VPN services encode your internet data and enable you to modify your IP location, giving the impression that you are in a different geographical area. These services are frequently utilized in the subsequent methods:
Review our thorough manual below to expand your knowledge. |
A VPN, also known as a virtual private network, serves as a mechanism to create a safe link between a gadget and a network, like a distant worker’s PC and a firm’s internal server. Companies adopt VPNs to protect these links and block probable threats from gaining entry and exploiting private data.
In the subsequent piece, we elucidate what a VPN constitutes, its operational mechanism, and the ways in which it can be advantageous for you and your institution.
Insight into the World of VPN
Utilizing a VPN conceals and secures internet activities and confidential details, such as search records and IP locations, to ensure the safety of your connection.
Imagine online movements on unsecured communal Wi-Fi akin to cycling on a public street; cyclists and their actions are in plain sight — the websites they’ve explored, their origins, and the periods of their journeys. OnlineOperation conducted via a VPN establishes a confidential passage for cyclists to navigate through, keeping their operation and information concealed.
Regardless if you are an individual or a company, employing a VPN can assist in safeguarding your online information from potential risks.
How do VPNs operate?
When aiming to browse a website using a secure link, you initially need to link up to the VPN utilizing the application orbrowser extension.
The VPN establishes a secluded link that encodes your internet activity, rendering it indecipherable. Once encrypted, the internet data travels to a VPN server that conceals your IP address, offering an extra layer of obscurity to your connection.
Ultimately, the VPN decodes the data and forwards it to the site you are browsing, creating the impression to potential threat actors that your device connected from the VPN server’s location rather than your actual position.
This procedure ensures that any data or information correlating to you is jumbled up and untraceable before it gets to your internet service provider.
SEE: The Cost of a VPN (TechRepublic)
Varieties of VPNs
There exist numerous varieties of VPNs, with three of the most prevalent being distant entry, site-to-site, and individual VPNs.
- Distant access VPNs allow users to firmly connect to a remote network. Typically, companies utilize this type of VPN to enable remote workers to safely access resources through a secure business network. Corporate VPNs like Perimeter 81 and NordLayer belong to this category.
- Site-to-site VPNs are utilized by substantial organizations to link various networks for secure communication and resource sharing across different business hubs. These networks, termed intranets, are widespread in large enterprises with numerous locations, ample resources, and several data outlets.
- Personal VPNs are designed for individual users, providing entrance to a VPN provider’s servers to protect personal details and unlock geographically restricted content. Instances of personal VPNs encompass NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN.
SEE: Modifying Your VPN Location (TechRepublic)
VPN advantages vs. VPN disadvantages
Based on the service provider, VPNs can deliver a plethora of potential advantages and restrictions.
| Merit of VPNs | Drawback of VPNs |
|---|---|
| Safeguards data and web traffic | Reduced internet velocity |
| Averts surveillance and allows for obscurity | Top-notch VPNs come with a price tag |
| Access to geographically restricted content | Not all VPNs are reliable |
Merits of VPNs
Let’s delve deeper into three prominent benefits of VPNs and how they can enrich online security and privacy.
Protects your data and web traffic
An essential benefit of a VPN is its capacity to shield user data via encryption. As many workforces heavily depend on the internet, secure access to corporate resources has morphed into a necessity. With an increasing number of enterprises adopting hybrid and remote work setups, VPN security has turned into a crucial aspect.
SEE: Evaluating Your VPN’s Functionality (TechRepublic)
Through VPNs, delicate information like browsing activity, IP addresses, and confidential communications within enterprises and organizations can be shielded, irrespective of whether you are in a remote workspace or not.
Thwarts surveillance and enables obscurity
VPNs thwart surveillance and permit enhanced anonymity since marketing websites and malicious entities would encounter challenges tracing a device’s specific IP address.
Some VPNs even send and encrypt user traffic to two or more servers utilizing multi-hop, thereby introducing a superior level of privacy.
Facilitates access to geographically restricted content
By having a VPN server at your disposal to employ an alternate IP address and location, you can make it seem to unauthorized spectators that you are surfing the internet from a location of your choice to reach geographically restricted content.
This feature can be advantageous when traveling in a foreign country and requiring access to a site or an online asset that exclusively operates in a specific locality. For instance, by setting your location to a VPN server in Switzerland, all the websites you visit will regard you as a user connecting to the internet from that nation.
Disadvantages of VPNs
While VPNs offer numerous advantages, it is crucial to acknowledge the probable drawbacks.
High-quality VPNs come at a price
Although free VPNs exist, opting for a paid option yields superior benefits. Premium VPNs carry a price due to the necessity for providers to acquire adequate server hardware, establish servers in various countries, and guarantee secure server operations.
Premium VPNs also incorporate more robust security protocols to safeguard user data and typically supply unrestricted bandwidth for your internet activities.
Fortunately, VPN providers generally present a variety of subscription schemes catering to different requirements and financial limitations.
Decreased internet speed
Another drawback of VPNs is the less rapid internet connection. Because your internet traffic is diverted through multiple stages, a reduction in real-world speed becomes unavoidable.
SEE: Does a VPN Influence Your Internet Speed? (TechRepublic)
Not all VPNs are reliable
Understanding that while the majority of VPNs serve as effective security measures, not all VPN providers provide the same protective standards. Some VPNs have been known to purportedly log and market user data. This emphasizes the significance of researching a VPN’s no-logs policy and third-party security evaluations before incorporating a VPN into your organization.
Factors governing VPN pricing
Since most VPNs necessitate a premium subscription, here are several factors determining their pricing.
Protection and encryption
Being primarily concerned with security, the cost of a VPN is influenced by the level of security it offers to users. Established security tunneling protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2 are typically included in pricier VPN services. The presence of military-grade AES-256 encryption is another key aspect of VPNs that impacts the eventual price.
Network of Servers
Generally, the more servers a VPN has, the higher its operational costs. This is due to the expenses associated with maintaining servers in various locations across the globe.
The quality of these servers also plays a role in pricing, as access to more secure and faster servers may come at a premium.
Functionality
Add-on features can have an impact on VPN pricing. Apart from offering encrypted connections, some VPNs may include specialized functions like data breach monitoring and ad blocking.
VPN providers might also make their service available on multiple platforms such as Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, browsers, and smart TVs — each of which incurs additional costs for the VPN provider.
EXPLORE: The top VPNs with Free Trials (from TechRepublic)
Duration and Type of Plan
The duration and type of plan selected will also impact the final cost of the VPN. Typically, most VPN providers offer a minimum of a one-month subscription, ranging from as little as $8 to as much as $20 per user per month.
To reduce costs, many VPNs offer extended plans spanning from one to three years, often at a discounted monthly rate.
Security in VPNs
Aside from encryption, there are other elements of VPNs that contribute to overall security.
- No-logs policy: By implementing a no-logs policy, a VPN provider assures customers that it does not log or retain any user data.
- Independent security audit: VPNs can strengthen their security credentials through independent security audits. These third-party assessments can demonstrate to potential users that a VPN’s security claims, such as a no-logs policy, are valid and supported by evidence.
- Five Eyes Alliance (FVEY): The Five Eyes alliance is a collaboration of intelligence-sharing among the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. These nations have a history of surveilling citizens, which means VPNs based in these countries may pose security risks. While VPNs operating from FVEY countries can still offer strong security, it’s a good reason to explore alternatives in more privacy-friendly jurisdictions.
EXPLORE: Effective Strategies for Cybersecurity Awareness Program (from TechRepublic Premium)
When making your decision, ensure you are aware of the available security features and others that may be relevant to you.
Leading VPN providers
Among the premier VPN providers today are NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost VPN.
NordVPN
For privacy-focused users, NordVPN is a strong recommendation. Among its features is built-in protection against malware, advertisements, and trackers through its Threat Protection Pro functionality. NordVPN boasts a unique encrypted file-sharing system that caters well to users who frequently share sensitive files. Additionally, it provides specialized security servers like obfuscated servers, double VPN servers, and P2P servers for added security.
To learn more, refer to our comprehensive review of NordVPN.
ExpressVPN
For those prioritizing a user-friendly VPN application, ExpressVPN is a great choice. ExpressVPN’s user-friendly and well-crafted application caters to both novice and advanced users with ease. This usability is evident both in its desktop app and browser extension. Moreover, ExpressVPN delivers consistent speeds and rapid performance with servers spanning 105 countries.
For more details, read our in-depth review of ExpressVPN.
CyberGhost VPN
For users seeking specialized servers, CyberGhost VPN is a top recommendation. It categorizes its VPN servers right from the start into those optimized for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. This simplifies the selection process for users based on their specific requirements. Presently, CyberGhost offers an extensive array of servers across 100 countries and 126 locations.
For more details, refer to our in-depth review of CyberGhost VPN.
If you’re undecided about subscribing to a VPN but remain intrigued by how VPNs can benefit you, our team has you covered. I strongly recommend watching TechRepublic’s video feature on the most reliable free VPNs to explore further.
Is VPN Deployment Necessary for Your Organization?
Considering the potential security advantages, utilizing a VPN to safeguard your organization’s data is a wise move — particularly for companies that heavily depend on the internet for accessing corporate resources, internal communications, and daily operations.
VPNs can secure sensitive information against malicious entities, prevent unwarranted tracking, and facilitate access to content restricted by geographic location. These benefits are even more crucial for enterprises that have transitioned to hybrid and remote work setups.
Though cost may pose a barrier, various VPN providers offer a range of subscription choices to suit most budgets. In the modern digital landscape, the advantages offered by VPNs outweigh the disadvantages significantly.
About Author
