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A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows remote computers to transfer data over a secure, encrypted tunnel through a public (and presumably insecure) network. For example, you should use a VPN to securely check your email over the University's wireless network. As long as the VPN is in use, your computer functionally becomes a part of the Denison University network, no matter where you are. Hence the 'virtual private' aspect of the network. 

Check out the VPN tutorials to learn the basics on how to use a VPN.

The VPN is supported only on Denison owned computers. Members of the Denison community are permitted to use the VPN software on their personally owned computers at their own risk. Support for the software is not offered for personally owned computers. Should you have any questions regarding the VPN services please contact the helpdesk at x6395 or email helpdesk@denison.edu.

There are three primary situations in which a VPN should be used.

Using the campus Wireless network Because wireless networks are inherently insecure, it is strongly recommended that you use a VPN anytime you're using a wireless network. This will help ensure that your data is safe while traveling across the open and insecure wireless network.

Accessing University servers and services from home The Internet is composed of many thousands of smaller networks joined together to form one large public network. As data travels between your home computer and a University owned server across the Internet, it passes through many of these networks, many of which are not secure. Using the VPN creates a layer of security between your data and the networks that it may cross.

Accessing University servers and services from other places Even if you're at another school, business, or convention whose security policies are well defined and enforced, using a VPN for sensitive data is important, because your data must travel across the insecure Internet to get back to campus.

You should not use a VPN when you simply wish to surf the web for public or non-sensitive information or when you are plugged directly into the campus' wired data network.

Check out the WebVPN tutorial to learn the basics.

Clientless offering can be thought of as 'VPN Lite' or 'Diet VPN.' It is allows for basic connectivity to university-owned, web based resources from off-campus without requiring any software to be installed on the remote computer. It is ideal for those not wishing to install the VPN client on their computer, working from a public terminal (for example: at a public library or public kiosk at a convention), or whose primary interest is in accessing web-based resources from off-campus. WebVPN is not applicable for remote access to Novell share drives, printers, deliverd applications, or any other non-web based service.

To use a clientless VPN, the user browses to the secure WebVPN page, and signs in with a username and password. Once the individual has successfully signed in, they will be presented with a webpage that allows them to enter any website address, as well as a few commonly used links to Denison web-based resources, such as the Denison Library's on-line journals. As long as the individual stays signed into the VPN webpage, all web pages they visit will be encrypted between their computer and the VPN webpage. Once the individual is done with their VPN session, log out. No special software is needed to be installed, and for most computers, no changes need to be made to the web browser.

The client-based VPN is a full-featured VPN offering, which requires a software client to be installed on the individual's computer. This client establishes the secure and encrypted tunnel between your computer and the campus network through any public networks. It first encrypts data, then sends it back to the Denison VPN concentrator, which decrypts the data, and sends it on its way, be it on to 'On-Campus only' library resources like OhioLink or the rest of the Internet.

Client based VPN is ideal for individuals using broadband internet connections who want "application" level access in addition to web based resources. For example, certain Novell pushed applications may be made available through this service. This kind of access will require users to meet a minimum level of hardware and software requirements greater than those required for web-based VPN access. Details on these requirements will be published here once final testing of the VPN service is complete.

VPN clients are available for both Windows XP and Macintosh OS X platforms. Click here to install a VPN client.

Windows Computing Services offers a client for Microsoft Windows Computers called NetDrive (login required) that allows Windows users to access their Novell U: and S: drives from on or off campus using a thin client. NetDrive does not require the VPN Client to work and is the recommended way for users to access Novell Drives from off campus.

Macintosh Users with Macintosh computers should use the VPN Client to remotely access the network and then connect to their Novell drives as though they were on campus.