GlobalProtect VPN Upgrade - April 30
Posted Date: April 11, 2024
Northwestern IT is upgrading GlobalProtect, the University’s Virtual Private Network (VPN), this month. The upgrade addresses security vulnerabilities and aligns the University with the vendor’s upgrade window recommendations. The GlobalProtect application will include an updated interface to improve user experience.
Users can self-upgrade starting Tuesday, April 16, at 7:30 a.m. Starting on this date, users logging in to GlobalProtect will receive a pop-up window prompting them to upgrade. Northwestern IT encourages completing the upgrade when prompted. Once initiated, the upgrade process takes a few minutes to complete. Users should be aware that the process will disconnect any in-use VPN sessions, and they will need to reconnect once the upgrade is complete.
The upgrade process becomes mandatory on Tuesday, April 30, at 7:30 a.m. GlobalProtect will require all users to download and install the new client the next time they initiate a VPN connection.
User Impact
- Mac users running macOS Mojave or older may experience issues connecting to the updated GlobalProtect client. As a reminder, Northwestern IT does not support Mojave and older Mac operating systems.
- Users will notice a refreshed login screen. However, functionality is not changed.
Information for Technical Support Staff
Northwestern IT does not recommend pushing out GlobalProtect updates via KACE or JAMF. These updates do not occur at a specific time, and a managed push to deliver the change will disconnect in-use GlobalProtect sessions, disrupting connected users’ in-process work.
Support Contact
If you encounter issues connecting to GlobalProtect after the upgrade, please contact the Northwestern IT Service Desk at consultant@northwestern.edu or 847-491-4357 (1-HELP).