Why are you reading this onboarding guide?

You have selected this onboarding guide because your company is using Venn and has integrated with another way of managing user identities and passwords.  This means you:

• have a username and password you're bringing to Venn
• need the Venn application installed on your Mac

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.

 

Logging in with your username and password

You will use your standard company username and password for logging into Venn.

1. Open the login link from your invite. A login window displays.

2. Enter the username in your email and click Continue.

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

 

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

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

• Now’s a good time to make sure you have the password needed for installing new software, 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, if required. 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.

   • Installation finally begins and package scripts run.

As part of the installation, Venn must add an extension to your default browser, and you’ll be asked to quit it, if required. Your browser will reopen, with a blank Extensions dialog displayed.

Adding the Secure Browsing Extension

Venn adds an extension to the browser to enable secure productivity across all the web apps and experiences you depend on for work. The extensions' capabilities are explained below.

• These are very normal permissions to be given to your browser. The extension just lets us do the same thing securely.

• The extension is only active when you are logged into Venn and have a browser running inside the blue border.

To add the extension:

1. Select the Workplace by OS 33 extension to approve it and close the window.

2. The installation is complete.

 It's now time to set the Mac OS permissions Venn needs to help you keep your personal and work applications, files, and network traffic separate 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 in to your Mac, launch the Workplace (Venn) app, and sign in.