Why does CAEN block certain network ports from off-campus access?
This is done in response to the growing number of network attacks directed at vulnerable hosts.
CAEN had observed attacks on the network backbone and in an effort to improve security on the network, relevant ports were blocked. Blocking these ports greatly reduces common network scans and attacks, and improves overall network security. ITCS and other campus groups also block these network ports, and most commercial Internet Service Providers (ISP) block these ports to protect their networks; meaning off-campus users may not even notice an additional block on their access to the CAEN network.
The most visible impact of these blocks will be the inability to login to or access Active Directory, Exchange, or Windows online file services from off-campus. On-campus access to these services will not be affected. Access to services from the rest of the U-M campus are not affected.
The U-M VPN remote service provides the best method to bypass this port-blocking and gain access to U-M resources from off-campus. For more information on the U-M VPN, please see:
