We want our online meetings to be welcoming, safe, and accessible places for everyone. While most meetings run smoothly, it’s important for groups to be prepared to respond if someone joins a meeting with the intention of being disruptive.

Here are a few simple steps that can help keep meetings secure:

• Have one or more co-hosts whenever possible. Co-hosts can help monitor the meeting, watch for disruptive activity, and respond quickly if a meeting needs to be secured or locked down.
• Consider designating a meeting security volunteer. A meeting chair is often focused on facilitating the meeting and may not notice everything happening in the chat or on screen. A co-host or designated security volunteer can keep an eye out for anything unusual and alert the chair or take appropriate action.
• If you see something, say something. If you notice disruptive behavior, suspicious activity, or something that doesn’t seem right, let the meeting host or co-host know.
• Be cautious about unexpected links. Avoid clicking on unfamiliar or suspicious links posted in a meeting chat. If you receive a questionable link through a private chat, report it to the meeting host or co-host.

We have excellent information on our website with guidance and instructions for using Zoom’s security features and responding to disruptive activity. We encourage all groups to review these resources and familiarize themselves with the security tools available through the Zoom security shield icon.

Please share this information with your groups. If you participate in meetings that may not have a GSR who will see this information, please encourage those groups to review the Zoom security resources as well. A little preparation can go a long way toward helping us maintain safe, welcoming online meetings for everyone.