What Is a VPN and Why Do You Need One?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates a secure, encrypted connection between your computer and your workplace network. When you're connected, it's as if your laptop is physically sitting in the office — you can access shared drives, internal systems, printers, and other resources that aren't available over the regular internet.
Your IT team (or your managed IT provider) will have set up a VPN server at the office. They need to give you a few details before you can connect — covered in Step 1 below.
Step 1 — Gather Your VPN Details from IT
Before you can set up the VPN, you need the following information from your IT team or helpdesk. Write these down before you start:
| Detail | Example | What It Is |
|---|---|---|
| VPN server address | vpn.yourcompany.com.au | The hostname or IP address of your office VPN server |
| VPN type | IKEv2, SSTP, L2TP, PPTP | The protocol the server uses — ask your IT team which one |
| Your username | jsmith or your email | Usually the same as your Windows login |
| Your password | — | Your Windows/domain password or a VPN-specific password |
| Pre-shared key (if L2TP) | A shared secret key | Only needed for L2TP/IPsec — ask IT if unsure |
If you don't have these, contact your IT helpdesk or your managed IT provider before proceeding.
Step 2 — Open VPN Settings in Windows
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) in the bottom-left corner.
- Click the Settings cog icon (or press Windows key + I).
- Click Network & Internet.
- Click VPN in the left-hand menu.
- Click Add a VPN connection (the button with a plus sign).
Step 3 — Enter Your VPN Connection Details
A setup window will appear. Fill in the fields as follows:
- VPN provider: Select Windows (built-in)
- Connection name: Type a friendly name, like "Office VPN" — this is just a label for you
- Server name or address: Enter the VPN server address your IT team gave you (e.g.,
vpn.yourcompany.com.au) - VPN type: Select the protocol your IT team specified. If unsure, try IKEv2 first — it's the most modern and reliable. If that doesn't work, try SSTP, then L2TP/IPsec with pre-shared key
- Type of sign-in info: Select User name and password in most cases
- User name: Enter your username
- Password: Enter your password (optional — you can leave this blank and type it each time you connect)
Click Save when done.
Step 4 — Connect to the VPN
Back on the VPN settings page, you'll see your new connection listed. Click on it, then click Connect. Windows will attempt to establish the tunnel.
You can also connect quickly from the taskbar: click the network icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen (the Wi-Fi or ethernet icon), then select your VPN name and click Connect.
When connected, the VPN connection will show a Connected status. You can now access your office network as if you were in the building.
Step 5 — Verify Your Connection
Once connected, test that the VPN is working:
- Try opening a shared network drive (e.g., type
\\fileserver\sharein File Explorer's address bar) - Open a web browser and navigate to an internal website that only works on the office network
- Check the VPN status in Settings — it should show Connected
If you can access internal resources, you're good to go. Disconnect when you're done working — right-click the VPN in the taskbar network menu and select Disconnect, or go back to Settings → VPN and click Disconnect.
Step 6 — A Note on Split Tunnelling
By default, Windows routes all your internet traffic through the VPN when connected. This means even your Netflix or YouTube traffic goes through the office connection, which can slow things down.
Your IT team may have configured split tunnelling — a setting that sends only office-network traffic through the VPN, while your normal internet browsing goes directly to the internet. This is faster and puts less load on the office internet connection.
Split tunnelling is a server-side or policy setting — you can't change it yourself from the Windows VPN client without IT assistance. If your internet feels very slow while on VPN, ask your IT team whether split tunnelling can be enabled for your connection.
Step 7 — Troubleshooting Common Errors
If the VPN won't connect, here are the most common causes and fixes:
| Error / Symptom | Likely Cause | What to Try |
|---|---|---|
| "The credentials you provided did not work" | Wrong username or password | Double-check your credentials. Use DOMAIN\username format if your IT team specified a domain. Try your Windows login password. |
| Connection times out or just spins | Firewall blocking VPN port, or wrong server address | Confirm the server address is correct. Try connecting from a different network (e.g., mobile hotspot) to rule out a local firewall issue. |
| "The remote connection was not made" or Error 868 | Server address can't be resolved (DNS issue) | Try using the server's IP address instead of the hostname. Check you have an active internet connection. |
| Wrong VPN type selected | Client and server protocol mismatch | Try each VPN type in order: IKEv2, SSTP, L2TP/IPsec. Ask IT which protocol the server uses. |
| Connects but can't reach office resources | Split tunnelling misconfigured, or wrong DNS settings | Contact your IT team — this usually needs a server-side fix. Try pinging the file server by IP address to isolate the issue. |
| "Pre-shared key is wrong" (L2TP only) | The shared secret doesn't match | Confirm the pre-shared key with your IT team — it is case-sensitive. |
Need Help Getting Connected?
If you've followed all seven steps and still can't connect, the issue is likely on the server side — a firewall rule, a certificate problem, or a server configuration. Reach out to your IT team or contact Melbits if we manage your infrastructure. We can usually resolve VPN connectivity issues remotely within the hour.