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September 21, 2005 [Number 233]     Printable Version Printable version (523KB PDF)     Download Adobe Reader    Please note that this issue of Interface is an archived issue. Therefore, the information contained in each article may no longer be current.

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Ask the NIH Help Desk

About Virtual Private Network (VPN) accounts and passwords

Q: What is a VPN used for?

A: VPN allows you to use an existing third-party Internet Service Provider to connect to the NIH network so you can do your government work from an off-site location.

Q: I have a tough time remembering my password for my Virtual Private Network (VPN) Account so I saved it at the logon window. It asked me for the password recently and I needed to have it reset because I forgot it. What happened?

A: Do not save your password when logging into VPN. If you save the password, you tend to forget it over time. What we see happen often is that when an upgrade to the VPN software is deployed, the saved password information is deleted and a password reset is required because the password was forgotten. Also, it is generally not a good practice to save passwords as they are intended, by nature, to provide security. If you have installed VPN on your home computer, doing so makes it all too easy for someone with access to that machine to connect to the NIH network and its secure resources.

Q: VPN is just one more password to remember. Is there any way that I don’t have to remember all these different passwords?

A: In an effort to consolidate passwords (and comply with HHS security requirements) at the NIH, VPN (as well as the NIH Parachute dial-up protocol) is migrating from its legacy system to a new accounting system that uses your NIH Login credentials. These are the same credentials that most NIH employees use to access most common systems like their network, NIH Portal and email. This switch to using a much more frequently used password should lessen the requirement to reset a forgotten password.

Q: How do I know if my account credentials are the same as my credentials that I use to access my e-mail?

A: All accounts that were created after June 1st, 2005 use the NIH Login credentials.

Q: I have an account that I have had much longer than June 1st, 2005. Will I be switched over to using the NIH Login credentials?

A: Yes, your account will be migrated to the new system. The logistics are currently being worked out and a complete Account Migration FAQ section is now posted at the Remote Access site (look in the upper-right hand corner of the page under “What’s New” for more information).

 
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