All Zscaler users will require a valid HARP ID. For instructions on the process, refer to the HARP page.

Organizations are required to install the Zscaler client on their corporate machines. Please refer to the Zscaler Installation Instructions page to download copies of installation guides as well as the client installation packages.

Additionally, the the client installation packages can be obtained by contacting the Service Center @ 866-288-8914 (TRS: 711), slack channel help-service-center-sos or via email at ServiceCenterSOS@cms.hhs.gov. 

If you have issues, please submit a Service Request within ServiceNow requesting support for Zscaler Installation. The ticket will be routed to the ESS Access Management Team. 

Once your organization is added to the vetted list, your end users can utilize HARP to request Zscaler as a service. The SO will be able to automatically approve requests from end users.

Once your organization has been added to the vetted list, Zscaler has been installed and the end user has been approved via HARP, you are ready to access and use Zscaler. For information on how to get started, please refer to the Zscaler User Guide.

Go to https://harp.qualitynet.org and log into your HARP account.

Once your role has been approved by your SO, you will then have access to Zscaler

Zscaler is an alternative to VPN that utilizes a different method of allowing users access to resources within an internal network. It uses tunneling to transmit data between the client and desired resource. This approach eliminates the need to have clients enter into the network directly as is done with VPN.  

The Zscaler solution is made up of two primary modules;  Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA) and Zscaler Private Access (ZPA).

Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA) is a secure Internet and web gateway delivered as a service from the cloud. Before reaching the user, ZIA inspects every byte of traffic inline across multiple security techniques, even within SSL providing full protection from web and Internet threats.

Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) provides secure remote access and works by abstracting a private, internal application from the network on which it resides and provides specific applications access to authorized users via encrypted, per session micro tunnels that are created upon demand.

When logged into Zscaler (utilizing both ZIA and ZPA) you will be able to reach tools residing on the QualityNet network such as AWS or QualityNet applications. It will also allow access Internet facing sites that your organization’s firewall and anti-virus policies allow access to.  

When logged into Zscaler (utilizing both ZIA and ZPA), you will not be able to access anything that your organizations Firewall or Anti-virus policies prohibit.  Please reach out to your IT Administrator for information regarding policies for your organizations firewall and anti-virus configurations.  

Please refer to the How to Request Zscaler Confluence Page. This page provides information for New and Existing QualityNet contractors.

SOs should be submitting requests for Zscaler via a ServiceNow request or inquiry with the QualityNet Service Desk. The "How to Request Zscaler" Confluence page lays out all these details.

Yes. You can use the Outlook Desktop Application or Outlook on the Web or what is formerly known as OWA. The Outlook desktop application is not fully compatible with Zscaler for QualityNet email and it is recommended to go with the web version.

Yes. You can access your QualityNet email while using Zscaler. 

• To access your QualityNet email go to the following URL: https://outlook.office365.com/mail/

• Symantec VIP registration can be found at: https://vipssp.qualnet.org/vipssp/

  • You will need Symantec VIP installed on your machine and it must be registered.

No.  The reason for this configuration is to enforce protection of the computer while connected to QualityNet using Zscaler.  ZIA provides threat protection for Internet traffic reducing overall risk that the computer will become infected by an external threat while connected to QualityNet.  Only a Zscaler Private Access Administrator (not local IT Admin) can turn off ZIA and still remain active with their ZPA account.

Yes.  However, you will not be able to access information or tools residing upon the QualityNet network such as  AWS or QualityNet applications such as those residing on QualityNet.org.

The intent is for both QualityNet VPN and QualityNet VID to no longer be needed.  Zscaler is intended to be the preferred method of connectivity to QualityNet network tools and applications. With the move to CFE/GFE, and the ability to directly connect to resources within QualityNet, Zscaler will eliminate the need for QualityNet VPN and VDI to be used. 

If you were previously a QualityNet VPN user, your experience with using Zscaler will only alter minimally from that of VPN. Instead of logging into VPN, you will now log into Zscaler.  You will not see any differences in how you access sites or tools except that you will be on a CFE or GFE machine in which your organization may have different settings when browsing the Internet. 

If QualityNet VPN remains on your machine and your access remains active, please note that Zscaler and VPN cannot work simultaneously and you would have to log out of one in order to use the other.  

Reference the HCQIS Zscaler Users Guide for any login questions. 

Yes. If your organization is using Split-Tunneling or Full-Tunneling settings within your VPN, please be prepared to share your VPN HostName (or IP) with ESS Access Management.  Additional configurations may be required within your settings to properly route traffic, and allow users to access both corporate systems as well as QualityNet systems simultaneously.

If you were previously a QualityNet VDI user, your experience will be altered while using Zscaler in a positive way.  When using VDI, you are on a virtual desktop that has programs loaded onto it based on your role and organization.  When using Zscaler, you will be logged only onto your laptop to access programs and tools that are installed or available via the Internet.   

Reference the HCQIS Zscaler Users Guide for any login questions.

If you or an end user within your organization is receiving the following error when logging into Zscaler “Endpoint FW/AV Error”, then your organizations Firewall (FW) or Antivirus (AV) is blocking Zscaler, causing it to be non-operational. To remedy this, your organization's IT Administrator will have to white-list a specific subnet within your FW or AV.

If you run into this issue during configuration or thereafter, please submit a ticket within ServiceNow referencing the error you received. ESS Access Management will provide the proper subnet to white-list.

If you cannot access a tool, drive, host or server that you normally could prior to Zscaler, first bring this up with your organization's IT Administrator or colleagues to ensure that naming conventions are using Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDN). A FQDN is the complete domain name for a specific computer, or host, on the internet. The FQDN consists of two parts: the hostname and the domain name.

• For example: Use "http://hostname.domain/test/" or "http://hostname.qnet.qualnet.org/test/"
  • Only using http://hostname/test/ will not work on Zscaler, but would work on the current VPN setup

If FQDN names are being used or were added and access is still not available, then submit a ServiceNow ticket and assign to ESS Access Management Team. Please include detailed information such as the tool, host and server name. The ESS Access Management team may have to add this tool, drive, host or server to your network segment group to ensure all at your organization with access can get to it in the future.

No, not at this time. The mobile (Android and iOS) policies have been disabled at this time. If the use of Zscaler via mobile becomes a necessity for a number of users, this feature could be addressed at a later time.

If you are experiencing any issues with Zscaler such as installation, errors, loss of service or any other problems, please contact the Service Center @ 866-288-8914 (TRS: 711) or via email at ServiceCenterSOS@cms.hhs.gov. Business hours are 7 am- 7 pm CDT Monday through Friday.  

Please provide as much information, error codes or screenshots if possible to allow for quick troubleshooting.

If you are experiencing this error when attempting to log into Zscaler, your Security Point of Contact needs to open a Service Now Request for your HARP ID to be configured for Zscaler. The ticket should be assigned to ESS-HARP team.

If you are experiencing this error when attempting to log into Zscaler, first you should verify you are able to log in and that your token method set up for your HARP ID is working by going to https://harp.qualitynet.org/login/login. I you are able to log in there and the problem with logging into Zscaler continues, then try rebooting your workstation.

According to Zscaler support, the only Windows Disk Encryption supported by Zscaler is BitLocker. All 3rd party encryption is not recognized. An Enhancement Request has been submitted "To provide 3rd party support for encryption products". However, there is no planned/expected release date at this time.

Issue: All RHEL and CENTOS AMIs have routing settings that force the Zscaler networks over the Management interface on the host.  Due to this static routing configuration, Zscaler connections will not be allowed to the Functional interface on the host. This will prevent users being able to reach application web pages while logged into Zscaler. Currently VPN and VDI do not use this type of network configuration, so users can connect to both management and application interfaces on the same host.

To resolve this issue please go to the following page that provides detailed information: Linux FAQ

The ADO or Customer Success Manager will submit a ServiceNow Ticket assigned to the ESS-HARP team.