A VPN connects you to internet resources (e.g., EMIS) when you are working remotely. By signing into a VPN with a username and password, your privacy is protected (e.g., location, data and communications are hidden) and you’re shielded from cyber threats. It is essential we use a VPN when working remotely to protect patients' sensitive health information.
The VPN we use at Penrose Health is called Okta.
The Health and Social Care Network (HCSN) is a network which allows health and social care providers to share information and access services regardless of their network supplier or location. For instance, HSCN allows you to send referral forms to service providers via DXS.
Getting started
Accessing Okta/HSCN
Once you’ve created your username and password, you can access the Okta VPN via:
- The link in your welcome email
- The ‘Links’ section of the Penrose Portal homepage
- The ‘OKTA VPN’ app on your desktop
- The ‘Citrix Secure Access’ shortcut in your taskbar (it looks like a padlock 🔒)
Okta is linked to a data network called the Health and Social Care Network (HCSN). So, using options 1-4 will open the following page which allows you to login to Okta VPN and HCSN simultaneously (which looks like this ⬇️)
Logging in
To login, follow these steps:
- Enter your username and password and click ‘Sign In’
- Complete SMS authentication by clicking ‘Send code’, entering the 6-digit code sent to your mobile, and clicking ‘Verify’
- You might need to wait a few seconds for the VPN session to be established. Once you get redirected to the NHS.uk website, you’re connected to the VPN/HSCN!
You should also see a notification in the bottom-left corner of your screen saying Citrix Gateway Connection established. The padlock icon will turn from grey (not connected) to blue (connected!)
How to check your connection
You can check the status of your connection via ‘Citrix Secure Access’.
- If your connection is interrupted, you’ll see a red dot underneath ‘Current Session’.
- You can also logoff using the blue button at the bottom right!
You can also check your connection by looking if the padlock icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen is grey (not connected) or blue (connected!)