How to Secure a Zoom Session

Preventative Settings (Before Your Meeting)

The most effective security strategy is establishing strong digital boundaries before generating your meeting link. When scheduling a meeting in the Zoom web portal (lafayette.zoom.us) or via the Google Calendar add-on, utilize these settings:

• The Ultimate Shield: Require Lafayette Authentication Under the Security options, check the box for Require authentication to join and select Lafayette Users Only. This forces every participant to log in with their official @lafayette.edu credentials.
• Enable the Waiting Room: The Waiting Room acts as a virtual staging area. Participants cannot join the meeting until you, the host, manually admit them. This is ideal for office hours or smaller seminars, though it can become cumbersome for larger sessions.
• Enforce a Passcode: Generate a random Meeting ID when scheduling your meeting and require a passcode to join. You can share these details privately with the respective attendees.
• Restrict Default Screen Sharing: In your global account settings, ensure your default screen sharing capability is set to Host Only. This prevents anyone from broadcasting unauthorized or inappropriate content the moment they enter the room.

Link Management: Share Wisely

Even the best settings fail if your meeting credentials are made public.

• Never post Zoom links on public websites or social media.

• Do post your links securely within Moodle, distribute them via targeted course Google Groups, or send them directly through Google Calendar invites to registered guests.

In Meeting Controls: The Security Shield

If an unwanted guest manages to bypass your initial filters, Zoom centralizes all emergency workflows into a single button. On your main bottom control toolbar, look for the Security icon (a shield). Clicking this icon allows the host or co-host to instantly toggle permissions for the entire room on the fly:

• Lock Meeting: Prevents any new participants from entering, even if they have the correct link and passcode.

• Uncheck “Share Screen”: Instantly revokes sharing capabilities from everyone except hosts.

• Uncheck “Unmute Themselves” & “Start Video”: Silences the room and freezes video feeds if multiple disruptions are happening simultaneously.

• Uncheck “Chat”: Shuts down the text chat immediately if trolls are flooding it with links or spam.

Learn more from Zoom’s documentation on Securing your Meeting.