Traveling outside Canada and using OC resources

Traveling Outside Canada and Using OC Resources

What to do before and during international travel to keep your OC account secure and accessible.

Tags: VPN • global • security • globalprotect • travel • international

By the end of this guide you'll know how to

✓ Notify IT Services before your trip to prevent account lockout

✓ Stay safe on international Wi-Fi networks

✓ Protect your passwords and account while abroad

✓ Use VPN and MFA correctly while traveling

✓ Request temporary OC VPN access outside Canada

1 Notify IT Before You Travel

At least 3 days before departure, submit a ticket to IT Security/Services with your travel plans. This prevents monitoring systems from flagging and locking your account due to foreign access.

In your ticket, please include:

  • Destination(s), including country
  • Start and end dates of your trip
  • Who is travelling (especially if more than one person)
📋 Submit a Travel Notification Ticket
Important: Monitoring systems will automatically flag or block foreign access to OC services. Notifying IT in advance prevents your account from being locked while you are away.
2 Use Trusted Wi-Fi Networks Only

Only connect to Wi-Fi networks you are reasonably confident are trustworthy. This is not a guarantee of security, but significantly reduces your risk. Examples of acceptable networks:

  • Official hotel Wi-Fi
  • Published airport Wi-Fi networks (advertised by the airport authority or mobile carriers)
  • Known businesses
Important: Avoid accessing sensitive OC material or applications from insecure or public locations.
3 Protect Your Passwords and Devices
  • Always protect your passwords — do not enter them on shared or public devices
  • Avoid using devices that are not your own. If you must, change your passwords immediately upon your return
  • Stay cyber-aware — review the latest cybersecurity training from the college or trusted online sources
4 Use VPN Whenever Possible
  • Use VPN whenever possible when accessing OC resources abroad
  • Some OC applications will only work with VPN when off-campus
  • If an application is asking for unexpected information or behaving differently than normal, sign off immediately and contact IT to check your account security
Important: Be aware that some countries have banned or criminalized the use of VPNs. Check the laws of your destination country before connecting.
5 Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Ensure MFA is enabled on your OC Microsoft 365 account before you leave
  • Enable MFA on any other accounts you will need access to while traveling
  • Do not rely solely on SMS text messages for MFA until you have tested that your phone receives texts in that country
  • If you have an international phone number, add it to your M365 account as an additional verification method before you depart
6 General Awareness While Traveling
  • Be aware of time zone differences — IT sometimes schedules maintenance after hours Pacific Time, which may affect your access
  • All OC IT services should function the same as when you are at home or on campus
  • If something seems unusual, contact IT Services before continuing
7 Requesting OC VPN Access Outside Canada

Before leaving Canada, notify IT Services of the following so a temporary access exception can be created for you:

  • The country you will be visiting
  • The dates you will require VPN access
  • Which specific OC VPN you will be using (Okanagan College has several)
📋 Submit a VPN Access Request
Important: Due to IT security restrictions, VPN access outside Canada is not automatic. You must request a temporary exception in advance to ensure uninterrupted access.
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