Setting up VPN on the Mac

VPN Access has changed in September 2021

This page will provide instructions to setting up a VPN connection on the Mac (OS X and above)

THIS SERVICE IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF CASE, CEP, CVER, POID and STICERD BASED AT THE LSE.

What is VPN?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows your computer or mobile device to behave as if it is connected directly to the LSE network enabling SECURE remote access to your networked drives (J: or Z: space)

Before you begin

• You will need to be a member of LSE with an LSE email account.
• You will need to have Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enabled for your LSE account.
• The VPN connection is managed by Pulse Secure software: If you have already installed Pulse Secure before, you will need to remove the old VPN settings and connections.

How to remove the old VPN settings and connections:

1. Open Pulse Secure
2. Right click on any existing connections and select Delete:

   

3. Close Pulse Secure

Fill in the Data and Technology Services (DTS) form to gain VPN access

1. Even if you had VPN access before, from September 2021 you will need to fill in the LSE Data and Technology Services (DTS) form to access LSE (and RLAB) resources via VPN.
2. The form is available at https://link.lse.ac.uk/VPNRequest

   

3. You will have to confirm ...
   1. you need VPN to access resources
   2. your device has a supported operating system and is up-to-date with the latest security patches
   3. you have Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enabled on your account
   4. what resources you require the VPN for. (Select RLAB resources.)
4. Once you have submitted the form, you will receive a confirmation email. Please wait up to 60 minutes before proceeding to install the latest version of Pulse Secure to access VPN

Installing new Pulse Secure (from September 2021)

Installation instructions:

1. Point your browser to https://vpn.lse.ac.uk/pulse
2. You will be directed to the Pulse Secure page to begin the installation process. Click Start.

   

3. You will be prompted to sign in using your LSE email and password.

   

4. You will be prompted to approve the sign in using Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

   

5. The Pulse Secure Application Launcher page will appear.

   A .dmg file should start to download. If not, click on the blue Download button on the page.

   

   Save and open the downloaded .dmg file. Run the extracted .mpkg file.

   

6. The Pulse Secure Application Launcher will be installed.

   

7. The installer will begin automatically. (If not, return to https://vpn.lse.ac.uk/pulse and press start again.) You will be prompted to open the launcher. Click Open PulseApplicationLauncher.

   

8. Your computer will prompt for confirmation to open PulseApplicationLauncher. Click Open.

   

9. The Pulse Secure Application Launcher will ask to execute and install the Pulse Secure which will manage the VPN connection. Click Yes.

   

10. It can take a minute, but eventually you will see the progress dialog box.

    

11. To finish the installation, your Mac will prompt for your Mac computer Username and Password .

    

12. The first time after installation, Pulse Secure will automatically open and connect to LSE VPN.

    

13. Now you are ready to connect to your J: or Z: drive
14. When you have finished accessing your LSE or RLAB resources, click on the Disconnect button on the Pulse Secure dialog box.
15. Please note, every time you connect to VPN again you will be prompted to sign in with your LSE email and password and approve the sign in with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
16. To connect to VPN click on the Pulse Secure icon on the menu bar.

    

17. Click on the icon and select SA (vpn.lse.ac.uk/pulse). Then click on Connect.

    

18. You will be prompted to sign in using your LSE email and password.

    

19. You will be prompted to approve the sign in using Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

    

20. You will see a successful connection in the menu bar.