--- title: Can I run a server, security cameras or a VPN? url: https://hdiss.net/faq/data-and-fair-use/can-i-run-a-server-cameras-or-a-vpn/ business: High Desert Internet Services (HDISS) phone: 775-575-9593, 775-391-5660 email: info@hdiss.net mailing_address: Home base: 200 S Virginia St, Suite 760, Reno NV 89501 (dispatch office, not a walk-in store). Mail: Billing Dept., PO Box 11353, Reno NV 89510 hours: Office open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, seven days a week. Network watched around the clock. type: Fixed wireless internet service provider (homes and small businesses), web hosting, customer email, domain registration service_area: Northern Nevada - Washoe, Lyon, Storey, Churchill and Douglas counties and Carson City; availability is checked address by address (line of sight to a tower) plans: Bronze $50/mo up to 500 Mbps down, up to 200 Mbps up; Silver $75/mo up to 800 down, up to 200 up; Gold $99/mo up to 1 Gig down, up to 200 up; ask about the up to 1 Gig / 1 Gig ultra-low-latency service no_online_purchase: true (check your address or call; existing customers pay at https://www2.fernley.net/hdiss/onlinepay/paymentform.cfm) since: 2002 --- - [Home](https://hdiss.net/) - [Questions and answers](https://hdiss.net/faq/) - [Data and fair use](https://hdiss.net/faq/data-and-fair-use/) - Can I run a server, security cameras or a VPN on my connection? # Can I run a server, security cameras or a VPN on my connection? Cameras and a VPN are ordinary traffic and fine within the data transfer limit. A server is something to ask the office about first, because the company has not published whether it opens ports or provides a fixed address. A security camera on a house. Stock photo: Adobe Stock. [Photo credits](https://hdiss.net/photo-credits/) The service agreement is the only written rule. It prohibits peer-to-peer and sets a data limit, and it does not ban cameras, VPNs or servers. It does leave some practical questions open. ## What about security cameras? A camera that sends video to a phone app or a cloud service counts as data that crosses your connection, and it uploads all day. The company lists up to 200 Mbps up on every plan, which is ample for cameras. The thing to watch is the monthly limit. Read [how much data security cameras use](https://hdiss.net/guides/how-much-data-do-security-cameras-use/) and [security camera upload use](https://hdiss.net/guides/security-camera-upload-use/). Reviewers also mention running cameras alongside streaming on the service. ## What about a VPN? A VPN wraps your traffic in a private tunnel to a work network or a service. It does not break the agreement. It does add some overhead, and a VPN that routes everything through a distant server can feel slower. The guide on [VPN at home](https://hdiss.net/guides/vpn-at-home/) covers the trade-offs. ## What about a server? Section 8.A makes the customer responsible for the set-up and upkeep of servers it runs, including mail, news and firewall servers. It does not forbid servers. But reaching a server from outside needs an open port or a fixed address, and the company has not said whether it provides either. Some networks also place many customers behind one shared public address, which makes a home server hard to reach; [CGNAT, cameras and gaming](https://hdiss.net/guides/cgnat-cameras-and-gaming/) explains the idea without saying whether it applies here. Ask the office these two questions: can I get a fixed address, and can ports be opened. The article on [opening a port or getting a static IP](https://hdiss.net/support/open-a-port-or-static-ip/) says what to have ready. Also ask whether a server that serves the public fits the plan you want. An outside peer-to-peer server would not; see [the peer-to-peer answer](https://hdiss.net/faq/data-and-fair-use/is-peer-to-peer-allowed/). ### Sources - [hdiss.net/terms-of-use/](https://hdiss.net/service-agreement/) (HDISS Service Agreement V 1.12, read 2026-10-15) - [hdiss.net/](https://hdiss.net/) (High Desert FAQ and service description, read 2026-10-15) ### Talk to a person - Call [775-575-9593](tel:7755759593) [775-391-5660](tel:7753915660) Open 9-5 every day - Email [info@hdiss.net](mailto:info@hdiss.net) [Check my address](https://hdiss.net/check-availability/#check) ### More on data and fair use - [What counts toward the data transfer limit?](https://hdiss.net/faq/data-and-fair-use/what-counts-toward-the-data-limit/) - [Is torrenting or peer-to-peer file sharing allowed?](https://hdiss.net/faq/data-and-fair-use/is-peer-to-peer-allowed/) [All data and fair use questions](https://hdiss.net/faq/data-and-fair-use/) ### Related - [Data and fair use: questions and answers](https://hdiss.net/faq/data-and-fair-use/) - [Network management and terms](https://hdiss.net/network-management/) - [Internet for security cameras and a smart home](https://hdiss.net/internet-for/security-cameras-smart-home/) - [Open a port or get a static IP](https://hdiss.net/support/open-a-port-or-static-ip/) Local since 2002 Fixed wireless from towers in Northern Nevada. Three plans, no contracts, local support, 4.8 on Google from 36 reviews. [About High Desert](https://hdiss.net/about/) ## Questions by topic [Plans and prices](https://hdiss.net/faq/plans-and-prices/) [Availability and line of sight](https://hdiss.net/faq/availability-and-line-of-sight/) [Installation](https://hdiss.net/faq/installation/) [Equipment](https://hdiss.net/faq/equipment/) [Billing and payment](https://hdiss.net/faq/billing-and-payment/) [Data and fair use](https://hdiss.net/faq/data-and-fair-use/) [Speed and latency](https://hdiss.net/faq/speed-and-latency/) [Weather and reliability](https://hdiss.net/faq/weather-and-reliability/) [Business](https://hdiss.net/faq/business/) [Email, hosting and domains](https://hdiss.net/faq/email-hosting-and-domains/) [Switching and cancelling](https://hdiss.net/faq/switching-and-cancelling/) [Support and outages](https://hdiss.net/faq/support-and-outages/)