The Internet is an indispensable tool, and that much is certain. Unfortunately, the only other certainty is that there are millions of people on the Internet looking to intercept data, breach networks, and steal anything they can. That is why your business spends those extra precious dollars on cyber security. One tool that isn’t always mentioned as a part of a cyber security strategy is the virtual private network or VPN. Using a VPN benefits businesses in many ways.
A VPN is basically a Wide Area Network (WAN). It provides a useful layer of security when data has to be transmitted from one place to another. While this may seem simple, it’s actually quite complex. A VPN forms dedicated connections with alternate IPs worldwide using strong encryption to create a virtual peer-to-peer (P2P) connection. This allows data to be sent and received securely. As any intercepted data is encrypted and wouldn’t be viable to the hacker.
There are numerous ways this technology can be useful for your business. The obvious one would be to protect the transmission of data to and from employees dispatched outside of the confines of your LAN (and WLAN), but there are more benefits. Here are three:
VPNs help promote productivity
If you have serious reservations about allowing your staff access to company resources from public or unsecured networks –and you should– a VPN will give them the ability to send and receive data to your business’ network without having to be concerned about whether or not it is not picking up anything en route. Additionally, it has been proven that when employees have some flexibility about where they work, they are happier and more productive.
VPNs are cost-effective
For what it does, a VPN is relatively low-cost. This menial cost will pay for itself in both data security and peace of mind.
VPNs don’t just protect you
One often overlooked benefit of using a VPN is that it makes your clients confident that any data of theirs that you have isn’t going to be stolen.
Implementing VPNs is easy and can be done quickly. Additionally, they are very easy to use. This is a major benefit if you have remote workers that may not be the most tech-savvy.
The VPN is an essential part of a strong cyber security strategy. Especially if you operate and share data in multiple locations or depend on remote workers. If you want to learn more about getting a VPN integrated into your cyber security roster, reach out to WheelHouse IT at (877) 771-2384 today.
