Installing and Using VPN on a Mac
Summary
VPN (Virtual Private Network) is used to access internal Bethel systems from off-campus. For resources that require on-campus network connection, such as Argos and Banner, VPN will make your computer act as though it is on the Bethel network, protecting information you are accessing from the outside. It also allow you to connect to your personal U drive and departmental drives.
This article gives instructions on installing and using VPN on macOS computers. If any issues occur during the steps that are not covered below, please contact the ITS Help Desk for assistance.
Installing VPN
Open a web browser on your Bethel computer and navigate to https://vpn.bethel.edu.
If you are currently connected to on-site Wi-Fi at Bethel, you will need to navigate to https://vpn-setup.bethel.edu. The same webpage below will load, but you will be unable to follow the Using VPN steps below to connect to VPN until you are off-site and disconnected from Bethel’s network.
The webpage that loads will prompt you to click Logon to redirect through the standard Bethel sign-in prompts. This will include entering your Bethel email address, your Bethel password, and completing a Microsoft Authenticator MFA prompt.
After the sign-in steps are complete, the webpage will prompt you to click Continue as an acceptance of Bethel’s Responsible Use Policy, which can be viewed here: https://betheluniversity.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ITSKB/pages/50017185
After continuing, a Cisco screen will load for the AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client download & install. Click the blue Download for macOS button to begin the file download.
Your Mac may also ask where you would like to save the file.
Locate and double-click to open the downloaded file in the folder you chose to save it in. By default, this is likely your Downloads folder in the Finder app.
Double-click the box icon for the downloaded file to open the installation wizard in a new pop-up window. Complete the installation prompts by clicking Continue through each step in the bottom-right of the window.
Upon completion of the installation prompts, you should be able to proceed to the below steps for Using VPN.
Using VPN
Open the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client application on your computer. It can be found by clicking the Apps icon on the Dock of apps at the bottom of your desktop home screen, or it may already be pinned to the Dock.
If the VPN address is not already filled-in within the text box underneath Ready to connect, enter vpn.bethel.edu, as shown below. Then click Connect.
Immediately, two new windows should open, as shown below. Enter your Bethel email address into the text box where it says someone@bethel.edu under the text for Sign in. Click Next to proceed.
Note: If you use an email alias, formatted such as firstinitial-lastname@bethel.edu, the sign-in here will require the active email address of your Bethel account. Enter your alias email address if that is your active email address.
Enter your Bethel account password in the text box where it says Password under the text for Enter password. Click Sign in to proceed.
A Microsoft Authenticator prompt will appear. This will either result in a push notification to the Microsoft Authenticator app on your mobile phone or a text message to your registered phone number. For additional information about Microsoft Authenticator MFA (multi-factor authentication) methods, see the Confluence articles for Microsoft Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator Phone Call/Text.
After the MFA request is approved, the pop-up window should close and a new window should open requiring that you accept the Responsible Use Policy. Click Accept to proceed.
The VPN connection should be complete. The Cisco AnyConnect app should appear as shown below.