Setting up and using GlobalProtect VPN for Windows

VPN provides you with secure access to University services and the Internet when you are off campus. Northwestern is transitioning to a new VPN platform called GlobalProtect. GlobalProtect replaces three existing VPN clients: built-in VPN clients, Cisco AnyConnect, and Pulse Secure SSL VPN. For details on the transition, see https://www.it.northwestern.edu/about/it-projects/vpn-migration-2019/overview.html. If you are a member of the Feinberg School of Medicine, you will continue to use your Windows VPN client.

The portal address for GlobalProtect is vpn-connect.northwestern.edu.

GlobalProtect requires you to authenticate with your NetID and NetID password and Duo multi-factor authentication. If you need to register a phone for multi-factor authentication, see https://kb.northwestern.edu/mfa.

Northwestern IT is aware of VPN access issues from China. We tried implementing workarounds by changing our VPN public IP. However, within a few days of these workarounds Northwestern VPN was blocked again by the Chinese telecommunications agency. At the present time, we cannot provide a solution to using Northwestern VPN in China because the Chinese telecommunications agency continually searches for and blocks Northwestern VPN servers. We have heard anecdotally from some people that using a third party VPN service has worked for them, but we cannot confirm which, if any services, will work.

If your University-owned computer is managed by your department, you may not need to set up GlobalProtect. If you see the GlobalProtect icon () in your system tray, skip the set-up instructions and go directly to connect to GlobalProtect.