VPN Application Usage

Access without VPN

Examples of internal resources you can access without VPN:

• Colleague Self Service & Web Advisor
• Cloud-based applications (e.g. Canvas, PsychData, Service Center/Technology Tickets, Panopto, etc.)
• Directory Search
• Email
• Google Hangouts Meet can be accessed from anywhere using Chrome browser. 
• Google Suite (e.g. Google Drive, Google Shared Drive, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Forms, Google Hangouts Meet, etc.)
• Office 365 applications such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, email, OneDrive can be accessed online for free.
• Oracle Cloud
• Panopto
• Portal
• RingCentral
• workflow.twu.edu (using https://workflow.twu.edu)
• Zoom

What To Do on TWU VPN

VPN (Virtual Private Network) is required to access TWU internal resources from external computers.

Examples of internal resources you can access directly from VPN:

• Colleague UI
• Internal Websites 
• OnBase Web Client
• Portal Tools (e.g. ID Query (new), Class Schedule)
• Proofpoint
• Remote Desktop (RDP) to your computer
• SQL Reports
• Terminal 4 (T4)
• X-Drive (Windows) (Mac)

Using Remote Desktop and VPN

Certain specialty applications may not function properly when used directly from VPN.  They will work when using Remote Desktop (RDP) to access them from a computer on TWU’s campus.  These include, but are not limited to:

• Files saved to a hard drive (e.g. C:\, desktop, downloads, My Documents, etc.) other than on X: drive or Google Drive.               
• Software installed on a hard drive that is not installed on the remote device (e.g. Adobe Creative, SPSS, etc.)
• Any applications that directly access a TWU database.
• Any database application, such as Microsoft Access or FoxPro.
• Accessing very large files directly from X: drive
• For assistance with Remote Desktop, see Connecting to a TWU desktop from off campus.

What Not To Do on TWU VPN

The amount of bandwidth used by cloud drive applications will negatively affect the performance of your VPN.  It is recommended that you turn these off for peak performance.  These include, but are not limited to applications such as DropBox and Microsoft OneDrive.

The performance of many real time communication tools will be negatively affected when using VPN.  This includes Google Hangouts Meet and Zoom.

Applications for concealing your identity on the internet such as Norton VPN, NordVPN, Express VPN and the like will cause problems with your VPN and need to be turned off or removed from your system for VPN to work properly.

Certain applications are prohibited while using VPN:

• Peer-to-peer file sharing (BitTorrent, uTorrent, BearShare, Limewire, Vuze, Ares, etc).
• Scanning tools and/or software used to detect and/or exploit vulnerabilities.
• Remote control software that allows remote control of the computer running the VPN.
• Streaming services (e.g. Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, Pandora, etc.)

For additional support, contact the Technology Service Desk at 940-898-3971, servicedesk@twu.edu,techchat.twu.edu, or submit a request through the Technology Service Catalog.