By now, most of us have probably heard about private networks and how good they can be for improving your privacy and security. But if you are like many people, you might not yet be using a VPN simply because you aren’t sure of the need for one, or your time is taken up with other things, pushing getting a VPN to the bottom of the priority list. But the truth is that getting a VPN can be a worthwhile investment, with many benefits aside from improved security and privacy, especially if you work from home.
How Do VPNs Work?
Despite more and more people getting a VPN these days, there’s still a lot of confusion around how they actually work. A VPN creates a secure tunnel between two online locations, where nobody from the outside can see what you are doing within the tunnel. Using a VPN comes with a lot of privacy and security benefits, and some have other perks including improving your internet speed by circumventing the data prioritization settings put in place by your Internet Service Provider.
There are two different types of VPN available, which include access to a single VPN server and connecting to the internet using a third-party VPN subscription service. You can use this to hide IP information no matter what you are doing online. Whether you’re working, browsing, or streaming content, it will keep your activity private and anonymous, along with the option to change your location.
Why a Secure VPN Is Crucial for Working from Home
Over the past eighteen months, working practices have been seriously impacted by the lockdowns and social distancing orders put in place as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. And while it is now mostly safe to return to work in the office, some employees are working from home indefinitely with employers finding that they are more productive, get more done, and cost less without a huge office to maintain. However, the problem it this is that remote working can pose a security risk since it provides cybercriminals with new avenues to attack. For example, unencrypted home Wi-Fi connections can easily be intercepted by hackers, making it easier for them to steal passwords and other sensitive data. When you’re accessing your employers’ network from home, using a VPN will secure and encrypt the connection, protecting your password, work data, and other sensitive information.
Using a VPN Is Cheaper
Whether you are working from home due to the COVID19 pandemic or working from home for some other reason, using a VPN can be cheaper compared to the cost of commuting to the office, even when you consider the cost of the VPN subscription and the electricity that you will use when working from home.
Increase Your Productivity
Working from home has been proven to increase productivity levels for many people, with several studies and surveys carried out since the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic bringing back results that show people feel more productive and can get more done when they are working remotely. However, when you are working from home, worrying about the security and privacy of your connection could hamper your productivity levels, especially if you have been the victim of a data breach in the past since it’s the last thing that you will want to go through again. Using a VPN will eliminate this kind of distraction and allow you to work with complete peace of mind when it comes to the security of your connection, allowing you to get on with work and be more productive without stress.
Protection on Public Wi-Fi
One of the best things about working remotely is that you can work from wherever you like. If you don’t feel like working from home, many coffee shops, libraries, and other public areas have Wi-Fi that is free to use, allowing you to take your work there. However, is free, public Wi-Fi safe to use?
Over the years, there have been various threats found lurking in these public Wi-Fi networks since they are much easier for hackers to intercept compared to home and office Wi-Fi. Even worse, you might even come across fake public Wi-Fi networks that are set up solely for the purpose of intercepting your connection and stealing your data. While using public Wi-Fi, connecting through a VPN is the best way to make sure that your connection and data are protected, allowing you to work from anywhere with complete peace of mind.
Remote Access Your Work PC
Some VPN software options also include remote access software, which allows you to easily establish a remote connection with your work desktop while you are working from home. All you need to do is make sure that your work computer is switched on, which you can easily ask somebody in the office to do for you. Most of the time, doing this will require a private, work-arranged VPN, which most employers are happy to provide if it allows you to work from home more productively.
Choosing the Right VPN
Today there are several different VPN services that are available for you to subscribe to. However, when it comes to their privacy policy, reliability, and quality, they may differ. It’s important to choose a VPN service that is fast, reputable, and has enough servers to offer a reliable connection. In addition, pick a VPN that has a clear no-logging policy for peace of mind that your activity is not being recorded. You should always avoid free VPN services – as tempting as paying nothing for a VPN might be, these businesses have to make money somewhere, and will usually do this by collecting your data to sell on to third-party advertising services, leaving you bombarded with marketing emails and sales calls.
If you’re working from home as a result of the COVID19 pandemic or for any other reason, using a VPN is the best way to get peace of mind that your connection is completely secure.
