Northwood Tech VPN - Staff

Overview

This article explains how Northwood Tech employees can connect to the FortiClient VPN so they can securely access college network resources while working remotely or from an off-campus location.

Prerequisites

Before connecting to the VPN, ensure you have:

• An active Northwood Tech employee account.
• FortiClient VPN installed on your device.
• An internet connection.
• Your Northwood Tech ID number and password.
• Authorization to access the Northwood Tech VPN.

Instructions

Connect to VPN

1.  Click the ^ on the right side of your taskbar.
2. Click the Green Shield (FortiClient).
3. Click Open FortiClient Console.
4. Enter your 8-digit ID number.
   Enter your MyCampus password.
   Click Connect.

Troubleshooting

1. Unable to Connect to the VPN
   • Verify you have an active internet connection.
   • Confirm you are using your current Northwood Tech username and password.
   • Ensure you have completed the Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) prompt.
   • Restart FortiClient and try connecting again.
   • Restart your computer if the issue persists.
      
2. Invalid Username or Password
   • Verify you are entering your Northwood Tech username and password correctly.
   • If you recently changed your password, ensure you are using the new password.
   • If you have forgotten your password, use the Password Reset service or contact the Service Desk for assistance.
      
3. FortiClient Will Not Open or Crashes
   • Close FortiClient completely and reopen the application.
   • Restart your computer.
   • Verify you are using the Northwood Tech-approved version of FortiClient.
   • If the issue continues, reinstall FortiClient or contact the Service Desk.
      
4. Connected to VPN but Unable to Access Resources
   • Disconnect from the VPN and reconnect.
   • Verify the resource you are trying to access requires a VPN connection.
   • Ensure your internet connection is stable.
   • If only one application or network resource is unavailable, the issue may be with that service rather than the VPN.
      
5. Slow VPN Performance
   • Verify your home internet connection is stable.
   • Disconnect and reconnect to the VPN.
   • Close unnecessary applications that may be consuming bandwidth.
   • If performance issues continue, try connecting from another network if available.
     
      

Need Additional Assistance?

If you continue to experience issues connecting to the FortiClient VPN, contact the Northwood Tech Service Desk for assistance. Include any error messages or screenshots, along with the steps you have already attempted, to help expedite troubleshooting.