Why use VPN?
VPN, virtual private network, allows students, faculty, and staff to work productively and securely from remote locations. Students, faculty, and staff can remotely access campus services by connecting to GVSU's Ivanti Secure Access VPN (Formerly Pulse Secure). Allows access to campus services that are blocked from off campus.
When to Use?
Windows Computers
- GVSU owned Windows 10 computers have DirectAccess and will not need the VPN for most off-campus system access. There are a few exceptions where VPN is needed for staff who have high privilege access to GVSU data.
- Non GV owned Windows device will require VPN to access services that are blocked from internet.
Mac Computers
- Mac Computers will need VPN to access network files from off campus.
Procedure
- Access https://gvsoftware.gvsu.edu webpage. Click on Staff Files, Student Files or Public Files, as appropriate.

2. Click on the option that matches your computer's operating system: Mac, Windows x64 (64-bit), Red Hat/CentOS, or Ubuntu/Debian. This should start the download.

3. Once download has finished. Click on the file to open the installer. Follow the prompts to install the software on your machine.
Below picture is example from installation on Windows machine.

4. When installation completed, open the Ivanti Secure Access Client App.

5. Add a connection by selecting the + symbol to create a connection. Enter a name for the connections and enter the appropriate server url. Then click Add.
- Faculty and Staff VPN = https://vpn.gvsu.edu
- Student VPN = https://vpn.student.gvsu.edu

6. You will now see the connection you created. Click on Connect to start VPN connection. You will be prompted for your GVSU User Name and Password.

7. Faculty and Staff will be prompted to enter a secondary password. This is required for DUO Multifactor Authentication. You may use the six digit code found in the DUO Mobile App, the words "push", "sms". or "phone". It is recommended to use the six digit code or "push". See knowledge base article What is a Secondary Password for more information .
Student VPN does not prompt for secondary password.

8. After it validates you should see a green check mark icon next to Disconnect button. Also, will say connected under the connection name. You are now successfully connected to the GVSU VPN. Select disconnect to disconnect vpn.

Please contact the IT Service Desk at (616) 331-2101 or it@gvsu.edu if you have any trouble connecting to the VPN.