Connecting to the UIS VPN on a MacOS Device

Owned by Kris Morton

Last updated: Oct 03, 2024 by Jyoti Tanpure

3 min read

This is a simplified version of the UIS VPN Setup guide to connect to the UIS VPN on macOS (Ventura or Sonoma), which can be found here https://help.uis.cam.ac.uk/service/network-services/remote-access/uis-vpn/macos

Start by creating a UIS Network Access Token, using the token page https://tokens.uis.cam.ac.uk/ in the same way as you create a Eduroam Token. Keep the details on screen to copy into the setup below.
Download the VPN Configuration Profile from the UIS Guide Page https://help.uis.cam.ac.uk/service/network-services/remote-access/uis-vpn/macos
Go to System Settings and search for Profiles

Double-click on the Cambridge VPN in the downloaded section
In the window that opens, click on the Install button on the bottom-left.

Authenticate with either your password or Touch ID.
In System Settings go to VPN in the Network section, see below.

Click on the “i” icon next to the Cambridge VPN profile.
Enter your Network Access Token information you created at step 1.

Check the Certificate says “Cambridge VPN Client Certificate”, select it if it does not.
Test the connection works by moving the slider on the VPN section , see below.

To add the VPN connection to the Mac Menu Bar, go to Control Centre in System Settings and change the visibility of the VPN to Show in Menu Bar.

The connection will now be in the Menu Bar:

Troubleshooting steps

The VPN will only connect when on a Wireless Connection or Home Broadband, Connections on the Wired University network will give a connection error

If you get a User Authentication failed error check you have entered your Network Access token details correctly.