Data breaches and cybersecurity problems are happening more often. It’s tempting to think that they are only happening to major international corporations since that is what normally makes the news, but many of the victims are small and mid-sized businesses. More concerningly, small and mid-sized businesses are less likely to have a plan in place to protect themselves. One of the most popular ways to start heading in the right direction is using a VPN. What exactly is a VPN, and does your business need a VPN?
What Is a VPN?
VPNs, or virtual private networks, are a type of secure internet connection that allows devices or computers on your network to transmit data more securely. While having things like a password for your WiFi are great precautions, VPNs take things a step further to completely prevent anyone unauthorized from seeing what you’re doing and encrypt all activity. Even if your internet service provider takes a look at your usage, they will only see that you used a VPN and how much bandwidth you utilized, not potentially sensitive information like history or data.
How Do VPNs Work?
When you set up a VPN at your business with the help of Nauticon, all of the traffic on your network will be encrypted. This means that nobody—including your internet service provider, hackers, advertisers, people on the same network, and other parties—will be able to see what you are looking at. When you send data, it will pass through the VPN server before heading to the internet. When you download data, the same thing will happen.
Reasons You Might Need a VPN
There are many different reasons why your business might need a VPN, and every business of any size could benefit from the increased security that they provide. Some of the most popular reasons why businesses invest in a VPN include:
-
Remote Access
Accessing your network remotely is routine in today’s world, but it might be dangerous if you are not using a VPN. Most office networks have firewall protection and other cybersecurity measures taken. However, your employees might not have the same level of protection set up in their homes. You might need a VPN to add additional protection and securely access your network. If your on-site network is secure but unsecured computers are connecting to it from remote locations, your additional security may be useless.
-
Control Network Access
Do you know who is using your network? If you aren’t confident in your answer to that question, you need a VPN. VPNs allow you access control that lets you determine who can use your network through an authentication process. Depending on how you’d like to set up your VPN, you could require those connecting to complete identification, authentication, and/or authorization. We can help you ensure that you are only granting access to those who need it.
-
Improved Cybersecurity
One of the biggest reasons why businesses use VPNs is for the encryption option. Encryption makes it impossible for people trying to intercept your traffic to understand what is being sent or received. Additionally, you can set up filters on your VPN that prevent employees from visiting certain websites or downloading certain types of content. Some of the most common cybersecurity things that are prevented through a quality VPN include malware attacks, cache poisoning, middleman attacks, router exploitation, and more.
-
Using Many Mobile Devices
Do you have an office that is bring-your-own device? Many employers allow this so that employees can use their own tablets, phones, and laptops around the office and connect to the WiFi while they’re working. However, this also introduces more vulnerabilities in your office. VPNs help to make your mobile devices more secure and also protect your employees from having problems with their devices.
-
Protect Client Information
Finally, the data and information that you handle on a daily basis are often sensitive. Your clients take steps to protect your information, and you should always protect theirs in return. There can be tremendous reputational damage from a single breach or cybersecurity incident at your business, so protecting client information is also an investment in the future of your business. We can help you get secure and stay secure.
Partner with Nauticon to Get Access to Tools to Manage Your Security Risks That Meet Your Needs
Nauticon is a leading provider of managed services, workflow solutions and other office technology solutions that can transform your workspace and help you resolve common office printer problems. If you are looking for a better way to meet your office’s needs, we are here to help. To learn more about our company and see how we can bring innovative, real-world solutions for your office’s needs to you, contact us today by calling (301) 279-0123.
