Why you're reading this onboarding guide

You have selected this onboarding guide because your company is using Venn to manage user identity and authentication. We'll walk you through setting up a password, installing and configuring Venn on your Mac, and installing Venn on your phone for multifactor authentication purposes. When we're done, you will have:

• a Venn-managed username and password
• the Venn application installed and configured on your Mac
• the Venn application installed and configured on your smartphone

If this doesn't sound like your situation, go back to the start page and make sure you're on the right path.

If you've already onboarded and just need to set up Venn on your Mac, click here.

Log in, set your password, and download the app

1. Open the link provided to you by your company in Chrome or Safari to access the login page.
2. Enter the username provided to you and click Next.
   • Venn confirms your identity by sending a six-digit verification code to the mobile device already registered to your account.

Confirming the SMS code

• Enter the verification code once you receive it. (Leave the dashes out.)
  • If you need a new code, or wait too long, click Resend Code.
  • One you’re verified, it’s time to set your password.

Setting your password

1. Enter and confirm your password.
   • Be sure to follow password strength rules.
   • Click Show Password for clear text password display.
   • When you’re done, click Set Password.

You should now be looking at the Welcome to Venn screen. It’s now time to download and install the app.

Downloading the Installer

1. Click the Install button to download the install file.
2.  Click on the file that downloaded to start the installation process.

Downloading the desktop installer 

To begin the installation process, Venn runs a tool to test device health and security.

1. Click Install.

   • A permissions window displays.

2. Click Allow to run the utility.

Once the utility is complete, the installer welcome screen displays.

Running the Installer

When the installer launches, it needs a little bit of your assistance to keep moving. The installer summarizes the process.

• Now is a good time to make sure you have the password needed for installing new software on your Mac, if required.

1. Click Continue.

   • Next, you can change installation destination or installation type, if required.

2. Most users won’t have to touch anything here and should click Continue.

   • If required, click Change Install Location to select a different disk for installation.

   • Next, you can change the install type.

   • Most users won’t have to change anything here and should click Install.

   • A dialog appears if a password is required to install software.

     • As a reminder, this is not your Venn password.

3. Enter the password (if required) and click Install Software.

   • The installation will run and make take a couple of minutes to complete.

4. When installation has completed, click Close and on the pop up that appears click Move to trash.

Linking with your mobile device 

 

If your organization requires multifactor authentication to use Venn, you need to link your account to a registered mobile device.

• You will be prompted to download the mobile app by scanning a QR code that appears when the Venn apps opens for the first time after onboarding.
• If that fails for any reason, you can also find the by searching for "Workplace - work_connected" in the Apple or Google Play stores.

Downloading the app

Open your smartphone camera to scan the QR code and begin the download process. Once installed, you’ll sign in and create a PIN that lets you quickly log into your mobile app.

1. Click Install to install the mobile app
2. Once installed, open the app.
3. Enter your Username and Password.
   • These are the same credentials you used to log into the desktop app.
   • The application opens to the welcome screen. Click Got It.

If your company obtained an Office 365 license from Venn, the Office application install dialog is displayed.

Installing Office Apps (optional)

1. To install free versions of your Office apps for use with Venn, click the black cloud download icon for each.
   • You can also always install these apps at a later time.
2. To move right to setting a PIN, click Skip for Now.
   • The PIN welcome screen displays.
3. Click Create PIN. The PIN creation screen is displayed.

Creating your pin

1. Enter a six-digit PIN. Try to use a secure PIN that’s easy to remember.
   • Once the last digit is entered, you’re automatically prompted to confirm the PIN.
2. Enter the PIN again.
   • If you make a mistake, click Start Over.
   • When the PIN is successfully confirmed, you’re done. The mobile Venn screen displays.

 

Approving multifactor authentication requests (if required)

Once the Venn applications on your computer and phone are linked, you can use multifactor authentication to sign into Venn.

After you enter your username and password, an approval request is sent to your phone.

1. Open the Venn app on your smartphone.
2. Enter your 6-digit pin.
3. Open the approval dialog.  Click Allow.

In the next part of the onboarding, we'll walk you through granting Venn the permissions it needs on your Mac to help you keep your personal and work applications, files, and network traffic separated and secure.

Mac Permissions

Venn needs special permission to run on a Mac for security reasons. Venn will guide you through the process and help you to understand why the specific permission is needed, and how to access and grant the permission.

The guide will contain instructions for you to follow, and will open the location in your Mac settings for each permission needed. The screens may vary slightly from the ones shown in this article depending on whether your MacOS is Monterey or Ventura. 

The Permissions Guide

Venn was designed to support the high security and privacy requirements of Mac operating systems. This includes getting specific and explicit permissions from users about what Venn can and can’t do. The permissions guide will help you to grant the permissions Venn needs to run on your Mac. 

• This process is required during initial onboarding.
• It will also be required any time you install the application onto a new device.
• We have included screenshots in this guide to give an overview of the process, but follow the onscreen instruction for every step, clicking Next when complete.

 

Allow Disk Access for Work Files

This lets Venn create a secure, encrypted space on the hard drive for storing work related data and files. This space is separate from where you store your personal files and Venn never accesses any of your personal data.

 

Work VPN

Venn must be able to route work-related network traffic differently (and securely). The VPN helps that happen. 

Work VPN Configurations

This allows the VPN to understand how it should handle work-related internet traffic. Only work applications will use this connection. Personal applications will never use it and it is completely private.

 

Blue Border and Badge

Venn will display a Blue Border and badge around any application open in the workspace (the secure enclave). The badge contains information about what you can and cannot do with applications in the workspace. Anything without a Blue Border is in your personal space.

 

Work Browser

This allows the Venn application to open work-related web links to open in the browser that is running in your workspace. This does not change your personal default browser and your personal browsing is not accessed in any way.

 

We're Almost There!

In the background Venn is starting up some of the services that make up the application. This is needed to be able to enable the last couple of permissions. This usually only takes about a minute and you will be moved to the next part of the permissions guide when the services are ready.

 

 

Work File System

Remember in the first step where we created that secure encrypted location? This permission allows us to display a virtual drive inside of your finder so that you can access work files. 

 

Work Clipboard

This is the last permission you need to give. (We promise). Venn uses a special clipboard that allows us to keep work data safe and inside the secure workspace. This does not access any of your personal data and is only used while working inside of Venn. 

• You will be logged out of your Mac for this final step. 
• You should save any work you have in progress and close other applications before proceeding. 

 

Congratulations

That's it! You can sign back into your Mac, launch the Workplace (Venn) app, and sign in with the password you created earlier.

 

Logging into Workplace and linking with your mobile device (if required)

If your organization requires the use of multifactor authentication using Venn, you'll need to link your mobile device to your account.

• You may be prompted to automatically download the app during the installation process.
• If that fails for any reason, you can also find the app here.

Logging into Venn

1. Open the Workplace (Venn) application.
2. Enter your username and click Next.
   • Enter your password and click Next.
3. When the app opens, a QR code is displayed.

Downloading the app

Open your smartphone camera to scan the QR code and begin the download process. Once installed, you’ll sign in and create a PIN that can be used to log in to the mobile app in the future.

1. You can also download the app directly by clicking this link.
2. Once installed, open the app.
3. Enter your Username and Password.
   • These are the same credentials you used to log into the desktop app.
   • The application opens to the welcome screen. Click Got It.
   • If your company obtained an Office 365 license from Venn, the Office application install dialog is displayed.

Installing Office Apps (optional)

1. To install free versions of your Office apps for use with Venn, click the black cloud download icon for each.
   • You can also always install these apps at a later time.
2. To move right to setting a PIN, click Skip for Now.
   • The PIN welcome screen displays.
3. Click Create PIN. The PIN creation screen is displayed.

Creating your pin

1. Enter a six-digit PIN. Try to use a secure PIN that’s easy to remember.
   • Once the last digit is entered, you’re automatically prompted to confirm the PIN.
2. Enter the PIN again.
   • If you make a mistake, click Start Over.
   • When the PIN is successfully confirmed, you’re done. The mobile Venn screen displays.

 

Approving multifactor authentication requests (if required)

Once the Venn applications on your computer and phone are linked, you can use multifactor authentication to sign into Venn.

After you enter your username and password, an approval request is sent to your phone.

1. Open the Venn app on your smartphone.
2. Enter your 6-digit pin.
3. Open the approval dialog.  Click Allow.