Remote Access (VPN Access)

Service Description:


Alamo Colleges District (ACD) VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a way to securely access the San Antonio College network from an off campus location.
Virtual Private Network (VPN) access at San Antonio College is restricted to authorized users only. VPN access is granted to faculty, staff, and other personnel who require secure, remote access to internal college systems, files, and services that are not available from the public internet.


At Alamo Colleges, VPN access is only required for certain applications and services that are restricted to the internal network. Most cloud-based tools (e.g., Outlook, Canvas, Zoom, Microsoft 365) can be accessed without a VPN.  For example:

  • Access internal file shares (e.g., department drives or network folders)

  • Connect to on-campus computers or remote desktop environments

  • Use administrative systems that are not publicly accessible (e.g., certain Banner modules or license

ACD VPN is mainly used to securely connect employees to their company's internal network over the internet by creating an encrypted tunnel between your device and the ACD private network.


Service Provider:
SAC Office of Technology Services
          Email Address: sac-helpdesk@alamo.edu
          Main Contact Number (210) 486-0777
          Website Information http://www.alamo.edu/sac/ots

Eligibility: Staff, Faculty

Availability:
N/A

How to access services (Procedures if Any):
1. To request VPN access, employees will complete a "VPN Access Request Form" and obtain approval and signature from the Department Head. The blank form is attached to  the Supporting Documents section of this page.

2. In addition, employees will create a Footprints IT service workorder at https://footprints.alamo.edu and upload the completed “VPN Access Request Form” with appropriate signatures to the Footprints work order. Please review the Supporting Documentation and use it as a guide to complete the request process.

3. Following receipt of the service workorder, the Footprints service workorder will be assigned to Office of Technology Services IT Security for approval.

4. Approved requests for VPN will be assigned to the Network team for processing. Rejected requests will be returned to the Requestor with a justification note.

5. For all approved requests, post processing, our OTS Network Team personnel will send a completion notification to the Requestor.

6. In addition, the requestor will receive an email from Fortinet with instructions on how to set up the Fortinet App on the cell phone.  The email will also contain a QR code to activate the Token. The QR code is only active for 48 hours.

Supporting Documentation:
OTS - Service Level Agreement.pdf
MFA VPN Access Request Form.pdf
Submitting a Footprint Service Request.pdf

Service Cost:
N/A

Additional Information:

While using VPN, your computer becomes part of the San Antonio College network and you must observe the

Appropriate Use of Information Technology Resources (Policy) 

Guides:
VPN Help Guide
How to submit a FootPrints ticket

Technical Support:
San Antonio College Help Desk
Email: sac-helpdesk@alamo.edu
Phone: 210-486-0777 		Alamo Colleges Help Desk
Email: helpdesk@alamo.edu
Phone: 210-485-0555 		Request Service
Submit a service work order through the Service Management Solution – Footprints.

Last Modified Date:
4/30/2025 4:14:10 PM

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