Videoconferencing and virtual meetings over Zoom are great ways to conveniently connect. However, Zoom can demand significant memory and processing power from your computer, as well as a lot of bandwidth from your Internet connection. It also requires a couple of extra steps to keep your connections secure and private. For the best connection and security, please follow these simple steps

We recommend joining Zoom meetings from a location where you can use a fast, reliable, wired Internet connection. In general:

• Wired connections are better than wireless (WiFi or cellular) connections.
• WiFi connections are better than cellular (3G/4G/LTE) connections.

When your microphone is on, Zoom will reserve some of your bandwidth for an audio stream, even if you aren’t speaking. Mute your microphone when you don’t need it.

Video takes up a significant amount of bandwidth. We love to see your smiling face, but feel free to stop your video when you are experiencing issues.

Sending high definition (HD) webcam video requires more bandwidth than sending non-HD. Disabling HD video will free up bandwidth. To disable HD video, from the Zoom app:

From the Zoom app:

• Click the “Home” tab.
• Click the “Settings” tab.
• In the Settings window that opens:
  • Click the “Video” tab.
  • Uncheck “Enable HD”.
• Close the Settings window.

Zoom meetings can demand significant memory and processing power from your computer. Closing other applications—ones you do not need during the session—will help Zoom run better. If you can, Zoom should be the only program open during your Zoom meeting.

Don’t start other bandwidth-intensive activities just before, or during, a Zoom meeting. That includes other devices that share your Internet connection. Avoid:

• Large downloads
• Large uploads
• Streaming video (e.g. Netflix, Hulu, YouTube)
• Cloud backups
• Cloud file synchronizations
• Other high-bandwidth activities

No problem. Your Client Success Manager and Lead Planner can work with you on audio-only options.

To test your Internet bandwidth before a meeting, we recommend visiting speedtest.net and checking your available bandwidth. If your result is less than 3 Mbps, Zoom performance will likely suffer.

We take the security and privacy of your communications with us, especially with your planner, very seriously. Here’s how we keep your meetings secure.

Any Zoom meeting can be set up to be Public (anyone can join) or Private (only invited guests can join). The free version of Zoom, which most new Zoom users are running, only allows public meetings. The recent FBI warning about Zoom privacy and security was only related to public meetings.

Facet Wealth does not use the free version of Zoom. We use a paid, business-level product, which has additional security features. All Facet meetings are configured to be private by default. If you prefer additional security, your meeting with your planner can also be configured with a passcode, which only you and your planner will know.

The security of your personal and financial information is of the utmost importance to the team at Facet Wealth. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

New Security Features in 5.0

Zoom 5.0 (update here) includes a number of security features centered around 256-bit Galois/Counter Mode (GCM) encryption. Those enhanced security features will allow meeting hosts to:

• Enable or disable the ability for participants to screen share, chat, and rename themselves
• Report a user
• Enable a waiting room
• Lock meetings after everyone has arrived
• Remove participants

Other new security features include:

• More complex and secure meeting IDs and passwords
• More secure recordings
• Watermarks to protect screen shares and audio
• Enhanced meeting registration and authentication

The security of your personal and financial information is of the utmost importance to the team at Facet Wealth. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.