Work Laptop at Home - Please help

[jn1520]

Thanks for reading my post!

Here's the situation. I recently got a laptop at work and brought it home. It picks up my wireless signal perfectly. I'm able to access my work resources using our VPN Client (Contivity VPN Client by Nortel).

The problem is that I'm not able to simply connect to the internet when not logged into the VPN.

Here's my questions:

1. Should I be able to utilize the Internet without using the VPN Client?

2. If so, how do I go about fixing this problem?

I know I can check with my IT dept., but right now I'm just curious and I won't be back at work until January 3rd.

Thanks!

[leeper]

you what , the what now !! lol

[cszeto]

leeper, please refrain from posting non-constructive or off-topic posts. It just adds unnecessary confusion and/or frustration for the folks seeking assistance.

jn1520, it may be a case where your internal IT locked down the system in order to protect it from unmanaged/unprotected access into the Internet. You really do need to contact your internal IT for clarification.

[JSRDO]

jn1520... I have VPN on my work laptop. My system has various location profiles and my default wireless profiles want to use VPN and don't like "public access points". These are all settings that make good sense in the work environment and I understand / agree with the need to keep things tight.

But if I just access my home access point and fire up IE, I can get to any website directly..... no VPN, etc. I don't know if that will work for you or not.

Here's the caution though.... you are using an asset owned and controlled by your employer. If yours is like mine, they don't want you using their assets for personal use. Your laptop may have monitoring tools and they maybe "watching" what people do with their assets (and yes, they have the right to do that) Just a caution.... my employer has fired folks for miss-use of company assets (PCs / laptops / etc.)

good luck.... :)

[cszeto]

It is possible to lock down a system in which only VPN access is allowed. In most case the intents will be to:

1. Protect the system from the Internet and other unmanaged networks
2. Monitor all network access/usage through the system

Most corporate environments are moving towards these types of practices to:

1. Cut down support costs of maintaining systems that have been infected/breached
2. Maintain/fulfill compliance requirements