Things to Know Before Connecting to Your Business VPN
Businesses and corporations have been relying on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for years to safeguard their cybersecurity and even individuals are increasingly opting to use them before connecting to the Internet from their personal devices. The fact is, we are all becoming more aware of how easy it is for third parties to access our private browsing data and, in some cases, use it for nefarious purposes.
Of course, it’s an absolute necessity for businesses to find effective solutions for dealing with cyber threats. Their existence depends upon it. Data breaches, hacking attempts, and full-blown attacks occur with alarming regularity, causing multi-million dollar disruptions across multiple industries.
There’s no doubt that utilizing a VPN is an important aspect of protecting your business’ data. But before connecting to your business VPN, it’s important to understand its protections and benefits.
Business VPN: How It Works
More than 400 million businesses and consumers around the globe rely on VPNs to protect their privacy and security. A typical internet connection is not secure, with zero encryption. A business VPN, however, provides end-to-end encryption for a device’s internet connection. It safeguards the data that business employees send and receive over the internet. Without effective protection, this information could be breached. One of the most convenient elements of a VPN is that no matter where employees connect with their business devices, they are protected remotely.
Improved Security
The key reason to connect with a business VPN is to improve security. VPNs vastly reduce the risk of a cyberattack or security breach. Keeping employees off public networks is paramount for safeguarding data security. These breaches can compromise the trust that customers or clients place in a company. They can damage a company’s reputation for the long term and they can also have a real cost in terms of compensation or regulatory fines. When choosing a business VPN, you’ll want to select one that encrypts your company’s internet connection completely.
Convenient Access
With a VPN in place, business employees can connect remotely from nearly anywhere, including overseas. The flexibility of working from a hotel or a cafe can enhance employees’ productivity, but also promote their peace of mind when they know that their work conducted in a public space is safe from hackers. In this light, a VPN not only improves cybersecurity; it promotes accessibility. If your employees are connecting to the Internet from a country that is subject to regional censorship, it’s no problem for them because the VPN will route their location through a server that allows access to the sites your business uses.
Affordability
VPNs are a cost-effective option for all types of businesses. In fact, they can be far more affordable than installing a physical private network. Prices vary, though. There are free VPN options, do-it-yourself options, relatively cheap options, and pricier ones. Many businesses turn to VPN experts to help them select the best option for their needs.
Scalability and Reliability
Before connecting to a business VPN, you’ll want to make sure that your selected option is a reliable one. It’s important for businesses to deliver a consistent experience for their employees regardless of the device they’re connecting from (i.e. PC, tablet, or smartphone). Next, many VPNs may be a good fit currently for a business, but what about in the years to come? Can your provider accommodate your expected business growth?
Potential Drawbacks
Before connecting to a business VPN, keep in mind that there may be a few drawbacks. Unless your business is relying on a managed cloud-based VPN, it will require a team who can assist in the management of the VPN. In many cases, this type of work requires a dedicated full-time IT professional who can manage the VPN and its updates. This can be a drawback for businesses who may not have the budget for this additional role. Managing a VPN is technical work, so it’s not something that any employee can be trained to do.
VPNs can protect your data. In light of recent serious data breaches and cybersecurity attacks, it’s almost inexcusable for a company not to take cybersecurity seriously. Is a VPN the right answer for your business? That’s something only you can decide. Fortunately, there are ample services that can help you understand how a VPN can enhance your business security and help you select a VPN that’s ideal for your organization.
