In your time at the University, you’ve come to rely on the technology it provides. For example, when using free public Wi-Fi, you start up WiscVPN to be sure that what you’re putting over the network remains private. You count on the antivirus protection provided by the Office of Cybersecurity to keep your computer virus free.
What do you do when the time comes to retire or otherwise move on? How do you replace these indispensable services that you haven’t had to pay for? Read on to get started with technology after leaving the university. We’ll skip the obvious ones like word processing, spreadsheet software or online file storage and focus on those items a little more difficult to replace.
Security
VPN
Using WiscVPN has helped keep you and your data safe in your time at the University. There’s no reason you have to give up that security when you leave. There are several free and paid VPN services available. DoIT cannot endorse any particular service, but we can refer you to an excellent article that rounds up and reviews several options.
Antivirus
You’ve enjoyed free access to Symantec Endpoint Protection, and more recently, Cisco AMP, both of which provide some of the best paid antivirus protection available. There is, however, excellent free antivirus software to help keep your devices safe after you leave. CNET reviewed “The best antivirus protection of 2020 for Windows 10” in a recent issue. Note, some of the software reviewed there is not free.
Creative applications
If you’ve been using the Adobe Creative Suite in your work at UW–Madison, you might like to know that there are several free or cheap alternatives listed in this PC World article.
Other alternatives
The University provides far more tools than we could suggest alternatives for in one article. For those applications not appearing on this list, you can check the website alternativeto.net, dedicated to “crowdsourced software recommendations.” Many of the alternatives recommended there are free and open source.