University of Otago VPN

The University of Otago's VPN service allows you to contact the University's computer network from off-campus and from most locations around the world.

Do you need to use VPN?

The majority of the University’s teaching-related and some administrative applications/services are available directly from the internet so you don’t need to use the VPN service to access these.

The following systems are available directly through a web browser without the need to use the VPN:

• Blackboard
• Echo360
• Email
• eVision
• ITS Corporate Applications (e.g. Blackboard Staff and Capture Administration)
• Library E-resources
• Microsoft 365
• Moodle (Health Sciences)
• Staff Web Kiosk
• Zoom

The VPN service is required for off-campus access to:

• Applications and services that are only available when connected to the University of Otago network on-campus (e.g. Business Objects, Finance One, HR Back Office, OURDrive)
• Files and shared folders on the High Capacity Storage (HCS) service (e.g. your S:/ or U:/ drive). See the related article: Connecting to shared drives (HCS, U drive)
• Your work computer in your University of Otago office or lab

Visitors to the University

The Otago University VPN service does not provide access for guests and visitors to the University. When on campus, visitors can access wireless services via eduroam or UO_Guest

Accessing the VPN

University of Otago staff usernames and external usernames of the type "CFI" are automatically enabled to access the VPN service.

If you are a student and have a University of Otago username, you are automatically enabled to use the VPN service.

Your computer or mobile devices use the eduVPN client software to connect to the University of Otago's VPN service from off-campus:

Installing and connecting to eduVPN