What Is a VPN, and Does Your Company Need One? (2024)

FAQs

What Is a VPN, and Does Your Company Need One? ›

A business VPN allows employees to securely access a company's internal networks, or intranet, safely and can be used to create a unique shared network between employees and offices in multiple locations. The goal of a business VPN is to prevent sensitive company data from being exposed to the internet.

The encryption a VPN provides prevents hackers from stealing valuable data, such as customer information, employee records, or financial data. “A VPN is essential for your small business if you want to protect your and your clients' data and avoid security threats that could cripple your business,” wrote NordVPN.

VPNs can securely connect a user to a company's internal network or to the public Internet. Businesses typically use a VPN to give remote employees access to internal applications and data, or to create a single shared network between multiple office locations.

The short answer is yes – when you use your work computer to connect to a corporate VPN your employer can usually monitor your activity in the same way as for any computer in the office network. This includes (but is not limited to): Any applications you use. Files you access.

In most situations, employees and others using your internet connection will not be throttled based on their internet usage, but using a VPN allows companies to conceal their data transmissions and eliminate the possibility altogether.

Long answer: A VPN acts as a shield that makes it very hard to harm and/or track you online. Whether it's on your company computer or your own device connected to a company network without a VPN, the employer can potentially see what websites you visit, when you visit them, and for how long.

Sometimes employers or school administrators do not want employees or students accessing certain sites while at work or school, so they ban the use of VPNs on the business's or school's network.

You can't be tracked using a VPN because it encrypts your data. As a result, your ISP or bad actors can't get any information out of your traffic. They only see the VPN server's IP address (e.g. if you're connected to a US server, the US IP address is visible), while your real IP and online activities stay hidden.

In fact, our research found that 47% of companies let unmanaged devices access their resources, despite the fact that 79% have VPN. So while Zero Trust and VPN can coexist, the one can't provide security for the other.

A VPN, which stands for virtual private network, protects its users by encrypting their data and masking their IP addresses. This hides their browsing activity, identity, and location, allowing for greater privacy and autonomy.

Can my employer see my phone activity? ›

Employers are within their rights to track employee phone usage for business purposes. This might include tracking work-related calls and texts, monitoring internet usage, or even using GPS to track employee location. However, there are some limits to what employers can do.

If you're on your employer's network, your employer can monitor your activity on the Internet. Some employers have web filters that block access to certain websites—and this applies to all devices on that network, including personal cell phones, iPads, and computers.

Security and trust concerns

VPN servers can also become targets for cyberattacks, especially if they are not properly maintained or lack security updates. A compromised VPN server exposes users' data and potentially provides unauthorized access to attackers.

A VPN makes an internet connection more secure and offers both privacy and anonymity online. Organizations, governments and businesses of all sizes use VPNs to secure remote connections to the internet for protection against data interception.

You should use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) whenever you're online. By doing so, you make sure that your data and privacy are protected. Without a VPN, your every action online may be monitored and taken advantage of.

It's a disturbing violation of privacy that happens more often than you might expect—but it's one that a VPN can help prevent. By encrypting the traffic that passes from your device to the web and back, VPNs thwart these invasive attacks by rendering that data unreadable (and useless).

Unprotected traffic may lay the breeding ground for potential hacking. A VPN makes it more difficult for hackers to intercept your online traffic and steal your sensitive data or identity. This is especially important if you conduct sensitive transactions or handle personal information at home.

Personal VPNs commonly use shared IP addresses, meaning multiple users share the same IP to access the internet. Business VPNs often offer dedicated IP addresses, providing higher privacy and security for business-related activities.

Do you need a VPN at work? Yes, a VPN at work is necessary. It is an extra layer of security online that encrypts your browsing traffic. A VPN keeps company secrets inside the network, makes working from home safe, and protects your online activities from snoopers.