Remote Access - How to Request VPN or Remote Desktop at SIUE

Before You Start

• You need an active SIUE account (E-ID).
• Set up Microsoft Authenticator with app-based notifications before you connect. See Multifactor Authentication (MFA) for setup steps.
• Have your supervisor's name or E-ID ready.
• If you need remote access to a specific computer, have that computer name ready. If you only need general access to campus systems, the Computer Name field can be left blank.

Anyone with an SIUE account can submit the request. The steps are the same whether you submit for yourself or for an employee.

Requesting Access

1. Go to https://spapps.siue.edu/sar.
2. Click Access Request in the navigation bar.
3. In the "User Lookup" field, type your own name or E-ID.
4. In the "Supervisor Lookup" field, type your supervisor's name or E-ID.
5. In the "System Lookup" field, select Remote Access.
6. For the "Action" field, select Grant.
7. In the "Special Instructions" field, add a note only if you need something beyond the default (for example, the ITSVPN profile (ITS staff only) or a specific system you need to reach). Leave this field blank if you aren't sure.
8. In the "Computer Name" field, type the name of the campus computer you want to reach from off-campus (for example, your office desktop or lab workstation). If you only need general access to campus systems, leave this field blank.
9. Click Submit.

Sign the Required Agreements

After the request is submitted, the person who needs access receives a Microsoft Teams notification to sign two agreements in SAR. It appears either in the "Approvals" app and as a ticket. They will also receive an email with a link that opens the same actions in Teams.

1. Go to https://spapps.siue.edu/sar.
2. Click Agreements in the navigation bar.
3. Click Remote Access Policy Agreement, read it, and click to agree.
4. Click Confidentiality Agreement, read it, and click to agree.

Until both agreements are signed, the request sits in a "Waiting" state on the SAR home page. The "Waiting" card shows pending requests so you do not lose track.

What Happens After You Submit

1. The end user signs the two agreements.
2. The supervisor gets a Teams approval task in the "Approvals" app and clicks Approve.
3. The data steward gets a Teams approval task in the "Approvals" app and clicks Approve.
4. Networking processes the request within 5 business days.
5. Networking emails the end user with setup instructions for FortiClient and the RDP Gateway.

Processing Time and Status Updates

• Networking processes the request within 5 business days of all approvals being completed.
• The supervisor and data steward usually see their approval task the same day, but they must approve it before networking can start. The total time depends on how quickly they click Approve.
• To check status, look at the "Waiting" card on the SAR home page. It shows where a request sits.

What Gets Approved

By default, Remote Access grants both:

• "FortiClient Work from Home" - for connecting to your campus computer and most campus resources.
• "FortiClient Remote Clients" - for SIUE Windows laptops that need full campus access, including department shared drives.

There is no per-portal choice inside SAR. If you need a non-default profile, for example, ITSVPN (ITS staff only), mention it in the Special Instructions field on the SAR form, or note it on the ticket that networking creates.

Once networking emails you setup instructions, install FortiClient "Work from Home" to get started, it covers most remote access needs. If you were granted ITSVPN (ITS staff only), watch the ticket for separate instructions. See the related setup articles below for step-by-step install guides.

What If My Request Is Stuck?

If a request has been sitting in "Waiting" or "Pending approval" for more than a week with no activity, contact the ITS Help Desk. The Help Desk will follow up with the approvers or networking for you.

Related Articles

• System Access Request (SAR) - Request or Terminate System Access
• Remote Access at SIUE - Overview and Options
• FortiClient VPN (Mac) - Installing and Connecting
• FortiClient VPN (Windows) - Installing and Connecting
• Remote Desktop Gateway (Windows) - Connect to On-Campus Computer via RDP
• Remote Desktop Gateway (Mac OS) - Connect to On-Campus Computer with Remote Desktop Protocol
• [Link for document 144930 is unavailable at this time]
• Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

Need Additional Support?

This guide aims to provide useful information, but as technology changes, interfaces or steps might vary. Please use the Comment button to let us know if anything differs from your experience. Your feedback helps us keep this information accurate. Thank you!