Before understanding the business importance of a VPN you first have to understand what a VPN is. Put simply, a VPN (or Virtual Private network) is a network implemented over a common infrastructure (mainly the Internet), using the same security policies and performance management techniques usually applied in a private network chain. Businesses use VPNs in order to connect remote data centers to one another, and in order to guarantee individuals an encrypted and secure access to the company's network resources.
When connecting to a VPN network you usually have to launch a specific VPN client installed in your computer (or to click a link from a special website), provide your login credentials, and let your computer exchange a dew trusted keys with a remote server. Once both computers finish verifying each other's authenticity, all the internet communication between these two computers will be encrypted and protected from any unauthorized viewers.
Why VPNs?
The business environment is constantly changing, many companies directing their attention to the global market. These companies can be regional, multinational, or international, but they're all seeking one thing: a fast, reliable and secure communication between headquarters, branches, offices and business places.
A lease involves traditional WAN communication lines from the ISDN (128/256Kbps) to the fiber (155 Mbps), covering the specified geographical area. Such network has clear advantages over the public one (e.g. the Internet) when it comes to reliability, performance and security. However, owning leased WAN lines is downright expensive in proportion to the geographical area covered.
With the increasing popularity of the Internet, companies have begun to expand their networks fast. At first, they resorted to intranets, which are password-protected sites to be accessed by the company's employees. However, given the regular obstacles these sites represented for remote workers and offices, many companies choose to go for a VPN instead.
A VPN can bring many benefits to a company: expanding geographical connectivity, enhancing security, reducing operational costs, increasing productivity, simplifying network communications, providing job opportunities on a global network, providing business support for remote operations, and more.
Reasons to install a VPN
There are plenty of reasons to install a business VPN, some which are more important than others. Here are a few of the most essential reasons for a company to consider resorting to a business VPN:
• Database security: VPN enables remote (or on-site) access to your database only for those employees that you warrant access for.
• Prevent intruders: The Internet is a truly dangerous environment, with plenty of hackers just waiting to gain access to your company's private data. In this regard, a VPN is the best way to keep intruders far from your network.
• Connect to your employees worldwide: If your company has employees working from a remote location, and especially in countries like Iran, Turkey, China or UAE, which are heavily dominated by corporate firewalls, you might find quite hard to communicate and exchange sensitive information with them. A VPN is the best way to remove restrictions and unblock sites, assuring your data's security at all times.
• Secure your network: In case you are looking forward to protecting your sensitive data information which is spread across different branches you should really consider a VPN. Such private network has the ability to protect sensitive data from any curious bystanders, eliminating data theft risk.
• Maintain the privacy of your employees: You definitely wouldn't want to disclose your staff's or business partner's private information to someone you don't know. On the Internet, companies face this threat at all times. Fortunately, a VPN can protect you from such unpleasant events.
•Full customer support: Vendors responsible for corporate VPN services take extra care in delivering round-the-clock support for any network-related queries. You can contact them via e-mail, chat or telephone, and you may even ask for remote desktop assistance if required.
