Service Description
Blinn College's VPN and CRA services are available to current Blinn College staff and faculty with supervisor approval. Blinn College's VPN and CRA services are available to current Blinn College staff and faculty with supervisor approval.
What's the Difference?
VPN is used to access network file services such as the J: or N: drives. This type of connection would also give access to AppNav and Banner.
Chrome Remote App (CRA) allows remote access to AppNAV, Banner, and ARGOS without the need for VPN. It provides full mouse, keyboard, and screen access to run Banner sessions remotely. It does NOT allow access to file services such as the J: or N: drives.
VPN or CRA are not needed in order to access services that do not originate from campus. These services are available over the Internet, including the myBlinn portal, eCampus, Office 365, Adobe, Zoom, and Teams.
How Do They Connect?
VPN is an acronym that stands for Virtual Private Network and its purpose is to authenticate the user and encrypt all traffic exchanged. VPN can be only used on approved Blinn College-issued devices.
When you connect using Blinn College's VPN, you will authenticate with your Blinn College username, password and 2-step authentication device which verifies your identity.
CRA is an acronym for Chrome Remote App which allows you to access AppNAv, Banner, and ARGOS from home using a Blinn-issued device, personal computer, chromebook, tablet, or even your phone.
You will connect by accessing the file given to you by the Client System Administrator from your remote computer. You will be prompted to sign in with your Blinn College username, password and 2-step authentication device which verifies your identity.
Note: VPN requests must be entered at the Supervisor or Manager level.
What Happens Next?
The supervisor will submit the Request VPN/CRA Service, select the desired service and include the employee's name, date of access/change/removal and reason for the change.
Need additional information or assistance? Call the IT Help Desk at 979-830-4357 (HELP) or contact the IT Help Desk Chat Line.