Article Intended For
Penn State faculty, staff, students, and affiliates who need a VPN to connect to secured Penn State resources.
Introduction
Use this document to find resources to assist with connecting to secured Penn State resources via the GlobalProtect Remote Access VPN (Virtual Private Network).
GlobalProtect replaced Cisco’s AnyConnect as the official University VPN on June 19, 2021.
Article Body
Penn State IT is committed to serving the mission of our University and to the protection of our critical resources. By downloading and installing the GlobalProtect Remote Access VPN according to the directions that best match your devices, you will maintain access to the secured Penn State resources you’ve used before. See the informational material below to help you get this critical access tool running on your computer or mobile device.
What is the GlobalProtect Remote Access VPN?
The GlobalProtect VPN creates a secure, private connection to the University network. When working remotely, a GlobalProtect VPN connection is required in order to access certain secured University resources, such as protected network storage drives, SIMBA, intranet sites, and secure enclaves. Some resources, such as secure enclaves, require a GlobalProtect VPN connection when working on campus as well.
If you are not sure whether you should use the VPN, please contact the Penn State IT Service Desk.
The GlobalProtect VPN provides an additional layer of security, but is not required and will not interfere, when accessing public-facing services such as www.psu.edu or Microsoft O365 email, SharePoint, OneDrive, etc.
Instructions for Downloading and Installing the GlobalProtect Remote Access VPN
- If you use a computer that allows you to install and uninstall programs on your own, use the following instructions:
KB0013419 - GlobalProtect Remote Access VPN: Windows OS KB0013420 - GlobalProtect Remote Access VPN: MacOS 10.x KB0016224 - GlobalProtect Remote Access VPN: MacOS 11.x KB0013424 - GlobalProtect Remote Access VPN: Linux OS KB0013422 - GlobalProtect Remote Access VPN: iOS KB0013423 - GlobalProtect Remote Access VPN: Android - If you use a computer that depends on local IT support to install and uninstall programs:
Please reach out to your local IT support staff or the Penn State IT Service Desk to have GlobalProtect installed on your device.
How to Get Help with the GlobalProtect Remote Access VPN
If you have questions or experience any difficulties, use any of the following methods to contact the IT Service Desk for help:
- Visit the IT Help Portal
- Call us at 814-865-HELP (4357)
- Email us at ITservicedesk@psu.edu