With organisations around the world facing increasingly costly and complex Cyber security attacks, the use of security tools such as VPNs has never been more important. Business VPNs contribute to the businesses risk mitigation strategy and reduce the likelihood of a breach.
Here is an overview that looks at what is a business VPN, why businesses need them and the key benefits of using them:
What is a business VPN?
VPN is an acronym for Virtual Private Network, a VPN allows the user to safely and securely connect to another network on their device over the internet. Using a VPN offers increased privacy and anonymity when online.
Specifically, a business VPN is a connection used by businesses to securely connect offices or remote workers to their resources, tools, systems and data that is necessary for them to carry out their jobs effectively.
The VPN is used to augment perimeter security and make it safe for staff to connect to public or private WIFI anywhere in the world. While a VPN might not be necessary when all workers are based within one office and are able to connect to the business’ network directly in the perimeter, it is needed for remote access or site to site connection.
Remote access VPNs encrypts all of the data remote employees transfer to and from the network infrastructure. A site-to-site VPN works by connecting multiple networks, such as a head office network and a branch office network.
One consideration to make when implementing VPNs in a business is the potential impact that it may have on speeds. A VPN can be no faster than the internet connection itself and whether it can slow speeds depends on the authentication and encryption technology the VPN uses.
The VPN might be slower when a high amount of data is being transferred at one time, for example remote workers have a video conference. With less data intensive activities like send word documents, speed is unlikely to be an issue.
Another consideration that needs to be thought about is the expense and set up involved in implementing a VPN in the business. Integrating them into an existing network can take a significant amount of time and requires an adequate budget, particularly if there are a high number of users or locations involved.
Why businesses should use business VPNs
There are a whole range of benefits of using VPNs for organisations:
Improved security
One of the main aims for businesses using VPNs is to bolster their cyber security. A VPN creates a secure connection on whatever device the users are logging into.
Depending on which VPN service the business users, some can even identify malware. It will stop hackers, malicious software, and web browsers from being able to gain access to the connection.
Online privacy
The VPN will provide end-to-end encryption of any data that is passed through the network, this level of encryption is likely to be 256-bit encryption and makes all communication nosensicial to anyone outside the network that should not be able to access them.
Achieving this level of privacy is essential for businesses, they have a responsibility to keep data private and secure and this is even more important when handling personal data or controlled unclassified information.
It also helps to reach compliance requirements and stay compliant with regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Geographical independence and access
For some users, particularly business travellers in places with restricted internet access, using a VPN can use a different IP address and access the network as if they were still in their home country.
This ensures continuity and allows them to continue to use the network and data that they need in order to carry out their role effectively. Many VPN providers also provide thorough logging, so information can be passed to the authorities in any situation where this is required.
Network scalability
Another key benefit for businesses of all sizes, particularly those that are growing at a fast rate, is network scalability. Using a VPN server the business is able to give access to many office based and remote employees instantly.
The VPN can support the use of a cloud environment where key applications can be run. To add more employees, a business just needs to expand their bandwidth (if needed) and provide the individuals with their own login credentials.
Could save money on support services
A VPN may even help to reduce IT support costs. The VPN service provider can keep track of performance checks and security measures and provide reports to the company.
Paying for this service is cheaper than hiring a larger internal IT team for many businesses.
For these reasons, using a VPN service is important for businesses of all sizes. A VPN is an essential aspect of a business’ cyber security toolkit and helps to ensure the network and important data remains secure.
