You might have heard the phrase ‘VPN’ when exploring security options for your small-medium sized business. Why? For many organizations, it’s an essential part of both protecting their network and providing optimal services to their user base.
But what is it? A VPN stands for “virtual private network.” This allows a user to connect to a third-party service and/or program. This program then encrypts the connection by sending it through a “tunnel,” protecting the information sent and received. In a way, imagine it as a middleman looking over the data you send online, and shielding it with some fancy lamination. This prevents stolen information, halts ad trackers, and increases security in general.
Now, why is this good for your business? Plenty of reasons! but we’ll hit a few here.
Travel
The internet is a different beast depending on where you go. In some cases, like other countries, you can’t even access the same resources based on local providers. Ever been denied access to media because “it wasn’t available in your country?” Imagine that, but for business resources.
A VPN can act as a private connector when traveling abroad. For instance, if you’re in Hong Kong, you can connect to a US-based VPN, avoiding potential roadblocks when accessing said company data.
Encrypted Browsing
If your business provides wi-fi options for public and professional use, a VPN protects this info. This is especially important if you utilize an all-access public wi-fi point. Data sent over public connections – when not encrypted – is readily visible to third parties who know how to take it. That means anyone sharing media, logging into websites with their password, or checking any other form of activity is ripe for exploitation.
Again, VPN encryption circumvents this.
Additional Protection
This varies based on the VPN provider, but often they are accompanied by tools to prevent malware intrusions or identify bots. In the realm of cybersecurity, anything is dangerous. Therefore, keeping malware away from your sensitive data is important.
Additionally, just as you can protect user data connecting to your wi-fi, the same shielding applies to your workforce. No doubt an abundance of valuable intel is shared during communications, so it’s crucial this info is protected.
Network Diversity
While it’s often handled through a switch or network infrastructure, VPNs can also break up who connects to what on your internal network. This is great for partitioning data and making sure the appropriate parties access the appropriate data. For instance, you wouldn’t necessarily want those in accounting to share network space with those in customer service.
These are only a handful of benefits offered by a third-party VPN. But, the core principle remains the same: it guards and encrypts information traveling to and from your network. Consider this option if you have employees who frequently travel, or spend a large percentage of business time in communications. It’s the difference between safety and a data breach.
