We strongly recommend that everyone installs the VPN and encrypts their laptops, regardless of whether it is a personal or JHU purchased laptop. Laptops with OS X, Windows 7/8/10 Pro and Enterprise can easily turn on encryption. On OS X it is in the Security System Preferences under FileVault. On Windows it is called BitLocker.

The JHU VPN provides a secure connection to the Johns Hopkins campus network when off-campus. The VPN can be used to connect from home or a remote location to access applications, websites, files, etc. that are only available when on the Johns Hopkins campus. The VPN is not needed to access your Exchange Email, Virtual Desktop, SharePoint, or Lync. It is also useful when traveling abroad to safeguard your internet use while on unknown Wi-Fi access points. See International Travel Recommendations.

Installation information can be found here: http://www.it.johnshopkins.edu/restricted/network/VPN/VPNInstructionalVideos
We recommend choosing the ‘VPN Client Access (Access includes Web VPN and VPN Mobile App)’ option on the VPN request page.

Faculty and Teaching Assistants – FERPA

Student information, including grades, is protected information under FERPA. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law designed to protect the privacy of a student’s education record and prohibits the university from disclosing information from those records without the written consent of the student.

Therefore it is strongly recommended that TA’s and Faculty encrypt their laptops if their OS allows it. Please contact us (pha-help@jhu.edu or stop by Bloomberg 241) if you have any difficulties doing this.

More information about FERPA can be found here: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/registrar/students/student-privacy-ferpa/ Particularly the section labeled “I’m a Johns Hopkins staff member. What are my responsibilities under FERPA?”

Updated 11/16/2017