The Virtual Experience
The pandemic has forced individuals and organizations to adapt quickly to new ways of doing business, new ways of leading, and new ways of learning. At Harvard Business School we’ve leveraged technology to enhance virtual leadership programs with the types of interactivity and connectivity formerly reserved for in-person engagements.
Technology Requirements
Participation in our programs requires that you have a computer or laptop with a video camera and audio access. A headset microphone will deliver the best sound quality. If you do not have a headset, please be sure to wear headphones or sit in close proximity to the computer microphone. While a wireless internet connection can be most convenient, a wired network connection is recommended for the best virtual experience. Cellular networks are generally not encouraged. Please close all other browsers or applications during sessions in order be fully immersed in the learning experience.
Access to the Virtual Classroom
HBS Executive Education virtual programs are facilitated in Zoom or in one of our HBS Live Online Classrooms.
In order to participate in a Zoom session, we recommend that you use the Zoom Client for Meetings. To download the Zoom Client for Meetings, please follow the instructions found at https://zoom.us/download or follow instructions via your web browser when you follow the link for your first session. Additional Zoom instructions and guidance will be provided to participants in advance of the program start date.
Participants in programs with sessions in one of the HBS Live Online Classrooms will receive login instructions and guidance prior to the program start date.
Privacy DetailsExpand AllCollapse All
What privacy protections does the Harvard community have when using Zoom?What privacy protections does the Harvard community have when using Zoom?
In its contract with Harvard, Zoom accepted terms that protect the privacy of Harvard Zoom users. Most importantly, Harvard’s contract requires that Zoom "will not use Confidential Information for any purpose other than the performance of [Zoom] Services." Under the contract, "Confidential Information" includes:
- Personally identifiable information about any members of the Harvard community, as well as of "other individuals"; and
- Nonpublic information, whether about Harvard (including any unit within Harvard) or a third party, that Zoom knows or should know is confidential.
Harvard’s contract with Zoom imposes additional privacy and security commitments, including the obligation to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
It is important to note that these contract terms only apply to members of the Harvard community using a Harvard Zoom account.
Additional steps that Zoom has taken that the Harvard community should be aware of include:
- On March 29 Zoom amended its Privacy Policy to clarify its general practices regarding user privacy. Zoom's amended Privacy Policy provides that Zoom uses "customer content" only to "provide Zoom service to users." Under the Privacy Policy, "customer content" means "any information you upload, provide or create while using Zoom," specifically including "cloud recordings, chat/instant messages, files, whiteboard, and other information shared while using the service." Zoom may store customer content as needed to perform the services.
Zoom's amended Privacy Policy also distinguishes between information it collects through use of Zoom's services and information it collects from visitors to pages on its marketing sites. Only information collected from visitors to marketing sites is used by Zoom for marketing or promotional services or ad placement.
What steps is Zoom taking to address data privacy and security vulnerabilities?What steps is Zoom taking to address data privacy and security vulnerabilities?
Harvard recognizes that Zoom has experienced remarkable growth in the last month and, with that, greater scrutiny of its privacy policy and security practices. A number of media reports have identified data privacy and client vulnerabilities in the Zoom platform. Steps Zoom has taken to address these vulnerabilities are recorded in release notes that Zoom publishes in its Zoom Help Center. Zoom also posts blogs to address concerns that are raised by its community.
What is "Zoombombing," and how can I keep it from happening?What is "Zoombombing," and how can I keep it from happening?
"Zoombombing" occurs when uninvited attendees break into and disrupt your meeting. There have been reports of Zoombombing across higher education — including a small number of instances at Harvard, specifically—as Zoom usage has increased.
The best way to prevent against Zoombombing is to make sure your meetings are secure. Zoom recently updated its default settings to:
- Assign passcodes to new meetings*; and
- Restrict screen sharing to shares approved by the meeting host.
*Zoom has configured its passcodes so that meeting participants who receive invites and click links to meetings do not have to enter the passcode. By contrast, uninvited participants who seek to enter a Zoom meeting by typing in the meeting number will need to enter a passcode before they are admitted.
What privacy protections does the Harvard community have when using Zoom?
In its contract with Harvard, Zoom accepted terms that protect the privacy of Harvard Zoom users. Most importantly, Harvard’s contract requires that Zoom "will not use Confidential Information for any purpose other than the performance of [Zoom] Services." Under the contract, "Confidential Information" includes:
- Personally identifiable information about any members of the Harvard community, as well as of "other individuals"; and
- Nonpublic information, whether about Harvard (including any unit within Harvard) or a third party, that Zoom knows or should know is confidential.
Harvard’s contract with Zoom imposes additional privacy and security commitments, including the obligation to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
It is important to note that these contract terms only apply to members of the Harvard community using a Harvard Zoom account.
Additional steps that Zoom has taken that the Harvard community should be aware of include:
- On March 29 Zoom amended its Privacy Policy to clarify its general practices regarding user privacy. Zoom's amended Privacy Policy provides that Zoom uses "customer content" only to "provide Zoom service to users." Under the Privacy Policy, "customer content" means "any information you upload, provide or create while using Zoom," specifically including "cloud recordings, chat/instant messages, files, whiteboard, and other information shared while using the service." Zoom may store customer content as needed to perform the services.
Zoom's amended Privacy Policy also distinguishes between information it collects through use of Zoom's services and information it collects from visitors to pages on its marketing sites. Only information collected from visitors to marketing sites is used by Zoom for marketing or promotional services or ad placement.
What steps is Zoom taking to address data privacy and security vulnerabilities?
Harvard recognizes that Zoom has experienced remarkable growth in the last month and, with that, greater scrutiny of its privacy policy and security practices. A number of media reports have identified data privacy and client vulnerabilities in the Zoom platform. Steps Zoom has taken to address these vulnerabilities are recorded in release notes that Zoom publishes in its Zoom Help Center. Zoom also posts blogs to address concerns that are raised by its community.
What is "Zoombombing," and how can I keep it from happening?
"Zoombombing" occurs when uninvited attendees break into and disrupt your meeting. There have been reports of Zoombombing across higher education — including a small number of instances at Harvard, specifically—as Zoom usage has increased.
The best way to prevent against Zoombombing is to make sure your meetings are secure. Zoom recently updated its default settings to:
- Assign passcodes to new meetings*; and
- Restrict screen sharing to shares approved by the meeting host.
*Zoom has configured its passcodes so that meeting participants who receive invites and click links to meetings do not have to enter the passcode. By contrast, uninvited participants who seek to enter a Zoom meeting by typing in the meeting number will need to enter a passcode before they are admitted.
Learning Community Website
Prior to the start of the program, admitted participants will receive an email with a link to the Learning Community where you will find preliminary program information, including the program schedule, case readings, and assignments. The Learning Community also contains information regarding access to the virtual classroom.
Recommended Browser and Devices
Our Learning Community is best supported by Google Chrome, Safari and Firefox. The HBS Live Online Classrooms are only supported by Google Chrome at this time. To access these classrooms, it is recommended that participants download the latest version of Google Chrome before attending any sessions.
Laptops or desktop computers are also recommended for the best virtual learning experience. At this time, tablets and mobile devices are not supported by the HBS Live Online Classroom, nor do they support all of Zoom’s functionalities.
IT Support
For any technical assistance related to the Learning Community or accessing the Zoom platform, our Technology Support Services (TSS) team is available to assist you. You may contact them at ithelp@hbs.edu or by calling +1.617.495.6600. The TSS team is available Monday - Thursday 7:00am - 9:00pm ET, Friday 7:00am - 6:00pm ET, and Sunday 12:00pm - 9:00pm ET. TSS is not available on Saturdays.