The Connection, Inc Blog

Does your business focus enough on security? One of the best solutions that you can consider is a virtual private network, or VPN. By implementing a VPN solution, you can improve the security and privacy on your devices even while out of the office on important business trips or at conferences. What can a VPN do for your business?

Essentially, a VPN can mask your traffic so you can access your company data securely while out of the office. It does this through powerful, military-grade encryption protocol that scrambles your data while it’s in transit. The data is then decrypted when it has reached its destination, keeping hackers from taking advantage of any data that they stole while you’re out and about. It’s an important asset that lets your organization and its employees remotely access data while on the road on mobile devices.

The VPN’s primary use is to access important information on your business’s network without worrying about the data being swiped by hackers. This lets your workers continue to be productive even when they aren’t in the safety of your in-house network. VPNs can even allow your business to keep a virtual desktop running, which can let your workers access their in-house desktop without being in the office.

Of course, priority #1 should always be security, especially considering the fact that cybersecurity is such a problem for businesses of all sizes. Criminals take full advantage of advances in technology just like security professionals do, so leaps and bounds in security developments also present new challenges for hackers to overcome.

Now, what if you’re on a business trip and you need to access your data? While your hotel or coffee shop might have a Wi-Fi password, there’s no way that you can guarantee its security (since you’re not the one managing it). If you access sensitive data over this connection, there’s a chance that hackers could be lurking in the shadows, watching and waiting to make their move. They don’t even have to be in the same room as you. They could be down the hall with the shades pulled over the window, watching your every move on the network, or they could be at the diner down the street.

The point we’re trying to make is that public Wi-Fi is unpredictable and dangerous if you aren’t protected. A lot can be said about the person whose data is being stolen, and a hacker can use that data to their advantage. A VPN can protect your business’s assets, even when you’re out of the office.

We’ve seen other uses for VPNs, as well. They are often used to ensure privacy of residents or secure access to websites that are protected by geographic restrictions. For example, China has outlawed the use of VPNs since they are often used to get around the Great Firewall, giving citizens access to information that they otherwise would not be able to view. Other countries continue to follow suit, including Russia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Venezuela. While this makes it more difficult for businesses in these countries to secure themselves, just think about the implication that this presents. VPNs are so secure that countries known for censorship and cyber espionage are banning them because they conflict with their agendas. It’s impossible to regulate traffic that’s encrypted like this, so they flat out ban the technology.

If your business wants to ensure protection while on the go, a VPN is a good start. To get started, reach out to The Connection, Inc at (732) 291-5938.

With all of the talk about the FCC and Net Neutrality in the recent news, a lot of computer users are concerned about the amount of privacy afforded them by their Internet service providers--and rightfully so. Regardless of whether the net neutrality ruling was justified (hint: it wasn’t), users are finding that they have to take their privacy into their own hands. The easiest way to do so is with a Virtual Private Network.

A virtual private network (also known as a VPN) is something that more and more businesses are using, especially now while most of the workforce is now working from home. As a means of encrypting data while it is in transit, the use of a VPN enables you to transmit assorted types of data more safely. Of course, not all VPNs are the same, and so you need to be careful to select the right solution for your needs.

Let’s go over a few considerations you should keep in mind.

Why Do I Need a VPN?

Look at it this way: in a normal situation, how often do you find yourself accessing the Internet as you’re out and about--more specifically, checking on business matters and sending and receiving business data? Any time you do so (or otherwise access the Internet) your data is susceptible to being spied on and/or intercepted on its way to its destination. 

Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic currently in place, we’re far from a normal situation. Now it is more important than ever to give your workforce a secure way to access company data.

This should make the importance of a VPN to businesses of all sizes only too apparent.

What to Look for in a Business VPN

There are fundamental differences between a VPN designed for consumer use and one designated for a business. A personal-use VPN allows your selection process to be boiled down into what is pretty much a simple value-based decision: which option gives me the protection and speed for the best price? Personal VPNs tend to protect home users from being tracked online. It’s yet another layer of protection, but they aren’t really designed for business.

However, a business has different needs than an individual user, the primary one being the fact that the end-user isn’t necessarily the one who should be controlling the VPN’s use.

To address this exact issue, business VPNs are designed to allow for centralized management, something that consumer-focused VPNs do not. With a business VPN, you have the power to make sure each user is protected by the VPN in a simple way.

Additionally, different types of VPNs exist to fulfill different needs. There are remote access VPNs, which are the better-known variety that preserves privacy and protects data while it’s in transit. There are also site-to-site VPNs, which allow users working on different networks to access resources from the others’. This is particularly handy in large businesses with multiple locations, as they allow data to be shared between locations conveniently and without any risk to security.

This has just been a brief introduction to the VPN-selection process. If you’re serious about putting one into place, or even if you just want to learn more about them, reach out to The Connection, Inc. Our team can help evaluate your situation and recommend the best course of action for you, as well as help you fulfill your business’ IT needs. Call us at (732) 291-5938 today.