New Web-Based VPN Provides Remote Network Access
Are you a school or departmental system administrator looking for a more secure way to provide access to restricted network resources? Consider using Secure Sockets Layer Virtual Private Network (SSL VPN), the next generation of VPN service on campus. SSL VPN launched in July 2007 and now has 30 distinct groups and more than a hundred unique users across campus.
SSL VPN works much like traditional VPN but utilizes an extra level of security. Using a standard web browser, SSL VPN allows users to remotely access restricted network resources via a secure and authenticated pathway by encrypting all network traffic and giving the appearance that the user is on the local network, regardless of geographic location. All communications between the remote system and the NU Network takes places using HTTPS, which is a secure encrypted way of communicating over the Internet.
For example, if a department has a server with sensitive information behind a firewall that only allows access to the server from certain locations, and there is a need to allow access from off campus:
- Standard VPN allows access only through the subnet, which contains a range of pathways into the network. Subnet access allows anyone with a valid NetID to access the server, which is a security risk.
- SSL VPN allows school or department system administrators to assign a known group or individual a secure pathway into the network known as an IP address. The firewall can be configured to only allow that specific IP address or pathway. The group or individual is the only user who can access the server, which is a much more secure connection.
In addition to the new web-based SSL VPN application, the NU VPN client continues to be available to PC and Mac users from the NUIT Website. Find out more about SSL VPN on the NUIT Web site.
