Virtual private networks (VPNs) are getting increasingly popular with the end-users and businesses, alike. Both groups want increased security and privacy, with businesses also looking for a solution to “stay connected” to their work while on the go.
But that’s only one piece of the puzzle, as there are multiple reasons behind the meteoric rise of VPNs in the business community. Today we want to highlight those reasons, and perhaps help you join this seemingly unstoppable trend.
So without further ado here are the 4 main reasons why businesses are (or should be) adopting modern VPNs:
1. Geo-Independence
Today’s modern workers travel more than their counterparts did just a few years ago. As they travel, they need to keep access to all their files in the main office, as well as access to other sites and services they got accustomed to.
But when they travel to countries like China, that is not possible. The Great Firewall of China blocks access to some of the world’s most popular services such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, as well as many major media sites. For such places, modern workers need a VPN just to be able to get their news fix, keep up with their friends on Facebook and even do their work.
2. Remote Access
Just a few years ago, companies deployed VPNs inside their work networks so they could stay connected when they’re not in the office. Today, we have a selection of cloud-based solutions — i.e. Office 365, Google G Suite Business and Salesforce Sales Cloud — that let us accomplish the same thing from virtually any place on the planet.
Said cloud-based services could also be blocked from some locations, allowing users to connect from a previously defined IP address (IP address range) or from a specific country. A good VPN could enable that, forcing workers to use it to more securely access the company’s files. After all, a VPN will encrypt all communication between the client (users) and server (company’s cloud-based service).
3. Increased Security
As we have briefly noted above, a VPN encrypts all the communication between the client and server, creating a secure tunnel in the process.
This used to be only something big corporations would do, but today the technology is more affordable and thus accessible to small and medium businesses, enabling them to reap benefits of remote work along the way.
No need for expensive servers and data centers. Cloud-based solutions with VPN get the job done equally well. Which brings us to our final point…
4. Cost
Compared to the traditional VPN setup, modern VPNs cost less. For start, you don’t need to make an initial investment in servers and the underlying infrastructure. All SMEs have to do is buy a VPN subscription for each of their employees, with some services even offering bundles that make the price per employee lower.
When it comes to the cost, flexibility is another attribute of modern VPN services — enabling business owners to add new [VPN software] licenses as they grow. This works the other way round as well, meaning you can remove a license if an employee leaves the company.
And all this works without a dedicated server administrator and any upfront costs. That’s what makes modern VPNs awesome. And popular.