Issue/Question
- What OSU services require VPN?
- When should I use the VPN or alternatives?
- Which connection type should I use when connecting to the VPN?
Environment
- Oregon State University
- Employees, Students and Associates
Explanation
What is the VPN?
The virtual private network (VPN) service provided to OSU allows network users to access the OSU internal network across a public network, via the Internet. Once connected, users can send and receive data across this secure connection as if their device were on campus. The VPN uses "virtual" connections routed through the Internet from a private network (a residence, coffee shop, hotel, vacation destination, etc.) to a pool of devices maintained by Network Services. VPN gives the user a secure connection to the OSU network along with an on-campus IP address.
Resolution
When to Use the VPN
If you are handling sensitive or confidential data, use of the VPN from off-campus is required to secure your connection and protect the data you access. In some cases, use of an OSU-owned computer is also required. For more information, see: Keep Working - Remote Resource and Service Access
If you are not handling sensitive or confidential data, you may not need to use the VPN. The VPN is a limited resource, so it is better not to use it when you don't need to. There are several alternatives to the VPN, depending on your use case. See: VPN - Troubleshooting and Alternatives
Please note that connecting to the VPN will slow your performance for some services, such as video conferencing. If you are doing video conferencing, disconnect from the VPN first. If you need to be connected to the VPN while doing video conferencing, the split tunnel connection type is recommended over full tunnel. For more information about VPN connection types, see: VPN - Full-Tunnel vs. Split-Tunnel
Services That Do or Do Not Require VPN
The following is a list of commonly used services. Note that many of these do not require VPN to access.
Service
|
Requires VPN
|
| Appworx, AWA |
Yes |
| Acquia Dev |
Yes, full tunnel only |
| Banner |
VPN is strongly recommended for remote access to Banner |
| BennyBuy |
No |
| Box |
No |
| Canvas |
No |
| Citrix Apps |
No |
| CORE |
No, but VPN required for Tableau, Jaspersoft and strongly recommended when accessing PII/PHI/Confidential Data |
| CN-Share, CN-Home |
Yes, but MyCN allows access to CN-Share and CN-Home without VPN |
| DocuSign |
No |
| Email (Exchange or Gmail) |
No |
| EmpCenter |
No |
| GRS (Grant Reporting System) |
Yes |
| Hyland Onbase |
Web-based: No
Hyland Client: Yes
|
| JasperSoft (within CORE) |
Yes |
| Kaltura, MediaSpace |
No |
| MyDegrees |
No, but advisors should use VPN |
| MyOregonState and OSU Online Services |
No, but some links within MyOregonState require VPN |
| MyOregonState online dashboard |
No, but some links within MyOregonState require VPN |
| Microsoft Office 365 |
No |
| Microsoft Teams |
No |
| MyCN |
No |
| Nolij |
Yes, but web-based Hyland does not require VPN |
| OSU Events Calendar (Localist) |
No |
| Qualtrics |
No |
| SalesForce |
No |
| Site Licensed Software Server |
Yes |
| TRES (Travel and Expense Reporting) |
No |
| Voicemail - Web Phone Manager |
No |
| Zoom |
No |
For assistance, contact the Service Desk.