About the IU VPN
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VPN basics
A virtual private network (VPN) allows you to temporarily create or join a private network across an existing public network by creating an encrypted tunnel between two hosts. The encryption protects the data your computer or mobile device transmits and receives over the internet, enabling secure remote access to restricted online resources.
Many public wireless networks (such as those provided by hotels and restaurants) are not encrypted, leaving transmitted data unprotected and vulnerable to electronic surveillance. Even data originating from a secure network (for example, one provided by your employer or school) may be vulnerable if they are being transmitted to another secure network over the public internet. To prevent data from being intercepted (especially confidential financial data, or data protected by federal laws, such as FERPA and HIPAA data), businesses, government offices, universities, and other institutions use VPN systems to encrypt data transmitted between their secure networks and remote users.
VPN at IU
At Indiana University, UITS delivers a centrally managed, fault-tolerant SSL VPN service for use by all IU campuses. (Your campus may have additional or alternative VPN options; if you have questions or need help, contact your campus Support Center.)
Establishing an IU VPN connection creates a secure tunnel between your off-campus computer or mobile device and the IU network, allowing you to access online services and resources that are configured to refuse connections from outside the IU network (such as IU Print queues, certain library databases, and most network storage devices). Also, you need an IU VPN connection to make a remote desktop connection from off campus.
Connect to the VPN
IU's SSL VPN is for off-campus use only; it will not allow you to establish a connection if your device is connected (via wireless or Ethernet) to an IU network.
For the greatest reliability across the widest range of platforms and network configurations, UITS recommends using the Pulse Secure SSL VPN client (produced by Pulse Secure, LLC), where available, to connect to IU's SSL VPN. The Pulse Secure client is the official replacement for the Junos Pulse client previously used at IU.
For instructions for connecting to IU's SSL VPN, see:
- Windows or macOS: Connect to IU's SSL VPN in Windows or macOS
- iOS: Connect to the IU SSL VPN with Pulse Secure on an iOS device
- Android mobile: Connect to IU's SSL VPN from a mobile Android device
- Chromebook: Connect to IU's SSL VPN from a Chromebook
- Linux:
- BlackBerry: BlackBerry devices from the Priv model (released 2015) and later use the Android OS; use the instructions in Connect to IU's SSL VPN from a mobile Android device for these devices. Earlier models running the native BlackBerry OS cannot use Pulse Secure.
If you have questions or need help, contact your campus Support Center.
You can connect a maximum of two devices at a time to IU's SSL VPN. If you try to connect a third device while you already have a connection running on two other devices, you'll see a prompt asking whether you want to maintain the existing connections and cancel the new connection request, or break one of the existing connections and establish a new connection. Exceptions are provided for group accounts in certain situations.
IU Groups VPN
IU's Groups VPN provides dedicated VPN IP space for teams needing to restrict remote access to their internal administrative environments. Access permissions for Groups VPN IP ranges are controlled with Active Directory security groups. All users must authenticate via Two-Step Login (Duo). A VPN IP address from a team's dedicated IP space is assigned only if the user is a member of the appropriate AD security group. For more, see Use the IU Groups VPN to restrict remote access to your team's administrative resources.
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Last modified on 2019-02-14 10:24:02.