Not sure if you need VPN to access your work from off campus? This article explains when VPN is required and when it's just recommended.
Overview
The MHC VPN allows us to connect to the MHC network from home (or while traveling) safely and securely in order to access campus resources.
VPN is only required if you're off-campus and trying to use an on-campus restricted software, library resource, or while connecting remotely to a campus computer.
Common scenarios when VPN is and isn't needed
Should you connect to VPN when doing the following activities off campus?
| SCENARIO |
Do you need VPN? |
| Accessing your MHC Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Moodle, Zoom, Workday etc from off campus |
Not required, but recommended if you're on public WiFi* |
| Accessing files on the campus MHCDrive file server from off campus |
YES |
| Remoting into your MHC office computer from off campus |
YES |
| Making calls using the Avaya Workplace Softphone Application from off campus |
YES |
| Accessing library research databases from off campus |
SOMETIMES |
*Using the VPN on public WiFi allows you to take advantage of the security built into our campus firewall.
Which campus services require VPN?
- Academic Software:
- Some campus software titles use a license server to run. If you have software installed on your computer that must access an on-campus license server, a VPN connection is required to successfully connect.
- ARMS (full client)
- Avaya Softphone App and Self-Administration portal
- Business Objects
- Colleague
- Controller file server
- EMS (only the full client)
- Informer
- Keyserver for software location maps
- Lawson
- MHCDrive
- OnBase
- PowerFAIDS
- Printing to on-campus printers
- Microsoft Remote Desktop from a home computer to a campus computer
- SSH access to campus information systems
- Titanium
- Webshell / legacy password management system
- Windows Remote Desktop to computers behind the firewall