Use of the U-M VPN service is recommended during all University remote work. A Virtual Private Network is a way to connect to on-campus services when you are working off-campus. The VPN client software will encrypt your network traffic, so data is securely sent to and from University networks. Using the VPN is especially recommended when connecting from a public network, such as Wi-Fi in coffee shops, hotels, conference centers, etc. Certain activities also require the use of a VPN for remote access, such as:
- File Servers
- Remote Desktop Connections
- OARS
- MGIS
Sensitive data should never be saved locally on personal laptops or home computers, and should remain on U-M servers and approved cloud storage services (e.g. Google, Dropbox).