VPN Service at Penn State
Penn State University offers VPN service. VPN, an acronym for virtual private network, is a secure, encrypted network connection. In addition to encryption, a VPN uses other security mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users access the network and that the data is secure.
There are several reasons why the use of a VPN is a good idea. These include the following:
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To secure all of your traffic between Penn State and your remote connection. Please note that this does not apply to connections made from your third-party Internet service provider (ISP) to a non .psu.edu domain. (Example: A connection from your third-party ISP, such as AOL, to abcnews.com.)
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To access Penn State resources that are restricted to Penn State IP addresses. When you use a VPN, you are assigned a Penn State IP address which allows you to connect to certain Penn State services and resources. (Some Penn State services and resources, such as library services, require you to connect with a Penn State IP address.) In a manner of speaking, a VPN lets you make a connection via a third-party ISP cable modem, dial-up, or DSL as if you were "on campus."
For information about the VPN service, see the Penn State Anywhere web site. For instructions on how to establish a connection via the VPN, please refer to the guide, Using Penn State's Virtual Private Network (VPN).