Installing and Accessing the Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection through Cisco AnyConnect

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates a secure, encrypted connection between your off-campus device and the Hamilton College network. This connection allows your computer to function as if it were physically on campus, enabling access to key resources such as:

• Remote desktop access to on-campus machines

• Network drive folders

• Citrix Workspace applications

To use VPN, Hamilton members must first be granted VPN access and then install the Cisco AnyConnect application on their devices.

The instructions on this page will guide you through installing the VPN client on your device and connecting to VPN.

 Instructions

Installation Instructions:

1. Open a web browser.

2. In the location box, type https://outside.hamilton.edu.

3. In the login dialog box:

   1. Select the appropriate group option: For Hamilton employees, select Hamilton College.

   2. Enter your Hamilton username (do not include @hamilton.edu).

   3. Enter your password and Duo will automatically send a push notification to your phone. Alternatively, you can use the 6-digit PIN from a Duo hardware token or generated by the Duo mobile app with your password (e.g. mypassword,555555 - omit spaces before or after the comma).

   4. Click Login.

4. In the Network Access Warning window, click Continue to proceed.

5. Click Start AnyConnect to proceed to the VPN client download.

6. Click the blue Download button to start the download.

7. Run the downloaded file to install Cisco AnyConnect VPN client on your computer.

Connecting and Disconnecting:

1. To start a VPN connection, search for the Cisco Secure client in the Start menu and launch it (The Help Desk recommends pinning it to your taskbar or Start menu for ease of access).

2. The Cisco Secure Client will open. Enter outside.hamilton.edu and click Connect.

3. Enter your Hamilton username.

4. Enter your password and Duo will automatically send a push notification to your phone. Alternatively, you can use the 6 digit pin from a Duo hardware token or generated by the Duo mobile app with your password (e.g. mypassword,555555 - omit spaces before or after the comma).

5. Click OK to continue.

6. A dialog window with a warning against unauthorized use will appear. Click Accept on this window.

7. At this point, you will be connected to all of your normal Hamilton College network resources via VPN. You can confirm this by hovering over the VPN icon in your taskbar notifications area and viewing the message indicating that the VPN client is connected.

 More information

If you have yet to apply for VPN access, please request access this link: VPN Access Request. Once your request has been approved you can continue following the steps we have provided.