VPN Transition Update

May 5, 2026

Thank you for your engagement and thoughtful responses following our recent Tech Tuesday communication regarding the retirement of Cisco AnyConnect VPN on May 31, 2026. The level of interest and the questions we have received reflect exactly the kind of diligence that helps us serve our community well. 

We want to take a moment to provide additional clarity, share what we have learned through our testing, and outline how we will support anyone who believes they may be impacted. 

What Our Testing Has Shown  
Over the past several months, our team has conducted extensive testing and a thorough review of how VPN access is currently being used across the university. The findings have been informative: 

  • Many university applications and resources that  our community access remotely do not require VPN connectivity. They are accessible through secure, modern authentication methods already in place.
  • In many cases where VPN has historically been used, the underlying need can be addressed by improving awareness of existing tools or by providing enhanced guidance on how to connect securely. 
  • A limited number of use cases may require private network access for specific, application-level connectivity. We are prepared to evaluate and support those needs individually. 

Do You Think You May Need Private Access? 
For those with validated use cases that require private network access, we are transitioning to Microsoft Entra Private Access. It is a next-generation, Zero Trust security solution that delivers precise, identity-driven connectivity to only the specific applications you need. This is a meaningfully more secure approach than traditional VPN, and it is already being piloted with strong results. 

If you believe your role or responsibilities require private network-level access to specific university applications, we want to hear from you. Here is how to proceed: 

  • STEP 1 

    Assess your need. Do you use the VPN to access a specific internal application or resource that is not otherwise accessible? If yes, you may be a candidate for Microsoft Entra Private Access. 

  • STEP 2 

    Submit a request. Complete the ServiceNow intake form to  indicate your need formally. Provide as much context as possible about the application(s) you are trying to reach. 

  • STEP 3 

    We will follow up with you. A member of the ETS team will review your submission and reach out directly to discuss your specific situation and determine the appropriate path forward. 

 
Submit Your Request: Visit the ESC Portal Page to complete the ServiceNow Private Entra Access form. 

Key Dates to Remember 

  • May 31, 2026 – Cisco AnyConnect VPN is officially retired and decommissioned.
  • Now through May 31, 2026 – Submit your intake request if you believe you require private network access.

We are committed to ensuring this transition is as seamless as possible for every member of our community. If you are unsure whether you are affected, please do not hesitate to reach out to us directly at ETS-DevOps@howard.edu.

Thank you for your partnership as we continue to modernize and strengthen our technology infrastructure. 

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