Overview
The following information outlines the steps necessary to host more secure Zoom meetings and webinars. Using the settings recommended below can protect your meetings against Zoom bombing, a practice in which an uninvited attendee disrupts a Zoom meeting by sharing inappropriate or offensive material.
Detail
As the host of a Zoom meeting or webinar, you are responsible for ensuring the appropriate settings are in place to protect your meeting.
The University Center for Teaching and Learning has recommendations on how to prevent a Zoom bombing, and also a handy guide on how to mitigate an active threat during a Zoom bomb.
Zoom also provides online resources to learn more about using Zoom and their approach to Trust and Safety:
To submit a report of violations of Zoom’s Terms of Service (opens in new tab) or Acceptable Use Guidelines (opens in new tab), please submit your report by completing the web form available at Zoom - Report to Trust & Safety (opens in new tab). Please include specific details about the meeting disruption in your report such as how the intruder(s) violated our Terms of Service and if there was a certain type of abusive content that was shared by the offender(s) (via chat, audio, or video). Meeting hosts can also complete the University's Report a Zoombombing (opens in new tab) form. The report will be sent to Zoom, Pitt Digital Security, and Office of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion.
If you have additional questions or need help adjusting your settings, you may contact the Technology Help Desk at any time for assistance.
- Reminder: The University of Pittsburgh’s standard Zoom environment is not HIPAA compliant. However, the University provides access to a separate HIPAA-compliant Zoom environment for those who are conducting tele-medicine appointments or are hosting meetings that discuss protected health information. Using HIPAA-Compliant Zoom
Types of Zoom Meetings
Before applying recommended settings, use the table below to help determine whether your meeting is better suited to a Zoom Meeting or a Zoom Webinar.
Zoom Meeting Types Comparison
| Meeting Type |
Max. Attendees in a Single Meeting |
Who Can Schedule |
Meeting Length |
| Basic license |
100 |
Sponsored accounts |
40-minute limit |
| Regular meeting |
300 |
Faculty, Students and staff |
24-hour limit |
| Large meeting |
500 |
Available for purchase |
24-hour limit |
| Webinar |
500 |
Available for purchase |
24-hour limit |
Recommended Zoom Settings
External Meeting Settings (Some Participants May Be Unknown)
Common Settings For Both Meetings and Webinars
Meetings
In-Meeting Settings
Webinars
Desktop Client Settings
Academic Meeting Settings (All Participants Are Known)
Common Settings For Both Meetings and Webinars
Meetings
In-Meeting Settings
Webinars
Desktop Client Settings
Administrative Meeting Settings (All Participants Are Known)
Common Settings For Both Meetings and Webinars
Meetings
In-Meeting Settings
Webinars
Desktop Client Settings