Business VPN – Do you really need it
Why do companies need a Business VPN? Companies need business VPN for one of two reasons:
- To provide secure remote access for employees that work away from the office internal network, to access resources they need to do their jobs from wherever they are.
- To Connect two Offices together to share resources, for example, a Branch Office linked to a Head Office through a Site-to-Site VPN.
What are the benefits of VPN for business? Companies have used business VPN long before the 2020 pandemic. However, the pandemic added urgency for companies to set up remote working infrastructure for their workers because of the lockdowns.
VPN, also known as (aka) Virtual Private Network, is the technology that allows a remote worker to connect and use business resources as if they were physically in the business premises. The VPN connection is made via the public Internet by creating a secure tunnel of communication between the remote user and the company internal network.
What are the benefits of VPN for business?
Because of the lockdowns brought about by the pandemic, businesses which were not so keen on implementing remote working for their workforce had to do so, in order to keep providing some service to their customers.
Even now when pandemic restrictions are being lifted, some companies have noted the advantages remote working brings to their organizations such that they are now offering opportunities to hybrid work to some of their employees.
(Hybrid working is a practice where a worker works a certain number of days from home and some days in the office)
The benefits of VPN for business are several.
- Small business VPN solution helps small business owners to implement Remote Access for their workforce.
- Business VPN gives companies the ability to protect sensitive data from unauthorized persons.
Business VPN – VPN Split Tunneling
If your company uses Office 365 or Microsoft 365 services such as Microsoft Teams, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online or OneDrive for Business then it’s important to choose a VPN service that you can setup Split Tunneling.
VPN Split Tunneling is where you exclude certain traffic going to specified IP Addresses from being forced into the encrypted VPN tunnel. The traffic for Office 365 services bypasses the VPN tunnel and goes straight to the closest Microsoft network point for Office 365, where security is provided at the network layer and application level and that’s why they are considered trusted end points.
So, your Business VPN solution should have the ability to be configured using IP addresses as opposed to FQDN URLs.
Business VPN vs Personal VPN
| Feature | Business VPN | Personal VPN |
|---|---|---|
| For many users, some VPN providers have a minimum number of users requirement. | For one user | |
| Purpose | The main purpose of a Business VPN is for secure remote access while protecting the business’s Intellectual Property (IP) The company sets up a private, secure tunnel between the organization’s resources and the devices used by authorized employees to access these resources. The end-to-end encryption ensures Business VPNs are secure for data transmission. | The main purpose of a personal VPN is to protect your online privacy. The user chooses a personal VPN provider that meets hers or his requirements. These requirements could be streaming, torrenting, and personal privacy. The user is able to circumvent content restrictions and censorship which certain jurisdictions enforce by choosing to surf the internet using servers based in countries where no restrictions exist. |
| VPN IP Address | You can buy a dedicated static IP Address which is used only by your business. This allows you to control your online reputation. Your IT Admin will set this up. | Dynamic IP Address issued each time you connect, shared by loads of other users. |
| User Connection | Encrypted connection Connects users to the internal business network to access company resources securely from remote. | Encrypted connection Connects users to VPN providers’ servers to surf the internet anonymously. |
| User Activity Logging | Normally user activity logged and saved | Normally user activity not logged. |
VPN Split Tunneling | Companies using cloud services such as Office 365 require the business VPN to be capable of Split Tunneling based on end point IP Addresses | VPN Split Tunneling is not a common requirement for Personal VPN. |
| Block ISP Tracking | Your IT Admin controls this feature but as you’re working, you’re expected to be doing work related stuff. | With Personal VPN you can Block ISP Tracking so your activity is anonymous. |
Business VPN Static IP
When you connect to the Internet your ISP server IP address is exposed to anyone who may be interested in your online activity. They can find a lot about your location and other information linked to your IP addresses on the internet.
When you connect through a VPN however, your IP is replaced by that of the VPN server you have connected to. Everyone else who connects to that server shares that server’s IP address. Sharing an IP is great for security and privacy.
Since you’re sharing that address with a lot of other users, it’s very difficult to connect your internet activities to you.
On the other hand, having a dedicated IP address means you’ll have IP Address exclusive to you. Having this exclusive IP address means your data traffic will still be encrypted and your actual IP address will still be hidden from snoopers.
Having a dedicated IP addresses means you can have access to those websites that have blocked VPN shared IP addresses. With a dedicated static IP address, your reputation is truly in your hands.
With your dedicated IP address, authentication to services like logging into your bank account or doing online payments is straight forward because your IP is not blocked.
How to Get a Dedicated IP with NordVPN
- Make sure you’ve an active NordVPN account.
- Decide on the Virtual location of your IP.
- Order the IP from NordVPN website here.
- Connect and Enjoy
How to Get a Dedicated IP with Perimeter 81 business VPN
Perimeter 81 business VPN is also classed as a business cloud VPN.
Business VPN Services Providers
Perimeter 81
Powerful Business VPN with Unlimited Bandwidth and High Speeds. Secure your whole network’s resources as the company grows. Get a business VPN demo Today! Seamless Integration. Easy-To-Deploy & Manage. 24/7 Customer Support. SASE Cloud Architecture.
Cloud Based VPN Access
Remote access to your company’s IT resources, both on-premises plus in the cloud.
Site to Site VPN Solution
Protect your cloud environments, and company databases.
NordVPN
VPN Solution for Small & Corporate Business – Do you need a reliable VPN for business? NordLayer provides the best virtual private network solution for small and large businesses.
Why is a VPN important for business?
“A VPN secures data traffic with robust encryption, so that no unauthorized third parties can access your company’s sensitive information. So, you can safely share information between offices and cut the risk of data breaches, malware, and ransomware. A VPN also allows your remote workers to securely access necessary information on the go.”
NordVPN
Who uses a VPN?
“From individual users to small businesses and corporations, anyone who wants to protect their data should use a VPN. It secures your company’s data traffic by rerouting it through an encrypted tunnel. With our VPN service, you can have safe remote access to company resources, access region-specific content, and safely connect to public Wi-Fi in hotels, airports, or conferences.”
NordVPN
Further Reading: VPN Split Tunneling
Related Articles: Perimeter81 Business VPN vs Consumer VPNs
