Remote User Access to Systems
IMPORTANT NOTE: As of
3/23/2007, Cisco has not released a "non beta" version of their VPN client
software that is compatible with Microsoft's Windows
Vista operating system. A beta
version is being tested by WWU IT staff and will be made available to Vista
users when it has been established that, no
problems are associated with the install and that there are no security
issues.
Remote access to the University’s network, servers,
administrative applications, and all computer resources creates a special
security situation. Remote access includes the use of remote desktop control
tools such as XP’s Remote Access Sharing, VPN, and dial-up modem access. VPN access extends the wwu.edu network to
remote locations such as connecting
regional campuses. When an
employee uses remote access they must understand the following issues:
Because of necessary security measures, the following areas are not
permitted remote access: wireless connections, lab connections, public areas
and the student modem pool
Remote access will not be provided to all employees as a
default.
Please refer to the
Remote Access
Policy before requesting Remote Access.
To get remote access an employee must request that access (using the
“Remote Access
Request” E-sign Form") and have it
approved by the employee’s department head. [Once approved, ITS
would then turn on remote desktop sharing
for that employee's login ID.]
When accessing Western’s computer resources remotely the
employee is operating as an employee of the University. Appropriate
use is the same as if the employee was working in their office for the
University.
|
VPN ACCESS
Procedure to Request Individual User Access or Virtual Private Network
(VPN) access:
Standard (non-administrative faculty)
Provides access to WWU file servers and Outlook. Contact ATUS at
x3333 to request remote access.
Administrative
(Banner)
Submit an Administrative Remote Access Esign form to ADMCS:
https://west.wwu.edu/admcs/forms
Download the VPN software to your
home or remote machine:
http://west.wwu.edu/atus/helpdesk/vpn.shtml |
In addition to VPN, the Faculty/Staff
modem pool also provides remote access to administrative resources.
Faculty/Staff modem pool access must also be approved by the
employee’s department head. This is done when the employee submits the
“Faculty/Staff Modem Pool Access Request” E-sign Form to their department
head or supervisor. The
department head or supervisor then submits
the
Account
Application
Esign form
to ATUS.
Student employees are not permitted access to the
Faculty/Staff modem pool and are not normally authorized remote access to
departmental workstations. Departments that have a full-time employee
sharing the same workstation with a student employee should not as a rule,
authorize remote access to that workstation. If remote access to that
workstation is needed for a full-time employee then the student employee is
NOT to be provided their administrative (Banner) password.
Workstation security becomes even more important
when that workstation has remote desktop access activated. Departments should
configure department workstations as follows:
Require hardened passwords (8 characters without words
and with at least one number or special character)
Require password protection on the screen saver.
Please address any questions regarding Administrative Access to the ADMCS
Help Desk x4444.
Contact ADMCS:
E-mail
Send comments to: Bob Schneider,
Director ADMCS