VPNs offer secure network access to teams working remotely or on the go. This makes them an important tool for businesses with a remote workforce or that rely on business travel.
Without a VPN, your internet traffic is visible to hackers, government agencies and even your ISP. With a VPN, your data travels through an encrypted tunnel.
Security
A VPN creates a secure tunnel of data to your devices using encryption protocols. This makes it difficult for hackers to intercept your information and steal sensitive details such as passwords.
Additionally, VPNs make your digital activities untraceable, even while you’re on public Wi-Fi. This makes them a great tool for protecting yourself from identity theft.
In the workplace, VPNs are ideal for remote work setups since they enable employees to connect to company files and applications on any device from anywhere in the world. This ensures that valuable customer and business data remains protected and safe from malicious attackers.
However, a VPN is not the only solution for securing your network. Fortinet’s Universal ZTNA is a robust and more effective alternative that combines the advantages of VPN with additional security features like ongoing verification, granular access control, and a client-initiated model for increased efficiency. It also helps organizations save on support services by reducing the time IT teams spend troubleshooting and managing an in-house VPN server.
Accessibility
With remote working a regular part of many companies, employees need access to their company network from home, hotel rooms and even airports. VPNs enable these users to access their files and applications safely, irrespective of where they are located. They also make it easier to share documents with teams who are scattered around the country or world, as the connection is direct from their computer to the central server. VPN software such as soft ethernet (SoftEther) is easy to set up and runs on Windows, Linux, macOS and Android. VPNs also help counter price discrimination that occurs when online retailers alter prices based on your location and device type. This is sometimes called dynamic pricing.
A VPN provides a gateway to the company’s local area network (LAN) that can be easily expanded with the addition of new team members.
Privacy
One of the most significant benefits of VPN is that it provides privacy and protection. When you connect to a VPN, your data and metadata are scrambled into an unreadable jumble that only the VPN server can decipher with a key. This makes it impossible for anyone else to spy on your internet activity and get ahold of personal information like passwords and email addresses.
VPNs can also protect you when using public Wi-Fi networks at airports, hotels and malls. Public Wi-Fi connections are often unencrypted, making it easier for hackers to access the information you send over them. VPNs prevent this by encrypting all of your data and protecting you from malicious software.
A best ssr vpn can also help you avoid data throttling, which is when your ISP slows down your connection because you’re approaching a cap. This is especially helpful for employees with limited data plans on their smart devices and gives them the flexibility to work from home or the office without worrying about overages.
Performance
When considering a VPN solution for your organization, you should consider the performance features. VPNs can help reduce latency, but this depends on the distance between your site and the server, as well as how crowded the servers are.
Another benefit of VPNs is that they can allow you to avoid data throttling by your internet service provider. This happens when you reach a certain limit on your data plan and your ISP slows your connection down to prevent additional data consumption.
In terms of performance, you can also save on IT expenses by outsourcing your network support to a third-party vendor. This will save your organization money on staff hours spent checking performance and monitoring security. These savings can be significant, especially for small businesses that are struggling with budget constraints. Using a premium VPN can also reduce your data usage and thus avoid expensive overage fees. This can be especially helpful for remote workers who are working from home or traveling.