The COVID-19 pandemic forced many organizations to transition to online work, a notion that many businesses felt was previously out of the question. This transition came with its fair share of frustrations, but eventually businesses figured out that remote work offered various benefits. That said, one of the biggest issues also manifested, and was in the form of security.
One of the best ways that you can keep your business secure while your employees are working remotely is through the use of a virtual private network, or VPN.
What is a VPN?
When you connect your device to a virtual private network, your device is using an encrypted network to transmit and receive data. Basically, this connection is what allows for the secure transfer of data from your network to your device. This keeps onlookers from observing or stealing your data while it’s moving about.
If you think about it like a pipe transporting a liquid, it’s a little easier to picture. If the pipe is solid, you can’t see what is flowing through it. If it is clear, on the other hand, you can see everything that is in it. Encryption works like an opaque pipe; the insides of the pipe are hidden somewhat, and they cannot be seen clearly, but you still know that something is flowing through it. VPN terminology refers to this concept as a “tunnel.”
How Does It Help Your Business?
It’s easy to see how this might benefit a remote employee. If the employee is not working on the in-house network, then they are not protected by the in-house security solutions, meaning that they are putting data at risk by virtue of doing their work elsewhere. Encryption is critical to ensuring that your employees are not inadvertently exposing your organization’s data while going about their day-to-day tasks.
Imagine what it would feel like to not worry about your network security while your employees are working out of the office. Employees who travel frequently for work can do so without worrying about losing their data. They can work anywhere at any time, enhancing productivity without throwing security out the window. A VPN even helps protect you when you are utilizing public Wi-Fi, which is generally insecure.
At the end of the day, it just makes sense to use a VPN. There is no good reason not to use one.
Get Started with a VPN Today
If you are ready to start taking your network security seriously while out of the office, Macatawa Technologies can help. We can work with your business to implement a virtual private network for your specific needs. To learn more about how we can help you implement the best virtual private network solution, reach out to us at (616) 394-4940.
