When you’re using a University supplied, Windows 10 laptop to work remotely, DirectAccess allows you to log in to campus IT services and access your files. It starts-up automatically and runs in the background while you’re working.

With DirectAccess you can:

• Access University IT Services and software
• Access SAP services (scroll down to the bottom of the SAP login pad and select the service you require labelled ‘DirectAccess’)
• Access your University files (H:Drive) and shared drives

Best Practice

• You don’t need to download lots of files to your laptop, DirectAccess allows you to access and edit them in their original location
• If you do need to download large files or data, please do it out of normal office hours so the service isn't slowed for others.
• Please only use one DirectAccess enabled device per person. Using multiple devices has an impact on the quality of the service.
• For the best experience we recommend you use a wired network connection.

Other factors

The number of people in your household accessing the internet for streaming/gaming/other online services may affect your DirectAccess experience.

Current Issues

DirectAccess may be slow between 08:30 – 10:00 weekdays. This is due to the volume of people accessing the service. Please bear with us, we are looking into ways to resolve this.

A small number of people are using a large amount of the available bandwidth. This is affecting the quality of the service for others. We are monitoring the situation; however, continued high usage may result in a session being disconnected.

Can I access Microsoft Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneDrive etc.)? 

• Visit https://office365.ncl.ac.uk and sign in using 'userid@newcastle.ac.uk' and your password. 

Can I install Microsoft Office on my personally owned device? 

• Yes. If you are a student or member of staff, you can install Microsoft Office 365 for no personal cost on up to five devices (laptop, smartphone or tablet). Visit https://services.ncl.ac.uk/itservice/core-services/softwaredeals/office365/

Can I get other software for no personal cost or reduced price? 

Discounted and no-cost software are available for your own PC and personal devices: 

• Student Software Deals
• Staff Software Deals 

What if I need specialist software for my work or research? 

• You may be able to download the software to your own device for no personal cost or at a reduced price: see Software Deals. 
• The software may be available via the Remote Application Service (RAS). See our RAS help and FAQs

Please note: Depending on your internet connection speed and the number of concurrent users, RAS may run more slowly than applications you have on your computer. RAS also has a limit to number of concurrent users that can access the service at any one time. If the software is available, you are advised to download it to your own device (see Software Deals). 

What equipment do I need to work remotely or from home? 

• To access most University IT services away from campus, you'll need a PC, laptop or mobile device with an internet connection. 
• For desktop conferencing and calls, you'll need a device with a camera and microphone (many laptops and tablets have a camera and microphone built in). Alternatively, you can use a headset and webcam. See recommended hardware.

 
Can I use a personal device that I own, like my home computer or iPad (or similar)? 

• Yes, of course. You can use any personal device with an internet connection. This doesn’t need to be supplied by the University. 

 
Can I request a laptop or other IT equipment from NUIT? 

Dell Advantage Programme - additional discounts

For a limited time Dell are offering additional discounts on personal purchases of monitors and accessories. (These discounts are for personal purchases only.)

Remember, when using any University IT service on or off campus you are bound by the Policy on Use of IT Facilities and the terms of our Information Security Policy. As well as the University data protection policy and guidelines. 

Complete cyber-security training so that you can spot pandemic themed email scams - https://sway.office.com/uTwXdABOY7pOPFgb 

Using your own personal device

• Check the manufacturer's web site for guidance on how to install security updates, enable anti-virus, and enable encryption.
• Do not to upload University data to cloud services other than the University's Office365
• Avoid downloading data to personal devices, however where this is not possible, ensure you remove all data from your personal device when you are ready to return to the University

If you are using data obtained from research data providers or funding agencies, check your data sharing agreement for security restrictions.

If the data is covered by the university NHS toolkit, the data can only be accessed via Direct Access using a University Laptop or using Remote Access Gateway.