IT checklist for new employees

Welcome! This page walks new Dornsife employees through IT setup instructions.

Before you begin, have your USC NetID ready

Prior to your first day, you should have received an email to your non-USC address with instructions for activating your USC NetID and setting a passphrase (password). Have that USC NetID ready: it’s a 3-8 character username you’ll use to log into a range of USC services such as Outlook, Workday, Zoom, and Blackboard.

Ethernet

On-campus desktop computers are connected to the Internet via Ethernet.

Wireless

USC Secure Wireless network

• Username: Your USC NetID
• Password: Your USC NetID passphrase

USC Guest Wireless network

No password is required, but you will not be able to access protected resources such as VPN, Dornsife network printers, and Dornsife network drives.

Off-campus

If you are using secure home Internet

You only need VPN for certain applications:

• Don’t connect to VPN: Workday, Blackboard, Zoom, Slack, Google Apps (Gmail, Google Drive), Microsoft applications (Outlook, Office 365)
• Connect to VPN: Secure CRT/SIS, Dornsife network drives, SPSS, remote desktop, some areas of myDornsife

For home Internet, the following guide may come in handy:

• Remote Access WiFi and Mobile Hotspot Tips

If you are using public wifi and working with USC data

You should be connected to VPN at all times.

Access email via Outlook client on your computer or via Outlook online at https://usc.edu/office365:

• Username: Your USC NetID @usc.edu
• Password: Your USC NetID passphrase

Per USC’s Employee Email Policy, emails are automatically deleted 16 months after the sent/received date. For more info, refer to our guide: “Retaining emails under the USC employee email policy.”

Shared org accounts

If you are responsible for helping monitor a shared org account (for example, a shared Outlook inbox that your department uses for general inquiries), review our guide for information about requesting access and adding the account in Outlook:

• Getting delegate access to shared org accounts in Outlook

First time login

Refer to the following guides for your first time logging into your work device:

• Windows 11 PC
• iMac or MacBook
• iPad or iPhone

Tip: Set up automatic cloud backup

We highly recommend that you set up cloud storage backup so that you can still access files if you lose computer access. Both Microsoft OneDrive (preferred) and Google Drive are approved by the University for cloud storage.

For more information:

• Understanding cloud storage options at USC
• Storage at USC (ITS guide)

Connecting to printers

Make sure that your computer is connected to the USC network via Ethernet, USC Secure Wireless, or VPN. You cannot connect to network resources via USC Guest Wireless.

Follow our guide to add your department or unit’s network printers to your computer:

• Printing with PaperCut Print

Local (wired) printers

In rare cases, you may have a local printer in your office: these printers will not show up on the network and can be connected directly to your computer using a cable.

Connecting to network drives

Make sure that your computer is connected to the USC network via Ethernet, USC Secure Wireless, or VPN. You cannot connect to network resources via USC Guest Wireless.

Follow our guide to connect to network drives and access departmental shared files:

• Connecting to Dornsife network drives

USC uses Zoom Phone software (“softphone”) rather than physical desk phones. To receive a USC phone number assignment, please perform the following steps:

First, initialize your Zoom account by performing a first sign-in

1. Go to https://usc.zoom.us.
2. Click on Sign in.
3. Type your USC NetID and passphrase to log in.

Next, request a Zoom Phone number

Submit the following form:

• Request a Zoom Phone number

Once you have been assigned a number, you can start using Zoom Phone via the Zoom application on your Dornsife-managed computer.

If you don’t find the information you’re looking for, reach out to us:

• Hours: Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm
• Email: ts@dornsife.usc.edu
• Phone: 213-740-2775
• Chat: Go to https://dtssupport.usc.edu and use the Chat feature in the bottom right