Why Your Business Should Have a VPN
What is a VPN?
A VPN — or virtual private network — is a service that ensures your connection to the internet and what you do while surfing the web is private, secure and anonymous.
VPNs were first created as a way for employees to access an organization’s private network while offsite. They’re a boon for companies who have remote workers or employees who travel frequently who need to reach the network through a laptop, phone or tablet.
How have VPNs evolved?
VPNs have developed from their original use. While they still provide employees access to network files and a way to share and store information, VPNs offer increased security.
VPN popularity has risen with the increase of cybercrime, which has increased exponentially throughout the last two decades. The FBI’s 2019 Internet Crime Report revealed that individual and business annual losses due to cybercrime totaled more than $3.5 billion. That’s an increase from $1.5 billion in losses in 2015.
Hackers have refined their approaches, meaning network security and VPNs have had to become more sophisticated, too. Not only can you securely sign in to a company’s network through a VPN, it allows you to surf the web undetected so websites can’t track your activity. Additionally, VPN popularity has made the technology more accessible and affordable.
Should you have a VPN?
VPNs provide a variety of benefits that will help your employees work while keeping your valuable data secure.
Accessibility
The ability to work remotely is one that employees have come to expect and businesses realize they must have, if even for temporary scenarios. VPNs allow employees to sign into the network through multiple-factor authentication. They can store, share and access files within the network to keep business operations running smoothly, no matter their location.
Privacy
VPNs enable users to hide online activity and disguise their computer’s IP address, which is a string of numbers and letters that identifies an online user. That’s how websites can track your activity and use cookies. Cookies can be beneficial in making your browsing experience faster and easier based on the activity. However, it can make it easier for hackers to track and target you in cyberattacks.
Security
Cybersecurity concerns are here to stay. A VPN provides increased security from cyberattacks because it encrypts all of the data you create online. When hackers encounter encrypted data, they come up against a protective wall. Not only is your online activity encrypted with a VPN, the files you upload and download are encrypted, as well.
Many VPN providers also offer increased security options. You can track the devices on which employees access the network in addition to limiting the devices you don’t want to connect.
Versatility
Today’s workforce operates on more than just a desktop computer. Your organization likely has a variety of devices that access your network — tablets, phones, laptops, web cameras, smart televisions, voice service devices and more. When you invest in a VPN, you ensure that all of the devices and operating systems you use are covered under the service.
Interested in securing a VPN for your business? We can help. Contact us at InfomaxOffice.com.
