VPN (Virtual Private Network) access allows faculty and staff to securely access Mercer networks from remote locations. Only current employees of Mercer University may request a VPN account. VPN connections are only to be used from Mercer owned and managed computer systems.
In this section:
Gaining Permission for VPN Access
Faculty and staff must formally request VPN access by submitting a completed VPN Registration Form. Requests must be approved by the employee’s dean or director, the IT network manager, and the chief technology officer. Allow at least five days for approval and setup of the account. Once the account is established, the IT Help Desk will provide instructions for accessing the network remotely.
Installing Required VPN Software
To install Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client, the software necessary to connect via VPN:
- Visit https://vpn.mercer.edu from an off campus location (cannot connect or complete install from on campus).
- Type your username and password (same as for logging into your computer) in the Username and Password fields.
- Select Faculty/Staff from the Group drop-down menu.
- Click Login. Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client will begin installing on your computer. You may have to install the ActiveX Control during the installation.
- After this initial setup, you can run the software from your PC without having to go to the website above. To do so, click the Start button and look in your program list for the Cisco folder, and run the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client.
- When the following window opens, click the Connect button.
- Log in using the same username and password you use to log in to your computer.
You will only need to complete this software installation process once. To access VPN in the future, see “Using VPN Access” below.
Using VPN Access
To use VPN access:
- Open Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client.
- Select or type vpn.mercer.edu as the network you would like to connect to.
- Click the Connect button.
- Type your username and password (same as for logging into your computer) in the Username and Password fields.
- Click the OK button.
If you have trouble connecting via VPN client or locating the desired network resources, contact the IT Help Desk.