University of Southern California

ITS Information Technology Services

A division of the Office of the Chief Information Officer

VPN Frequently Asked Questions

What is Virtual Private Network (VPN)?
VPN, also called IP tunneling, is a secure method of accessing USC computer resources. While connected to the Internet, it allows you to connect to USC and get a USC IP address using your USC username and password.

When will I need to use the VPN Client?
If you want to use wireless to connect to the USC Network or if you want to connect to USC restricted resources from your own ISP, you will need to use the VPN client.

Can I use it with any ISP?
You should be able to use the VPN Client over any ISP that allows IP tunneling and whose web browsers do not require a proxy. To confirm, please contact your ISP.

How can I pass through a firewall with the VPN client?
Please visit the following webpage for more information: Cisco Firewall web page.

What are the VPN Group Authentication Profiles for USC networks?

Last updated:
November 02, 2009

VPN Documentation

The use of all USC computing resources is governed by the USC Computing Policies.