We all love the freedom of the open internet — the endless information, the ability to access it anywhere and anytime, for business and personal use.
But when you connect directly to the internet, that means your data, from business emails to banking transactions, is exposed to the possibility that someone else — we’re talking about hackers and other cybercriminals — can see it, exploit it or steal it. So how can you protect yourself and your business?
That’s where a VPN comes in.
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is an essential business tool that allows users to securely access a private network and share data remotely through public networks. Much like a firewall protects data on a computer, a VPN protects data when you’re online, erecting a secure barrier between your computer and the internet.
What Is a VPN?
The purpose of a VPN is to provide you with security and privacy as you communicate over the internet. If you’re working remotely, for instance, and need to access sensitive information on your company’s private servers, doing that from an unsecured public network like a coffee shop or airport could put that data — your company’s lifeblood — at risk.
“Small business users need VPNs to keep their network traffic private and safe from tampering,” explained Kurt Roemer, Citrix chief security strategist.
A VPN is a private network that is built over a public infrastructure. Because VPNs employ security mechanisms, such as encryption, their users can securely access their private networks from different locations via public networks.
How Does a VPN Work?
The VPN software begins by encrypting your data before it goes to your internet service provider. The encrypted data then goes from your computers to the VPN server — which acts as a third-party “middle man,” creating a protected tunnel for your data to travel through — before it continues to your online destination.
That online destination sees your data as coming from the VPN server and its location, not from your computer and your location. Because the VPN connects to the web on your behalf:
- Anyone who can see your activity doesn’t know where it originated.
- Your computer is not viewed as the source of the data.
- Your data remains encrypted.
Why Do You Need a VPN?
In a single word: security.
“VPNs provide an essential layer of security protection,” said Kent Bloomstrand, chief technology officer at CSID, the identity protection arm of the credit reporting company Experian.
If you value your online security, privacy and anonymity, installing and managing a VPN adds another tier to the cybersecurity best practices that should be a core element of your business plan.
Years of designing, implementing and managing robust network solutions and support, including VPNs, have helped us build a team of professionals with in-depth experience in government and industry applications. We’re here to make your IT environment safe and secure so you can conduct your business with confidence.
Call us for a free two-hour consultation, and we’ll talk about your security needs — no strings attached. Our expert engineers can design safeguards that are an integral part of your IT network right from the start. Together, we can develop an IT security plan that meets your needs and fits your budget.
Since 1995, Manassas Park, VA-based V2 Systems has employed local systems administrators, network engineers, security consultants, help desk technicians and partnering companies to meet a wide range of clients’ IT needs, from research, to implementation, to maintenance. Concentrate on your VISION…We’ll handle the TECHNOLOGY!
