If you’re a casual internet user in your personal life, you may not feel the need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in your day-to-day use. However, for business purposes, a VPN might be a critical tool you could be missing out on. In this article, we take a look at VPNs and why you may want to consider investing in one if you haven’t already.

What is a VPN?

A virtual private network (VPN) establishes an “encrypted tunnel between a device or endpoint (like a laptop, mobile phone, or desktop) and one or more internet-facing servers.” This technology has been around since 1996, when it was created by a Microsoft employee. It assures businesses extra privacy and security when their employees connect to their Wi-Fi.

How do they work? As one security software developer explains it, when connected to the VPN ‘tunnel,’ “an end user sends their data through that tunnel where it’s encrypted, and at the end of the tunnel, the data is picked up and metaphorically wrapped in a blanket of an organization’s security measures (e.g., a firewall). Once the data is safely nestled in that blanket (a security blanket, if you will), it’s rerouted to wherever it needs to go.”

A business VPN differs from a VPN you might subscribe to for your personal devices at home. Though they both work by creating an encrypted connection between your devices and a remote network, there are some key differences to be aware of:

A business VPN:

• Is meant to support many employees by securely connecting to a company’s internal network
• Allows for the secure transfer of sensitive data over the internet
• Allows a company to manage employee access levels
• Supports multiple locations/offices by creating a secure tunnel for employees to connect to from several places
• Isn’t primarily used to hide a user’s geographic location or protect oneself when using public Wi-Fi, like a commercial VPN is

Why are VPNs critical for businesses?

Cybersecurity is no small consideration in the increasing digital age. With ransomware and malware posing a real threat to many organizations, a VPN is an extra, often necessary step to protect your data.

A VPN helps secure your company’s data by:

• Guaranteeing security even in a hybrid or remote working model
• Guaranteeing security even when employees are traveling and using public or hotel Wi-Fi connections
• Preventing malicious outsider activity from reaching your network
• Allowing for more resources to be accessed from the cloud
• Allowing multiple types of devices to connect, including mobile devices
• Allowing for companies it utilize bring your own device (BYOD) policies safely
• Meeting some industry compliance requirements, such as healthcare providers storing patient information in the cloud

Providers often offer customized solutions.

This isn’t just a solution for large enterprises. Organizations of all sizes, across all industries, should consider investing in a VPN, if they have any sensitive financial or client data that needs protecting. Some larger organizations can host VPN infrastructure themselves. However, providers also offer solutions and pricing models to fit different budgets and capabilities. For very small operations, there are limited, free or cost-effective VPNs out there that might suffice.

Things to keep in mind with business VPNs.

Not all VPN solutions are built equal, and the cost of employing a below standard option can be considerable. Not just in the monetary cost, but in employee productivity as well. A VPN that isn’t running with modern, expected speeds can create significant lag and frustration for users. In some cases, employees will resort to abandoning the VPN for productivity, which then compromises security.

Are you looking for cybersecurity insurance?

As mentioned, ransomware and malware are a rising threat. Many organizations are considering cybersecurity insurance to protect themselves, financially, in the case of an attack. However, many of these insurance providers will require your business to be using a VPN.

In conclusion…

A VPN, when using the right solution, is a critical tool for a business’ cybersecurity. Investing in one should be a serious consideration for any organization with sensitive data to protect or with employees who work remotely.