- March 20, 2020
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Valiant Technology - 3 min
Working remotely is great for flexibility and business continuity. One common way to access an office network and/or server while out of the office is using SonicWall Global VPN. This article details the steps to connecting and includes a few tips to get the most of your VPN connection.
Prerequisites
Before you begin you should have the Global VPN application installed on your computer. If you are a Valiant client and do not already have the application, you can open a ticket to get this installed.
You will need a working internet connection at your remote location.
You office should have set up VPN access previously and acquired the proper licences from SonicWall.
Creating the VPN connection
Creating this connection will be required for your first time connecting from your remote computer. Open the Global VPN application and run through the New Connection Wizard.
You will be prompted for the following information:
- IP Address: The IP Address of your companies VPN appliance
- Name: A descriptive name for this connection
- Example: CompanyName VPN Connection
- Pre-Shared Key: Unique identifier, provided by IT
- Your work username and password
When the wizard has completed, you will have the option to make a desktop shortcut for quick access in the future.
How to log in to your VPN
Now that your new connection is set up, you’ll want to log in. If not already open, launch the Global VPN application. You will see the connection you create. Make sure its selected and click enable.
You will once again be prompted for the connection information. The first prompt will be for your Pre-Shared Key. If you aren’t sure what that key is, check with your IT team. You may have to enter it twice as a security measure for this first connection, but after that it’s saved for future connections.
Next you will have to enter your user name and password. This should be your regular computer login for when you’re at the office. As before, if this is your first time you may have to enter the information twice.
Once you’ve entered your credentials correctly, you will then be connected to your office network.
Depending on your remote work setup, you can either connect to your office server or RDP to your desktop.
Additional VPN tips
- Expect to not have the same speed or responsiveness as when you are in the office, things will be noticeably slower.
- You should NOT work directly on the server.
- If you need to work on a file that lives on the server, you must copy/paste it to your local computer
- After making changes to said file, save it again on your local computer
- Once saved, copy/paste it back up to the server
- There is no need to be connected by VPN for the whole workday. In fact, if most of your office is working remotely, staying connected will cause speeds for everyone to slow painfully. Get the files you need and disconnect until its time to upload or you need more files.
- Make sure you install all security updates on your computer and have active anti-virus to protect your work network.
More of a visual learner? Check out our VPN best practices video. For more content on working remotely visit https://thevaliantway.com/remote-work-resource-center.
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