5 Benefits of Using VPNs by Remote Workers

People now approach their employment differently due to the move to remote work environments, and almost every part of work now requires access to the Internet. But there is now a greater chance of cyberattacks as a result of this shift. The distinction between vulnerability and privacy has never been more hazy as more people access private data from different places.

VPNs, or virtual private networks, have become a vital tool for protecting internet connections. There are many more advantages that a VPN can offer, particularly for remote work, in addition to protection. The main advantages of a VPN for remote work and how it might improve enterprise cybersecurity will be discussed in this blog.

What is a VPN?

One service that offers an additional degree of protection when using the Internet is a virtual private network, or VPN. It makes it considerably more difficult to track or steal vital information and corporate data by establishing a private, encrypted tunnel between your company’s devices and the Internet.

When you use a VPN to connect to the internet, your traffic is redirected via a secure server located in a different location. By doing this, your remote workers’ IP address is hidden, giving the impression that they are browsing from the server rather than their own. According to data, 80% of users use VPNs to boost security.

Furthermore, a VPN is independent of a certain network. Any network can be utilized with a VPN once it is installed on a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. 

Here are five benefits of why remote workers should use a VPN:

Maintaining your team’s productivity and online safety is more crucial than ever as remote work becomes more common. Here are 5 advantages of using a VPN for remote work to demonstrate the significance of this:

1. Secure Remote Connections

In addition to working from home, remote workers can work from coffee shops, co-working spaces, libraries, and even while on the road. Your employees frequently use public Wi-Fi to access the Internet while working in these locations. These public Wi-Fi is more susceptible to cyberattacks and are frequently less secure.

Your internet connection is encrypted using a VPN, which virtually eliminates the possibility of data interception. When using public Wi-Fi, 50% of users utilize a VPN to shield their data from possible dangers. A VPN, for instance, guarantees that your remote worker’s work stays secret even if someone tries to pry into their connection while they are working from a café. 

2. Access Company Resources Safely

Employees are frequently required to utilize a VPN since many businesses have internal systems and files that are only accessible from within the office network. Your remote employees can access these resources just like they would if they were in the office thanks to a VPN, which lets you establish a secure connection to your company’s network. Therefore, a VPN will enable your staff to connect easily and safely if they need to use proprietary software or use a company-specific database that is limited to your office IP addresses.

3. Protect Sensitive Information 

It can be difficult to stop data leaks, particularly when every employee is connected to a separate network. A VPN helps protect your employees’ work data by encrypting it from third-party surveillance until it reaches your firm’s internal network, which is beneficial if your staff frequently handles sensitive data like customer records or private company information. 

4. Bypass Geo-Restrictions

Certain tools or materials may be geographically restricted if your organization has a staff that works from different locations. These limitations can be circumvented with the aid of a VPN. For example, if your company uses resources or information that is only available in the United States, a virtual private network (VPN) enables your remote employees to connect as though they are physically present, no matter where they are. Your team will always have access to everything thanks to this.

5. Boost Privacy Protection

Without a VPN, websites, advertisers, and even their Internet service provider (ISP) can monitor the surfing habits of your remote workers, which could result in data profiling, targeted advertisements, and privacy violations. By hiding their location, IP address, and surfing preferences, a VPN helps them improve their online privacy. 

What Role Does a VPN Play in Your Whole Cybersecurity Strategy?

Notwithstanding the advantages of a VPN for working remotely, it’s critical to understand that it is only one component of your overall cybersecurity strategy. Below, we’ll examine how a VPN can function within your cybersecurity framework: 

1. Risk Assessment

To address the vulnerabilities of remote labor, risk assessment is essential. By displaying remote access patterns, providing insights through logs, and assisting in the identification of possible threats related to remote connections, a VPN can be of assistance. By pointing out potential areas for further security measures, this data aids in the risk assessment process for your company.

2. Security Policies and Procedures

Guidelines that specify permissible use protocols, protocols for handling security issues, and guidelines for handling data remotely are all necessary for secure remote work. By limiting access to just authorized individuals and encrypting data, a VPN helps you adhere to these rules and makes sure everything goes according to your set security protocols.

3. Employee Training

A common cause of cybersecurity breaches is human mistake. A VPN facilitates the use of security best practices, but it does not offer cyber training in and of itself. Providing a safe environment for working remotely serves to emphasize the value of adhering to security policies and procedures that are covered in employee training.

4. Emergency Response Plan

A Cyber Emergency Response Plan (CERP) is a comprehensive manual that outlines what your company should do in the event of a cyberattack. It contains protocols for locating, stopping, and recovering from such occurrences. The VPN’s data and logs assist you in analyzing the incident, comprehending the attack’s progression, and supporting efforts to restore normalcy.

5. Compliance and Regulations

Respecting legal and regulatory obligations is crucial to safeguarding data privacy and staying out of problems with the law. When working remotely between jurisdictions, this becomes even more crucial. By encrypting data while it is being transmitted and keeping track of remote access logs, a VPN facilitates compliance and helps demonstrate that you are adhering to data protection laws.

6. Technology Solutions

By offering encrypted connections that work in tandem with firewalls, safeguarding data while it’s in transit with antivirus software, and enhancing user privacy through multi-factor authentication, a VPN improves your multi-layered security strategy. This combination strategy helps protect your company’s data from cyberattacks and fortifies your defenses.

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