Requirement for users to get GI VPN access

Before you are allowed access to our firewalled/secure area ("Prism"), you have to complete 3 items and provide the completed certificates or forms:

1: You must take and complete the NIH Public Security Refresher Course online. You must complete the course in a single continuous sitting:

https://irtsectraining.nih.gov/public.aspx

Click on the "Enter Public Training Portal" near the bottom of the page. The course is titled "2022 Information Security, Insider Threats, Privacy Awareness, Records Management and Emergency Preparedness Refresher". At the end you will be able to save the completion certificate that should have your name on it.

2: You need to sign the Genomics Institute VPN User Agreement (digital signature OK), located here for download:

Media:GI_VPN_Policy.pdf

3: Please read and sign the last page of the NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy agreement (digital signature OK), located here for download. By signing the document you agree that you have read and understand the policies described therein and that you agree to abide by those policies:

Media:NIH_GDS_Policy.pdf

When you have the three documents described above ready, please complete this form: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/a76dbd90ba0240ab9ea9d39b390586ce.

There are two parts in this process.

1. For the user, please fill in ALL required fields and attach all three required documents described above. The form then goes to your PI for approval - remind them to approve it, or it won't get sent to us for processing!

2. For the Sponsor/PI - you will receive an email from Smartsheets. Please fill in all required fields and submit.

We will receive your completed request and we will create your account, then you will receive a welcome email with instructions on how to configure your VPN and gain access to our systems.

When using the VPN software off-campus, it will usually work unless the wireless network you are on has restrictions preventing it from functioning. Some other universities have such restrictions (notably UCSF), but most other wireless network and home wireless networks should work fine.

For Windows, please download and install OpenVPN Client from https://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/downloads.html. Select openvpn-install-x.x.x-xxxx.exe

For Ubuntu, please install network-manager-openvpn by typing:

sudo apt-get install network-manager-openvpn network-manager-openvpn-gnome

PLEASE NOTE: Because of the overhead required in setting up VPN access, please only request access if you have an immediate need to work on data that exists behind the firewall. We have had a decent number of people request access and go through the setup but then never use it. In other words, please do not request access because "one day you might need it", but because you do actually need it!

ALSO NOTE: VPN accounts typically expire after one year from the date of first gaining access. To renew for another year you will need your PI/sponsor to send us a note asking for renewal.