---
type: concept
title: VPN
tags: [network, security, remote-access]
related: [unihgw, shibboleth, fernzugriff-lehre, zentrale-datenspeicherung]
created: 2026-06-30
updated: 2026-07-01
sources: ["output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_technische-infrastruktur-wlan-eduroam-offenes-wlan.md", "output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_technische_infrastruktur_wlan_eduroam_offenes_wlan.md", "output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_support_dokumentation_anleitungen_fernzugriff_lehre.md"]
---

# VPN

A **VPN** (Virtual Private Network) is a technology that creates a secure, encrypted tunnel between a user's device and a private network. It serves as the secure gateway used to access the internal network of the Universität Greifswald from external or open networks.

## Usage in University Infrastructure

### Open Networks
In the context of the Universität Greifswald's network infrastructure, a VPN is required when using open networks like [[unihgw]] to:
- Access internal university resources that are not exposed to the public internet.
- Bypass the limitations of the open DSL connection used by UniHGW to reach internal services.

### Remote Teaching
For instructors working remotely ([[fernzugriff-lehre]]), the VPN is mandatory for accessing **internal services**, specifically:
- **Network Drives**: Access to [[zentrale-datenspeicherung]] for file exchange.
- **Databases**: Access to internal academic and administrative databases.