National Taiwan Ocean University | VPN Setup Guide | Mac

Set up your VPN in just 3 tasks

Choose your current setup status to see the steps you need next.

⚠️ Before your first setup:Apply for VPN service through the Academic Information System first (activated immediately upon application). You cannot log in to the VPN Portal until the service is activated.
Open Academic Information System

👋 What is your current setup status?

Your next step:Complete Tasks 1 → 2 → 3 in order.

🔎 Check these two questions:
① Can you open Sophos Connect on your Mac?
　No →

② Does Google Authenticator on your phone show a VPN 6-digit verification code?
　No →
　Yes →

🚀 Tasks to complete

Complete one task at a time. Check that it is done before moving on.

💻 Install VPN on your Mac

About 5 minutes

1Download and install Sophos Connect

Download Sophos Connect for Mac, open the installer and follow the macOS installation instructions.

Download Sophos Connect Sophos Connect installer for Mac

💡 Click Continue / Agree / Install in the macOS installer. If prompted, enter the login password for this Mac.

2Import the NTOU VPN configuration

Download the university-provided .scx file. Open Sophos Connect, click Import connection and select the file you downloaded.

Download VPN configuration (.scx) Importing a connection in Sophos Connect for Mac

Selecting the VPN configuration file on Mac

✅ Done when:Sophos Connect opens successfully on your Mac and displays the VPN connection.

📱 Set up phone authentication

About 5 minutes

1Install Google Authenticator

Install Google Authenticator from the App Store or Google Play on your phone. Check that the developer is Google / Google LLC.

iPhone / iPad Android Google Authenticator App

2Log in to the NTOU VPN Portal

Open VPN Portal VPN Portal login screen

⚠️ Common login problems

VPN service not activated

Before using VPN for the first time, apply through the Academic Information System for VPN service (activated immediately upon application).

Open Academic Information System

Incorrect username

Students: enter only your Student ID

Faculty and staff: enter only your Username

❌ Do not include @xxxx.ntou.edu.tw

Incorrect password

Use your university @mail email password.

❌ Do not use your Google @email.ntou.edu.tw email password

3Scan the QR code

Use Google Authenticator on your phone to scan the QR code displayed in the VPN Portal. If no QR code appears on your first login, try another browser.

Use Google Authenticator on your phone to scan the QR code displayed in the VPN Portal.

Scanning a QR code with Google Authenticator

4Check for a 6-digit verification code

Authenticator will display:

Sophos SFOS: username@VPN5.

The 6-digit code refreshes every 30 seconds.

Do not delete the Sophos SFOS entry.You will need this one-time code each time you connect to VPN.

✅ Done when:Your phone displays the VPN 6-digit verification code.

🔐 Connect to VPN

Start here for future VPN connections

1Open Sophos Connect

Click the dimmed Sophos Connect icon in the Mac menu bar and select the NTOU vpn5.ntou.edu.tw connection.

2Enter your login details Sophos Connect login fields

3Click Connect

Wait for Sophos Connect to establish the connection.

🎉 Connected!
When the status shows Connected, your VPN is connected and you can access campus resources. Sophos Connect successful VPN connection screen

Sophos Connect successful VPN connection screen