A new service of Information Technology Services will provide security for UWindsor students and employees connecting to any network or public WiFi. For the first time, IT Services is providing a virtual private network (VPN) client that supports both Windows and macOS computers and laptops.

The new client, GlobalProtect, is available immediately, so people can make use of it over the holidays, and will work in more locations than the previous client. VPN is a technology that allows computers from around the world to connect to the University network securely. Its use is industry best-practice to secure remote workers.

GlobalProtect is authenticated using a UWin account, so that only the University community can use it, and is encrypted, so that no one can eavesdrop on your activity. Connecting to the VPN allows you to access most digital services just like you were using your computer on campus.

Since all VPN traffic is run through the campus firewalls, users get the same protection on their laptops wherever they are (e.g. a coffee shop or hotel) from threats on the web as their workstations on campus do.

Download instructions are available in the Knowledge Base article. Installation is easy and straightforward. The client also has an auto-update feature, so that IT Services can provide users with the newest and most reliable version.