Secure SSL VPN - Mac OS X Usage Guide

 

Connecting to the Secure VPN

You will NOT be able to connect to the VPN while you are on campus, but you can install the AnyConnect from any location client following these instructions: 

Install the AnyConnect Client

  1. Open your internet browser (for example, Chrome, Safari, or Edge) and go to https://vpn.wellesley.edu
  2. Log in, when prompted, with your Wellesley credentials.
  3. It will detect your computer's operating system.  That might take a few minutes.
  4. Click to download the installer.
  5. When it finishes downloading, open the installer and install the software as you would any other, following on-screen instructions until it is complete.
  6. If you're on a Mac with a newer macOS version and see a "System Extension Blocked" or similar message, as with any similar installation on this OS:
    1. Go to System Preferences and click on the Security & Privacy icon.
    2. Go to the General tab. Click the lock at the bottom of the window to make changes, then click Allow.
  7. The installation may check for updates; this may take a few minutes and is normal.

Using the AnyConnect Client

  1. Launch the Cisco AnyConnect Client using one of the methods below:
    • Search for AnyConnect and launch the application
    • Go to your Applications folder, Cisco folder, and launch the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client.
  2. In the VPN: field, type  vpn.wellesley.edu/secure  and click Connect.
  3. Enter your Wellesley College username and password in the popup window and click OK.
  4. You are now connected to the Secure VPN. A globe with a lock will appear in the menu bar, and the AnyConnect icon in the dock will now have a lock next to it:
    • Menu bar icon:
    • Dock Icon:
       

Disconnecting from the Secure VPN
 

It is good practice to disconnect from the Secure VPN when you have finished using the secure resources, or before putting your computer to sleep.  This will speed up your internet connection for other non-secure activity, and keep the secure resources secure.

To disconnect from the Secure VPN, quit any applications using the secure resources, and then quit the Cisco AnyConnect Client. To quit the client, in the menu bar, click on the Cisco AnyConnect Client globe icon and select Quit. The client will first disconnect your computer from the Secure VPN and then quit the application. You may notice a brief interruption in your internet connection.