Cisco Secure Client Start Before Login (SBL)

Introduction

Available only for Windows platforms, the Cisco Secure Client Start Before Logon (SBL) establishes the Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection before logging onto Windows. This is especially helpful while the computer is off campus or when logging onto a new computer remotely. Connecting to the VPN prior to logging in allows you to take advantage of startup items and mapped network drives.

Applicability

Requirements

This article is applicable to users whose computers are joined to the Central Domain (sts.ad.ualberta.ca) or Med Domain (med.ualberta.ca).
Central Domain users must be part of the @UANET VPN context and Med Domain users must be part of the @FOMD VPN context. If you are unsure if you are part of either of these contexts please contact the Staff Service Centre by phone at 780-492-8000 or by submitting a ticket online.
As of the time of this article being published, SBL is part of the latest Cisco Secure Client suite. If you follow the instructions in the Procedure section but do not see the icons mentioned you may place an install request by contacting the Staff Service Centre by phone at 780-492-8000 or by submitting a ticket online.

Procedure

While fully logged out of Windows, click the leftmost icon in the bottom right corner, this is the Network Sign-in icon.
Windows 11

Windows 10

Not seeing this icon?
If you don’t see the Network Sign-in icon, please reboot your computer. You may also need to place a request to have SBL installed by contacting the Staff Service Centre by phone at 780-492-8000 or by submitting a ticket online.
In the connection window that pops up enter the URL vpn.ualbetrta.ca and click Connect.
Enter your CCID appended with @uanet if you are on the Central Domain or @fomd if you are on the Med Domain in the Username field and your CCID password in the Password field, and click OK.

Central Domain

Med Domain
To verify you are successfully connected, you will see the option to Disconnect when you hover over this icon in the bottom right corner. Don’t click it.
Sign in to your computer as usual and you will find the VPN already connected.
Please note that you will need to log in to SBL before each time you log in to your computer.