Best Practices for a Secure Zoom Meeting

Zoom provides several features to help protect your meetings and prevent disruptions. Follow these best practices before and during your meeting.

Keep Your Zoom Client Updated

Always run the latest version of Zoom on Mac or Windows.
To update:
1. Launch the Zoom Client.
2. Click your user icon in the top-right corner.
3. Select Check for Updates.
4. If an update is available, click Update to install.

Require Registration – See the email addresses of everyone who signs up.
Use a Random Meeting ID – Avoid using your Personal Meeting ID (PMI), as it’s always active.
Password-Protect the Meeting – Share the password only with intended participants.
Allow Only Authenticated Users – Restrict access to people logged into approved Zoom accounts.
Disable Join Before Host – Prevent participants from entering before you do.
Mute Participants on Entry – Keeps background noise under control at the start.

The Waiting Room helps you control who enters your meeting.

All Participants – Everyone is placed in the Waiting Room until admitted.
Guest Participants Only – Known participants (e.g., logged in with your org’s account) join directly; guests wait.

✅ The Waiting Room is enabled by default. For details, see Zoom’s Waiting Room settings guide.

In your meeting toolbar, click Security to access live controls:

Lock Meeting – Prevents new participants from joining.
Control Participant Permissions – Enable or disable the ability to:
- Share screen
- Use chat
- Rename themselves

Tip: Review your settings before the meeting starts, and use the Security panel to make adjustments in real time.