Modern technology brought with it a variety of digital tools and options to ease our lives, while at the same time providing excellent options in almost every sector. A Virtual Private Network or VPN is certainly one of the most sought-after software programs, as in recent years it soared to popularity mostly for security reasons, but also among other things to hide users location.
Indeed, both for homes and businesses, VPN has become a data security staple for those who tend to connect to less secure public WIFI, conceal their origin, or simply want to stream their content from other geographical regions.
This rise in fame of VPN shocked and moved the tech market like a ripple effect, as we saw more vendors sprouting across the board, enabling customers to choose from an array of various bundles in line with their needs.
Different Endpoints, Similar Technology
Let`s delve deeper in the VPN world to see how it works.
A safe encrypted tunnel so to speak is created linking two ends which are the basics of a core VPN technology.
Starting from the personal VPN, it connects the servers to their vendor. Now, servers are placed all over the planet and all users share it, thus when they are using a VPN the connection is safer, encrypted, therefore less likely to be intercepted by a malevolent hacker, while also hiding the user`s location.
On the other hand, business VPNs connect to an internal network of a business reaching corporate resources and databases. In this case, a VPN enables safer access for the workforce to the company`s internal substructure and liabilities.
Remote secure access or site-to-site VPNs are top choices made by organisations. To secure access for remote workers for example, which post pandemic Covid saw a rise in numbers, the technology used in the remote secure access option is hosted at the endpoints of a particular company`s network. Whereas, to secure connection between two corporate networks in different geographical zones, the site-to-site VPN option is utilised.
Irrelevant to the type of VPN used, its technology will still include tunneling, strict authentication methods, and high-grade encryption.The main requirement here is for the data to pass securily from one point to another.
Private & Corporate VPNs – The Purpose
First off the bat, let`s take a look at some statistics by Statista showing what VPNs are mainly used for:
- security purposes – 43%
- streaming – 26%
- privacy – 12%
- accessing Geo-blocked content – 9%
For those of you who work remotely you are well aware that your organisation must provide safe access to its network while you are working from home or travelling. Thus, in remote corporate environments a VPN`s main purpose would be just that, supporting the employees by creating the same familiar secure work environment wherever they are accessing from.
Moreover, businesses also tailor VPNs for more complex data security needs, such as meeting industry compliance. Therefore VPNs do complement other solutions, while companies use them as one layer of security for their data.
Personal use of VPN is generally more basic and it revolves mainly about individuals who are concerned to use, and browse via a public WIFI, or to access content which isn`t available in their country.
Business VPNs are more Loaded with Features
Actually, both personal and corporate VPNs have a long list of features, so how do you tell if you need military-grade encryption or split tunneling?
The most common features found on personal and corporate VPNs are:
- Management of accounts
- Capability of compliance and audit
- Advanced encryption (such as the AES-256 protocol)
As one would presume, a business VPN accommodates a larger number of users, and their remote access to the trade`s infrastructure can be removed, added, or limited to certain sectors of the network restricted from a single account.
Greater control over company`s traffic and a more efficient way of auditing and tracking it needs to be in place, while data has to be secured with strong encryption meeting compliance in line with that business, especially if it entails the sharing of personally identifiable information.
Personal VPNs will usually hold:
- IP masking
- Encryption
- Bypassing Geo-restrictions
IP addresses will be hidden or masked seemingly replaced by another, therefore yours will be concealed making you anonymous. Also, your data is encrypted while you browse the net, and bypassing the Geo-restrictions will allow you to access content which is blocked in your region.
Business VPNs are more costly since they hold more features, while personal ones are generally more budget-friendly.
Keep in mind though that a VPN doesn`t guarantee safety from hackers.
Which VPN then?
In a nutshell, the differences between a business and a personal VPN are expenses, intended use, and to which end point the VPN connects.
If you are working remotely for a company and there is concern about the privacy and security of your data, obviously a business VPN is recommended.
For personal usage of public WIFI or to stream foreign Geo-blocked Netflix shows, a personal VPN will suit just fine.
In Conclusion
Trust that this article provided enough information for you to get more knowledgeable about the VPN realm, and by now maybe you have even made up your mind about purchasing it, or not.
Ultimately the decision about owning a VPN for yourself or your business, or both, rests with your rationale. It is an essential digital tool especially security-wise, however many would still hesitate as they don`t feel they need it in their lives as yet, and we respect that.
Keep in mind though that a VPN protects its users by encrypting their data and masking their IP addresses, hiding in the process – browsing activity, identity, and location, permitting greater privacy and autonomy. Now tell me, in this day and age, who wouldn`t want that extra much needed peace of mind? From our experience we still recommend some form of VPN, as anyone seeking a safer, freer, and more secure online experience could benefit from a VPN.