Installing and connecting to myVPN

VPN is an acronym for ‘Virtual Private Network’. A VPN is a means of extending a private network (BCIT’s on campus network) across a public network (the internet, using various internet service providers) to the user’s local private network (ie: A network at home, coffee shop or anywhere with free wifi). Using a VPN allows for authentication and better security of computers accessing resources on the private network.

BCIT uses VPN software provided by Aruba (HPE) called Virtual Internet Access or VIA, which we referred to as myVPN.

myVPN should be the first choice for students, staff, and faculty to connect to BCIT’s secure network (when not they are not physically located at one BCIT’s campuses) to access common resources like printers, shared network drives, and business applications including Banner and Cognos. Please note, the network experience provided by myVPN will vary depending on the internet package of each user.

This article will provide a list of general instructions on how to install and connect myVPN. Due to the wide variety of Operating systems types and versions we cannot cover all operating systems in depth and this is not an exhaustive list. We will cover the major North American software versions of Windows 10/11, MacOS, Android, and iOS. Version numbers of VIA (myVPN) may differ but the installation and connection methods are the same unless otherwise noted.

Personal devices

Please note, IT Services does not offer support for personal devices. Any software (BCIT related or otherwise) installed on a personal device are the sole responsibility of the user.

Third party antivirus software

Some third party antivirus software (ie: McAfee, etc) unintentionally block myVPN traffic from properly reaching BCIT and can cause connectivity issues when attempting to connect via myVPN.

If you encounter a connectivity issue when using myVPN on a personal device that has a third party antivirus software installed, please ‘whitelist’, allow myVPN (HPE Virtual Intranet Access – VIA) connections in the antivirus software, or in some extreme cases disable the antivirus software. For instructions on how to whitelist, allow myVPN connections or disable the software please refer to antivirus software providers website.

For BCIT issued Windows laptops, Company Portal is the latest application that enables staff to securely download and install various BCIT applications as well as Windows updates. For more information on using the company portal please refer to the Using Company Portal article.

Installing myVPN from Company Portal

Company Portal is pre-installed in all BCIT-issued computers.

In the “Search” field on the bottom of your screen, type “Company Portal” and hit Enter.
Company Portal will open displaying the home page.
Search for myVPN and click on the myVPN application
Click the Install button
When the program is installed, click the Click to download VPN profile button.
Enter myvpn.bcit.ca in the Download VPN Profile window. Click Download.
Enter your primary BCIT email address and password. Click Proceed.
- Note: Occasionally, the VPN client minimizes to the system tray before you can connect. Look in the system tray if you can’t find the VPN client.
Click on the VPN Disconnected button to connect to VPN.Note: There should also be an Aruba VIA icon in your Windows taskbar. You can right click this icon and select Connect.
If you see the green circle, you are connected to VPN.

Connecting to myVPN on Windows 10/11

In the Windows search bar at the bottom left, search for the Virtual Intranet Access application.
Open the Virtual Intranet Access application. Click on the VPN Disconnected button to connect to VPN.
Note: There should also be an Aruba VIA icon in your Windows taskbar. You can right click this icon and select Connect.
If you see the green circle, you are connected to VPN.

Disconnecting from myVPN on Windows 10/11

To disconnect, right click the green icon in your windows taskbar and click Disconnect.
When you want to reconnect, right click the icon and click Connect.

Manually Installing myVPN on Windows 10/11

Using Chrome or Edge (not Firefox), download the .msi installation file (Click the download icon to download and run the installer):
Windows (64-bit)

Note: 64-bit is the most common, including all BCIT issued laptops.
Extract the zipped install file (by right clicking it and clicking extract) and run it to begin the installation.
Click Next to begin the installation of the Virtual Intranet Access application.
Check the I Accept the terms and conditions checkbox and click Next.
Click Next on the Destination Folder window.
Click Install and select Yes to the installation prompt that appears.
When the program is installed, click the Click to download VPN profile button.
Enter myvpn.bcit.ca in the Download VPN Profile window. Click Download.
Enter your primary BCIT email address and password. Click Proceed.
- Note: Occasionally, the VPN client minimizes to the system tray before you can connect. Look in the system tray if you can’t find the VPN client.
Click on the VPN Disconnected button to connect to VPN.
Note: There should also be an Aruba VIA icon in your Windows taskbar. You can right click this icon and select Connect.
If you see the green circle, you are connected to VPN.

Connecting to myVPN on Windows 10

In the Windows search bar at the bottom left, search for the Virtual Intranet Access application.
Open the Virtual Intranet Access application. Click on the VPN Disconnected button to connect to VPN.

Note: There should also be an Aruba VIA icon in your Windows taskbar. You can right click this icon and select Connect.
If you see the green circle, you are connected to VPN.

Disconnecting from myVPN on Windows 10

To disconnect, right click the green icon in your windows taskbar and click Disconnect.
When you want to reconnect, right click the icon and click Connect.

Installing myVPN on macOS

Open the app store on your Mac.
Search for Aruba VIA HPE Virtual Intranet and click the ‘GET‘.
1. After clicking on GET, it may change to an ‘INSTALL‘ button – click the INSTALL button to continue.
2. Note: You may be prompted for your Apple ID credentials. Enter these to continue. BCIT IT Services does not have these credentials or the ability to reset this password.
Once the download is complete, click Open.
Virtual Intranet Access (myVPN) will open, click the Click to download VPN profile button.
Enter myvpn.bcit.ca in the Download VPN Profile window. Click Download.
Enter your primary BCIT email address and password. Click Proceed.
If successful, you will now see the following page. Click the circle button again to connect.
MacOS will prompt you to add the VPN connection. Click Allow.
You are now connected to myVPN.

Disconnecting and reconnecting to myVPN on macOS

To disconnect from myVPN, click the green icon in your menubar (top bar) and select Disconnect.
To reconnect to myVPN, click the icon in your menu bar (top bar) and select Connect.

Open the App store.
Search for the Aruba VIA app, Click on and install ‘HPE Virtual Intranet Access‘.
Note: You may be prompted for your Apple ID credentials. Enter these to continue. BCIT IT Services does not have these credentials or the ability to reset this password.
When the HPE VIA app is installed, open it.
Click the button Tap to download VPN profile.
Enter myvpn.bcit.ca on the Download Profiles window and tap Download.
Enter your primary BCIT email address and password and tap Download.
Tap Accept to accept the terms of the privacy policy.
Tap Allow to allow VPN Configuration.
- Note: You may be prompted for your iOS device (iPhone, iPad) credentials. Enter these to continue. BCIT IT Services does not have these credentials or the ability to reset this password.
Tap the VPN Disconnected button to connect to VPN.
If you see the green circle, you are now connected to myVPN.

Please note that these instructions may look different depending on the Operating system, Manufacturer and type of Android device you are using.

Open the appropriate app store for your device (Google Play, Galaxy Store, etc)
Search for the Aruba VIA app and press Install on ‘HPE Virtual Intranet Access’ (VIA).
When the download is complete, open the app.
Click Allow to allow the notification for Aruba VIA to access files, media, and photos on your device.
Tap the Click to download VPN profile button.
On the Download VPN Profiles page, enter myvpn.bcit.ca and tap Download.
On the Create VPN Connection page, enter your primary BCIT email address and password. Tap Proceed.
Click the VPN Disconnected button to connect to VPN.
Click OK to the Connection request.
If you see the green circle, you are now connected to VPN.