Connecting to VPN with Global Protect

Overview

PBR uses Global Protect as its VPN client. The VPN allows you to securely access PBR network resources (such as shared drives and internal systems) when working from home or off-site.

Global Protect should be installed on your PBR-issued device. If it is not installed, contact IT Helpdesk at [email protected].

Connecting to the VPN

Make sure you are connected to the internet (home WiFi, mobile data, etc.)
Find the Global Protect icon in your system tray (bottom-right of the taskbar). It looks like a small globe. Click it to open
If you cannot find it in the tray, search Global Protect in the Windows Start menu and open the app
If this is your first time opening Global Protect, you may see a Welcome screen — click Get Started
The portal address should be pre-configured as gp_belg.pbr.org.au. If it is not, type this in and click Connect
A Microsoft sign-in window will appear — sign in with your PBR email and password
Approve the MFA prompt on your Microsoft Authenticator app
Once connected, the Global Protect icon will show a tick. You can now access PBR network resources as normal

Disconnecting

Click the Global Protect icon in the system tray
Click Disconnect

Disconnect when you are finished working remotely or return to a PBR site — the VPN is not required when you are on-site.

Connecting Before Windows Login (Start Before Logon)

If your network drives are disconnected after logging in remotely, you can connect to the VPN before Windows loads your profile. This ensures your drives map correctly.

Shut down your computer completely and wait 10 seconds
Turn the computer on — do not log in yet
On the Windows login screen, click the network sign-in icon in the bottom-right corner
The Global Protect window will appear — enter the portal address gp_belg.pbr.org.au if prompted and click Connect
Sign in with your PBR credentials and approve the MFA prompt
Once connected, proceed to log into Windows as normal

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Global Protect not installed	Contact IT Helpdesk — do not attempt to install yourself
Cannot connect — connection timeout	Check your internet connection is working first; try disconnecting and reconnecting
MFA prompt not appearing	Check your phone has signal/internet; open Microsoft Authenticator manually to look for a pending approval
Network drives not appearing after connecting	Try the "Start Before Logon" method above, or contact IT Helpdesk
Prompted for a portal address	Enter: gp_belg.pbr.org.au

Need Help?

Contact IT Helpdesk at [email protected] or raise a ticket at helpdesk.pbr.org.au