your own Google Voice number. For example, with my Google Voice number, if someone calls that number, my smartphone shows my Google Voice number calling me. That helps me know if the call is personal or work-related. Here is the screenshot of the setting in Google Voice to enable this feature.

Free Conference Calls Service

If you are need of hosting a conference call, but do not have immediate access to a conference call line, there is a free conference call service available. Click here to access the Free Conference Call website. An account has to be created at the website to use the service.

Helpful EDSI Links

Here is a list of common EDSI links.