A VPN is a secured private network connection built on top of publicly accessible infrastructure. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a private network constructed across a public network such as the Internet.

The data sent is encrypted so the network is "virtually" private. The VPN provides an alternative to using the proxy server for remote access to campus resources as well as a secure method to authenticate to the campus wireless network. VPN Service offers you anonymous web surfing but this does not mean that you can ignore network laws. Such illegal actions as spam, hack, scan, etc. are strictly prohibited by our VPN Service. However, using our VPN Service you can review adult sites and download music or movies from p2p newtworks and bypass any restrictions to view any site.

The VPN will allow you to use services that are normally restricted to machines physically located inside the department from the wireless network or off-campus. The most common uses are to provide encryption for wireless communication, enabling SMB-mounting UNIX filesystems on windows laptops or home computers, or authenticating to the department to allow use of departmental network software licenses.

Administrative VPN Service:
The Admin VPN Service is for administrative staff and faculty at the UofC. Staff with VPN client software, a SecurID card and password, and valid IT account can access this service. Once connected, the user can access other secured University of Calgary resources such as financial and adminstrative data services. Information Technologies (IT) uses Nortel technology for its VPN services. Nortel provides software called Contivity VPN Client for Windows with its hardware. IT distributes the Admin VPN client software already preconfigured for the UofC and free of charge.

General VPN Service:
The General VPN Service is for all users at the UofC. Anyone with VPN client software and a valid IT account can access this service. Information Technologies (IT) uses Nortel technology for its VPN services. Nortel provides software called Contivity VPN Client for Windows with its hardware. IT distributes this Windows client software preconfigured for the UofC and free of charge.