Just because you run a small business does not mean hackers overlook you. While the internet holds so much potential for business persons and professionals, cybercriminals also see it as a juicy field to commit diverse forms of crimes. For instance, Cybertalk predicted that ransomware attacks would occur every 11 seconds in 2022.
The rate of attacks will increase by 50% from 2021. And you know what, over 40% of these attacks are directed towards small businesses. So every business owner, regardless of the size, is expected to take cybersecurity very seriously.
VPNs are crucial for privacy protection, increasing speeds, uncovering restricted content, and several other benefits. In fact, Dataprot claims that 31% of all internet users around the globe rely on VPN services for their activities on the internet. And not just private individuals alone, but over 400 million consumers and businesses worldwide use VPNs.
What is a Business VPN?
VPN is an acronym for Virtual Private Network. It is generally used to create a secure tunnel accessing the information on the internet. It masks the user’s identity from being monitored by third-party agencies and prevents a breach of data. For business owners, data is transferred via an encrypted virtual tunnel between a company network and their employees.
When data such as emails and internet banking details travel through the encrypted tunnel, it is concealed from being accessed by any third party. Hence, Internet Service Providers, State governments, hackers, and other cybercriminals will not be able to access personal information being sent over the internet using business VPN solutions.
As a business owner, you can use VPN to extend your existing network and serve for increased productivity, strong business continuity, enhanced data sharing, and remote working. In a nutshell, your business will enjoy higher security on the internet and efficiency.
However, let’s take a deeper dive into why your small business needs a VPN right now.
1. Access Restricted Content
Depending on your location, several websites have restrictions to prevent access from certain parts of the world. This blocking access to content is also called “geo-blocking” and is largely done for security reasons. However, VPNs make this content accessible by disguising your identity and appearing as if you are in a different location.
Also, when the government of a country can restrict content from certain apps or websites from being accessed, you can still bypass these restrictions by using a VPN. While accessing this content, it will be difficult for trackers to discover your identity since the VPN would fake your address. A business owner with employees constantly moving across locations will enjoy a smooth workflow with no interruptions. Also, People who watch Netflix and Hulu may use VPNs to access content if they are located in areas with restrictions.
2. Extra Business Security
The internet is relatively unsafe without the necessary security features for your business. You can be hacked, or your systems could be infected with malware or viruses. If a hacker succeeds in gaining access to your network, you cannot determine the level of harm they can cause to your business. While some businesses have managed to pick up their pieces after a hacking experience, others have crumbled totally.
Every computer, smartphone, tablet, and server is at risk of a cyberattack situation. Integrating a VPN into your network will secure documents and messages from unauthorized access in and out of your company. It will also offer additional security on online transactions and secure users while browsing in public.
3. VPNs Are Affordable
Network security technology is generally high-budget. This is because huge corporations invest so much to keep their users’ data and identities safe, but this is not the same with small businesses. Small business owners do not have the luxury of the deep tech budgets of larger organizations. Still, they can invest in virtual private network services to implement adequate security on the network.
Many VPN services come at just less than $10 per month when purchased with a business licensing plan. Considering that this negligible figure offers so much to secure your employees’ activities online, secure access to services and apps, and secure authentication, it is worth more than the cost!
4. VPNs Offer Access Control
If access to resources isn’t properly controlled, even the right people might be denied the resources they need to carry out their duties. On the other hand, the wrong, unauthorized individuals will dominate the system and use data for activities that would hit back at the company and may even lead to its total shut down.
Business VPN solutions are a kind of Access Control system that helps validate and authenticate users’ access to a company resource by verifying their credentials. It carries out the process to ensure that a user is absolutely who they claim to be and grants permissions associated with the IP address or username.
5. Access to Corporate Network from Any Part of The Globe
Companies worldwide have uncovered new ways to work during the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many companies are either running a fully remote system or a hybrid.
In essence, their employees are usually not physically present to work in the offices. But despite having no physical offices, VPNs allow the employees to still connect to the corporate network regardless of their location. And it is not just about being connected; it makes it hard for a potential compromise to occur.
Since companies previously configured manual security technology, it was difficult for them to implement such a system. The manual configuration required modifying it and using custom software. However, the setup now is either semi-automatic or fully automatic. So, every employee can access their secure IP address when necessary, regardless of the company size and location.
Companies with several branches may require extra setup time considering the connectivity of their branches while safeguarding workers’ rights within the secure network.
6. Improve Network Performance
Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) may affect network speed, but company network and bandwidth are generally more efficient when business VPNs are incorporated into the systems.
In fact, the anonymity VPNs offer you can help protect your traffic from deliberate slowdowns by ISPs.
