Businesses have always been pressured to keep their data and information safe from cybercrime threats. A study by Symantec found that 43% of cyber attacks target small businesses. The reason is, perhaps, the lack of resources and budget to invest in robust cybersecurity measures.
According to the National Small Business Association, 60% of companies go out of business within six months of a cyber-attack. This is because most small businesses do not have the necessary cybersecurity infrastructure in place to recover from an attack. And even if they do have the resources, they often lack the knowledge and expertise to implement them properly.
This is where a VPN can be highly beneficial for small businesses. A VPN (a virtual private network) is a secure, encrypted connection between two or more devices. This connection can be used to access the internet, send and receive data, and make VoIP calls. A VPN can help to keep your data safe from cybercrime threats in several ways.
The article goes on to detail the benefits of using a VPN for small businesses. Some of these benefits include:
1. A VPN encrypts your data
Your data is exposed to potential cyber threats when you connect to the internet. Hackers can intercept your data and use it to commit fraud or steal your identity. A VPN encrypts your data, making it unreadable to anyone who tries to intercept it. The more difficult your data is to decipher, the less likely it will be stolen or used for nefarious purposes. In such a situation, the data would be useless to the hacker. We recommend using a reliable VPN service that uses military-grade encryption, such as Sonicwall VPN. It has a wide range of features and is very affordable. It is important to note that not all VPN services are created equal, so it is essential to do your research before choosing one.
2. A VPN hides your IP address
Your IP address is like your home address. It is a unique number that identifies your device and allows others to track your online activity. When you connect to the internet without a VPN, your IP address is visible to everyone. This includes your ISP, government agencies, and hackers. A VPN hides your IP address by routing traffic through an intermediate server. This makes it difficult for anyone to track your online activity or determine your location. Although your ISP can still see that you are using a VPN, they will not be able to see what you are doing or where you are located. Therefore, using a VPN can help protect your privacy and data from prying eyes. Businesses can use this to their advantage by, for example, working from home and accessing company servers remotely without the fear of being tracked.
3. A VPN gives you privacy and security
When you connect to the internet, your ISP can see everything you do online. They can track the websites you visit, the files you download, and the people you communicate with. This information can be used to target ads at you, sell your data to third parties, or even throttle your internet speed. A VPN encrypts your traffic and gives you a new IP address, which makes it difficult for your ISP to track your online activity. In addition, a VPN allows you to connect to public Wi-Fi networks without fear of being hacked. This is because a VPN encrypts your traffic, making it unreadable to anyone who tries to intercept it. According to a recent report by the EFF, nearly 80% of public Wi-Fi hotspots are unencrypted and pose a serious security risk. Therefore, using a VPN is the best way to protect your data when using public Wi-Fi. Several businesses have been victims of data breaches due to Wi-Fi security vulnerabilities. And to cope with the damage, they spend a lot of time, effort, and money. For instance, the 2017 Equifax data breach cost the company more than $4 billion.
4. A VPN can bypass internet censorship
In some countries, the government censors the internet. This means certain websites, such as social media and news sites, are blocked. This makes it difficult for the government to track your online activity and block certain websites. A VPN can bypass internet censorship by routing traffic through an intermediate server. In addition, a VPN can help you access geo-blocked content. For example, if you are located in China, you will not be able to access Google or Facebook. However, you can access these blocked websites if you connect to a VPN server in the US. This is because a VPN changes your IP address, making it appear as if you are located in a different country. Therefore small businesses can use a VPN to access blocked websites and content in other countries. This can be useful for research or marketing purposes. And generate new leads and customers from other countries.
5. A VPN can improve your internet speed
One of the challenges businesses often face is slow internet speeds. This can be due to throttling by your ISP or congested network traffic. A VPN can help improve your internet speed by routing traffic through an optimized server. This can help reduce congestion and improve your overall connection speed. In addition, a VPN can bypass throttling by your ISP. This is when your ISP intentionally slows down your internet speed to reduce bandwidth consumption. They often do this during peak times or when you are streaming video content. However, a VPN can encrypt your traffic and bypass throttling, giving you the best possible connection speed.
6. A VPN can increase your security when working remotely
Any business that has employees working remotely knows the importance of security. When you are not in the office, it is crucial to have a VPN set up so that your employees can connect to the company network. This will allow them to access company resources like email and file servers. In addition, a VPN can be used to increase the security of your own devices. For example, a VPN will encrypt your traffic and prevent anyone from snooping on your activity if you are working on a public Wi-Fi network. This is especially important when working with sensitive data, such as customer credit card information.
7. A VPN can save your business money
A VPN can save your business money in several ways. First, a VPN can help reduce your IT costs. This is because a VPN can be used to replace expensive point-to-point leased lines. In addition, a VPN can help you save on bandwidth costs. This is because a VPN can compress your traffic, sending minimum data over the network. Furthermore, a VPN can help you save on server costs. This is because a VPN can be used to remote access servers, making it unnecessary to have a physical server in each location.
Summary
Businesses every year deal with data breaches, internet censorship, throttling by ISP, and poor internet speed. However, a VPN can help businesses overcome these challenges. A VPN can encrypt data, bypass internet censorship, improve connection speed, and save money on IT and bandwidth costs. Therefore, a VPN is a valuable tool for any business.
