Ever worked from a café or airport and wondered who else might be watching your data?
As the remote working model explodes, protecting business data outside the office walls has become critical. Employees are logging in from homes, hotels, and public hotspots, with these networks often leaving your business wide open to cyber threats.
A virtual private network (VPN) promises a safer way to connect. But does your team really need a VPN, or just another line on your IT bill?
In this article, we break down what a VPN actually does, how it protects remote workers, how to choose the right provider, and whether it’s worth it for your business.
What is a VPN?
A virtual private network (VPN) is a technology that helps protect your connection when you’re online. It creates a secure tunnel between a user’s device and a VPN server, which encrypts the data you send and receive.
In addition, a VPN connection can mask your IP address, making it difficult for the internet service provider to monitor your online activity and threat actors to gain unauthorized access to your data.
For employees who work from home or connect to unsecured public networks, using a VPN is a reliable way to safeguard sensitive information.
How does a VPN work?
A VPN uses a combination of technologies to keep your connection safe and private when working remotely. Below are the key elements of the VPN technology that together create a secure connection between an employee’s device and the company network or online services.
- Encryption. Data leaving your device is encrypted, meaning it’s scrambled to prevent unauthorized access as it travels across the internet. This encryption covers everything you send and receive, from emails to files and passwords.
- Security protocols. VPNs rely on trusted protocols like OpenVPN and IPSec, which ensure data is transferred securely and without interruption.
- VPN client and server. Devices use VPN client software to connect to remote VPN servers. The servers act as gateways, handling your encrypted data and allowing you to securely access company resources.
- Split tunnel VPN. A split tunnel VPN lets you decide which traffic goes through the VPN and which doesn’t. For example, you might route sensitive business apps through the VPN while everyday internet use takes a direct path.
- Proxy servers. Some VPN services add proxy servers for IP masking, making it harder for third parties to track your online activity or location.
Risks VPNs help to mitigate
While a trusted company network usually provides adequate data protection, working remotely often means connecting over less secure access points. Here are some of the common risks VPNs help mitigate.
Lack of data encryption on unsecured networks
Cafes, airports, hotels, and libraries often offer free Wi-Fi that lacks network security. When users connect to public Wi-Fi, their online traffic can potentially be intercepted by malicious actors using techniques such as packet sniffing. And while services like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace provide strong encryption of data in transit, DNS queries, metadata, and others, non-HTTPS traffic may still be exposed.
Using any public VPN helps create a secure, encrypted tunnel between the user’s device and the VPN server. All traffic, including DNS requests, is encrypted end-to-end within that tunnel. This prevents any third party on the local network from observing, intercepting, or modifying data, regardless of the application being used.
Man-in-the-middle attacks
This type of attack takes place when a malicious actor secretly intercepts the communication between the service and a user the latter is accessing. It usually happens on unsecured public networks. An attacker may create a spoofed Wi-Fi network that looks legitimate, tricking users into connecting. Once you connect, any information you enter, including login details, emails, and payment data, can potentially be seen by the attacker.
By using a VPN server and encrypted connection through secure VPN tunneling, you can prevent hackers from carrying out an attack, even when connected to a rogue or compromised network.
Misconfigured or compromised routers
A home internet connection can also be weak if a router’s firmware is outdated, default passwords haven’t been changed, or it’s misconfigured. In some cases, threat actors exploit router vulnerabilities to intercept traffic or redirect users to malicious sites without their knowledge.
A VPN helps reduce this risk by encrypting traffic before it passes through the local router, limiting what an attacker can see or tamper with.
Looking to protect your company data, wherever your team members work? Let's discuss how we can help.
Why use VPN for remote work
When staff members work from home or connect on the move, sensitive information travels across a wide range of networks, which don’t provide an adequate level of security. A VPN acts as a safeguard in these scenarios, helping maintain the confidentiality of data in transit.
Secure access to cloud-based and internal resources
Cloud platforms like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace provide strong security features, including encryption, access controls, and multi-factor authentication, among others. However, this applies to their platforms, not to the connection between the user and the service provider. If the connection between the two is compromised, a man-in-the-middle attacker can intercept the session and gain access by piggybacking on the user’s authenticated connection.
A VPN ensures that the connection between the user and the provider is protected from interference.
Minimising exposure on public and home networks
As already mentioned, unsecured Wi-Fi networks, such as those in cafes, hotels, or airports, expose users to various cyber threats like packet sniffing and man-in-the-middle attacks. Home routers can also be vulnerable if they are outdated or improperly configured.
Using a VPN significantly reduces exposure to these risks. A secure VPN connection encrypts all network traffic between your device and the VPN server, preventing interception or tampering.
Protecting business continuity
Unsecured networks leave sensitive data exposed, increasing the risk of data breaches. Downtimes caused by data breaches often lead to operational disruptions, financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory scrutiny. One of the major benefits of a VPN for remote work is a secure working setup that helps prevent disruptions caused by unauthorized access or data interception.
Not sure which VPN service to choose? Sereno can help you select, procure, and install the right VPN for your team.
When you actually need a VPN
It’s a wise idea to use a VPN for remote work, especially when employees:
- Use internal business applications that are not available over the public internet.
- Regularly connect from cafes, airports, hotels, or other places with public Wi-Fi.
- Handle confidential client data or work in regulated sectors like finance, law, or healthcare.
- Travel internationally and need a VPN to access services restricted to certain countries.
Don’t fully trust their home internet setups or want to add another layer of security to protect data.
How to choose a VPN provider
There are lots of VPN providers, ranging from large, well-known companies to smaller, niche services. The market is quite crowded, with VPN solutions offering various features, pricing plans, and levels of security. There are also free VPNs, however, they often lack the security features and support necessary for business use.
Some solutions focus on consumer privacy and entertainment (like streaming access), whereas others specialise in secure access for remote work needs. Providers offer VPN apps for individual devices, comprehensive VPN software suites, or VPN as a service.
Here are some steps to follow when selecting a VPN for remote workers:
- Choose from corporate VPN providers. Consumer VPN software or services may not offer the level of security, management features, or multi-device support needed for business use.
- Look for a VPN service that uses strong encryption standards and secure protocols like OpenVPN or WireGuard. Also, check their privacy policy to confirm they don’t log your activity or share your data with third parties.
- Using a VPN connection can introduce latency because your network traffic is routed via the VPN provider. Quality VPNs employ efficient protocols that help keep any slowdown to a minimum, so choose one known for stable and fast servers.
- Go for a VPN solution with a user-friendly interface and easy installation.
- Choose a VPN provider with an extensive range of server locations. This way, you’ll be able to access resources globally and avoid regional restrictions.
- If you’re looking for a business VPN solution to support your remote teams, pay attention to how many simultaneous VPN sessions it allows. It’s best to choose a flexible VPN service that offers tiered plans based on the number of devices.
Lastly, pick a VPN provider that offers dependable customer service. You can check review sites to get an idea of how responsive each provider from your shortlist is.
Need expert advice on choosing a company VPN solution? Leave it to Sereno.
Bonus section: more tips to prevent data leaks
In addition to using VPN for remote work, there are some other good practices that help employees eliminate security risks:
- Use a personal hotspot. A mobile network is usually more secure than open Wi-Fi hotspots. When possible, use your phone’s hotspot for work tasks.
- Keep devices updated. Regularly update your devices and router firmware to patch known vulnerabilities.
- Enable strong authentication. Use two-factor authentication wherever possible to protect your accounts.
- Stick to HTTPS. Be sure the sites you visit use secure, reliable connections. Look for a padlock icon in your browser’s address bar.
- Install antivirus software. Protect your devices with up-to-date security software to detect and block threats.
- Beware of phishing attacks. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or opening unsolicited emails, as these can lead to data breaches or malware infections.
Need help selecting and setting up a VPN for remote workers?
Sereno is a trusted partner for IT support in London and beyond. Our team provides a broad range of services, including network infrastructure management. As part of our managed IT support, we cover all VPN needs, from expert advice and procurement to installation, maintenance, and ongoing support of a VPN for remote workers.
