It’s possible your enterprise is using one right now. If not, it should!
Now, they are essential to any company that wants to grow beyond a single office – especially if they wish to facilitate international business travel or leverage talent pools around the world.
VPN: What It Is And Why It Matters
The computers, servers, and other network resources within your office are part of your company intranet. Although not impervious to all threats, your intranet is highly secure and private. You probably have a firewall that automatically prevents many dangers from reaching the intranet.
But here’s the thing: Every time you access the Web, your team members leave that “safe zone”.
To reach almost any website “out there,” you have to transmit instructions and data across the public pathways that make up the Internet. In general, traffic on the Web is designed to take the shortest route it possibly can to get from its source (you) to its destination.
Because of this, hackers can compromise data in transit and even use it to infiltrate your network.
Encryption is one solution to this. High-grade encryption can make it very difficult to decipher data going from place to place. However, transmissions are still vulnerable. Data moving across the public wires inevitably telegraphs lots of details about your network.
Enter the VPN, one of the most effective IT solutions ever developed.
VPN software establishes a secure connection between two endpoints. A special server at the enterprise office facilitates the connection, while simple client software used by remote workers allows them to tap into the connection without adding any steps to their usual workflow.
Once the connection is established, transmissions between the main office and the remote worker are all but invisible to attackers. Plus, using a VPN does not detract from the speed or reliability of the Internet connection in any way – when it is set up correctly.
Three Major Use Cases For VPN
There are three valuable ways to put VPN to work for you:
Connecting Multiple Offices
Connections between your main office and satellite sites should always benefit from the highest levels of security. Whenever you open a branch office, be certain your new office planning will account for VPN roll-out as soon as possible.
Connecting Remote Workers
Data-driven enterprises are increasingly experimenting with hybrid workforce models that give workers greater schedule flexibility. Companies can also use VPNs to access overseas personnel without compromising their IT security posture.
Connecting Business Travelers
Business travel is part and parcel of today’s fast-paced global economy. When traveling abroad, no one should ever connect to your network from a coffee shop or other suspicious network. With VPN, you sidestep the complications of dangerous public connections.
Atlantic Communications Team provides technology and expertise to make VPN a cornerstone of your IT security strategy. Our goal is to maximize the protection of your data and minimize any complications. VPN and many other services can defend you seamlessly in the background.
To learn more, contact us today. We look forward to helping you.