Purpose of this article
This article explains the difference between the University of Montana (UM) VPN service and commercial VPN services marketed for personal privacy. These tools serve different purposes, even though they share the same name: VPN (Virtual Private Network).
Understanding the distinction will help you choose the right tool for your situation and avoid common misconceptions.
What is the UM VPN?
The UM VPN is a university-provided service designed to help faculty, staff, and students access internal University of Montana systems and resources when they are off campus.
What the UM VPN is designed to do
-
Allow access to resources restricted to UM networks (for example, internal applications, research systems, or licensed services)
When you connect to the UM VPN, your device is treated as if it is on the UM network.
What the UM VPN is not designed to do
-
Hide your online activity from the University
-
Provide anonymity or privacy from websites you visit
-
Bypass content filters, laws, or service restrictions
All traffic that passes through the UM VPN is subject to University policies, logging, and monitoring, just like traffic on campus.
What is a privacy-focused (commercial) VPN?
A privacy-focused VPN is a commercial service (often subscription-based) designed to protect a user’s personal privacy on the internet.
What privacy-focused VPNs are designed to do
-
Encrypt your internet traffic to protect it from local networks (such as coffee shops or hotels)
-
Mask your IP address from websites you visit
-
Reduce tracking by advertisers and third parties
These services route your traffic through the VPN provider’s servers rather than your local network.
Important considerations
-
You are placing trust in the VPN provider instead of your internet provider
-
Privacy protections vary widely between vendors
-
Some services keep logs despite marketing claims
UM does not endorse or support specific commercial VPN providers.
Which one should I use?
Use the UM VPN if you need to:
Consider a privacy-focused VPN if you want to:
Final takeaway
Although they share a name, UM VPNs and privacy-focused VPNs serve very different goals. The UM VPN exists to provide access to internal University systems and data, while commercial VPNs are designed for personal privacy on the broader internet.
If you’re unsure which tool is appropriate for your situation, the UM IT Helpdesk can help point you in the right direction.