Remotely Connect to AS-TS-HIPAA

Owned by Dennis Wenthen
Last updated: Sep 17, 2020 by Jonathan Cheney
3 min read

1.Who needs this?

Some groups in A&S create data that must be secured more heavily due to HIPAA regulations. We restrict remote access to a limited group of users in the departments below. The A&S Computer Services Group must add your user object to one of the "as-users-RDC-as-ts-hipaa-xxx" groups before this will work.

  • The Gebbie Clinic
  • Psychological Service Center

2. If you are connecting from a Windows computer

a. Is this your managed Windows laptop from A&S?

If this is your managed Windows laptop from A&S it's configured with an "always on VPN". You don't need to use SURA connect to SU's VPN. Ask consult@cas.syr.edu for a custom RDP configuration file. We'll make you one and send it to you, save it someplace where you can find it.


    • Double click on your custom RDP configuration file.
    • Enter your NetID password when prompted, press OK.
    • You will be warned that "The certificate is not from a trusted certifying authority".
    • Click Yes
    • You are connected to AS-TS-HIPAA.

b. Is this not a managed Windows Laptop?

SURA is a tool that connects your computer to SU's VPN, then launches the Remote Desktop Connection tool for computers that A&S Computing does not manage.

i. Download SURA

    • Go to the https://sura.syr.edu to download the SURA utility.
    • Choose the download tab and download SURA.
    • When prompted, save the sura.exe file to a location you will be able to easily find again on your local computer (such as your desktop or documents folder).
    • There is more information about SURA on the help tab.

      SURA Web Site

c. Launch SURA and connect VPN

  • Double-click on the SURA.exe file.
  • Enter your SU NetID username and password in the appropriate fields
  • Click Connect.

    SURA Launch image

d.Use Remote Desktop to connect to AS-TS-HIPAA

  • Enter the AS-TS-HIPAA.syr.edu in the Computer field in the Remote Desktop section of SURA
  • Press Connect



  • Enter your email address in the user name field, your NetID password in the password field
  • Press OK

    Credentianls dialog

  • You will be warned that "The certificate is not from a trusted certifying authority".
  • Click Yes

    Certificate not trusted warning


3. If you are connecting from a Mac computer

  • You will need to connect to SU's VPN, then you can use Microsoft Remote Desktop to control your office computer.
  • Make sure you are running the current version of Microsoft Remote Desktop (MRD), available from the App Store. It is free to download and use.
  • Instructions for downloading and installing the VPN are here:  https://su-jsm.atlassian.net/wiki/x/dYGICQ
  • The Microsoft Remote Desktop Client for Mac can be found here:  https://apps.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-remote-desktop/id1295203466?mt=12
  • Create a new session in MRD using the image below as a template.
  • The PC name is AS-TS-HIPAA.syr.edu

Remote Desktop Dialog

  • Connection name is a name meaningful to you.
  • Username is your @syr.edu email address.
  • Password is your NetID password.

Once you create it click the red button in the top left to save it, then double-click the session to start it.

It's Windows 8

The start menu looks a lot like Windows 8 and that's a challenge to navigate. The start button will take you to this screen

 Press the arrow at the bottom of the screen to find shortcuts to applications.