Business VPN: What is it, and how can it secure your company?

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More than 400 million people around the world use a virtual private network (VPN) to secure their connection and access region-blocked content. Companies can also benefit from a business VPN, which can help safeguard mission-critical data, communications, and more.

In this article, we’ll discuss what business VPNs are and how they can secure your company. Let’s jump right into it.

What is a business VPN?

Put simply, a business VPN is an application that encrypts your organisation’s internet connection. This ensures you and your staff are operating on a secured web connection when using company-owned devices – even if your team is working from home.

Encrypted data is private and secure. That means it’s inaccessible to hackers, competitors, advertisers, fake Wi-Fi networks, and even governments (many people living in China use VPNs to visit Facebook and Twitter).

How does a business VPN secure my company?

A VPN can help keep your business safe and secure in several ways. Here are some of the top benefits to consider.

Improved overall security

Antivirus software alone is not enough to keep your personal and company information out of malicious hands. While antivirus programs can defend against known malware, they struggle against newer threats. Further, whether you use a Mac or PC, to get the most out of your antivirus software, it must be up-to-date.

A VPN can help fill in the inevitable security gaps. By providing genuine end-to-end encryption of all data, VPNs ensure documents, communication, customer information, and other sensitive data is accessible to authorised users only.

Safe remote access to data

So many businesses are transitioning to cloud computing, especially in the wake of COVID-19. Cloud-based storage and data sharing give employees access to the information and programs they need from any internet-connected device, enabling seamless collaboration and remote work. The problem is, as cloud usage grows in the business sphere, so, too, do cloud security threats.

Whether your team is at home or on the go, the big question is this: how can they connect to your business’s cloud network securely?

A VPN for businesses may be the answer. A VPN allows you to connect to a secure server that hosts your data. And, because the data is encrypted, it’s not visible to unauthorised users.

Secure data sharing

Secure data sharing between team members is one of the biggest drawcards of investing in a business VPN.

To take full advantage of this feature, be sure the VPN service you decide on encrypts your internet connection in its entirety – not just the business network. That way, when files are uploaded, emails are sent, and data is collected and stored, it is automatically safeguarded from prying eyes.

Downsides of corporate VPNs

Business or corporate VPNs are a fantastic security tool, but they’re not without their drawbacks. Here are two to keep in mind:

• Business VPNs require a resource commitment – that means time, money, and effort. How difficult and expensive your VPN will be will depend on the size and complexity of your network and how many users you have. If you’re not sure how to choose a VPN provider, it’s best to chat with a tech professional that specialises in small business IT support.
• Keeping your VPN environment clean, secure, and up-to-date does require some technical know-how – it’s not a set-and-forget process. Again, unless you have an in-house technical team or operational manager, you may be better off outsourcing your IT to a services provider.

At the end of the day, your data is one of your business’s most valuable assets. Think about how much it would cost you to replace it, to start from scratch. Perhaps that wouldn’t even be possible. Think of a VPN – as well as other security measures – like insurance, a small price to pay for peace of mind and employee and client protection.