New VPN service available to all staff

To: All Staff

To strengthen remote access security to PolyU internal applications and data from locations outside campus, a new VPN service has been made available to selected users for trial use in late March 2021. With positive feedbacks received from trial users, the new VPN service is now opening to all staff. The New VPN service provides more concurrent VPN sessions capacity as well as the following benefits.

Simplified VPN profiles
Prevailing VPN profiles for different types of users have been consolidated and simplified. Staff VPN profile, which applies to all PolyU staff, will be used to access various internal applications and shared document folders from non-campus network.

Uplifted security
To strengthen remote access security, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) will be applied when using the new VPN service. Other than login with valid NetID and NetPassword, staff will need to use one-time access code generated by the ‘Microsoft Authenticator’ app installed on mobile phone before being granted VPN connection.

Colleagues can read the user operation guide from the following link, and follow the procedures to download and install the authenticator mobile app and new VPN client software (Global Protect VPN client software) before using the new VPN service.

Click here for the operation guide for Staff VPN

For ease of transition to the new VPN service, both new VPN and the existing Pulse Secure VPN service will be running in parallel in April and May. The existing Pulse Secure VPN service will be retired after 28 May 2021.

Should you need further information, please contact the IT HelpCentre at 2766-5900.