Determining When to Use VPN

ǿմý’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a security tunneling utility that allows a user to connect to IT services that are restricted to “on campus” use only. Forticlient is the software used to connect to the ǿմý VPN.

[U]Tech requires VPN use for the following services or scenarios

  • Access to ǿմý Windows/Active Directory file share services, typically used by faculty and staff
  • Access to research computing infrastructure, such as the High Performance Computing clusters (Rider and Markov) and the Secure Research Environment
  • [U]Tech Software Center and software license servers (as needed)
  • A small number of library data and journal resources
  • On-campus printing resources

[U]Tech recommends VPN use for connecting to ǿմý resources from public places such as restaurants, hotels, or some international locations.

The use of VPN is not needed for the vast majority of cloud-based [U]Tech services: Google Suite services (Gmail, Calendar, Chat, Hangouts, Drive, etc.)

  • Box
  • Zoom
  • Canvas
  • Campus Groups
  • SPARTA (Huron)
  • Enterprise Resource Planning (FIN, HCM, SIS)
  • MyApps Portal
  • Most

You will likely have a better experience accessing cloud-based services directly rather than through VPN. Because of this, Forticlient VPN clients only need to remain connected to the VPN while they are accessing the campus resources they need. For access security, all ǿմý VPN users are required to use DuoSecurity for authentication. Click here for VPN installation instructions.