Whether for a business or an individual, the concerns over cyber-attacks are mounting each and every day. In fact, it seems that nearly every time we read the news, there’s a new article that recounts a recent cyber-attack, right?
As these concerns mount and news of novel cyber-attacks hit the news wire, businesses and individuals alike are looking for answers. And for those that look to the internet for solutions, they may be bombarded with the proposal that using a VPN can act as a silver bullet, stopping hackers in their tracks. Is this really the case? Will a VPN stop cyber-attacks as many proponents promise?
Unfortunately, no, the VPN is not the end-all-be-all solution to stop each and every cyber-attack in its tracks. However, it does provide a set of crucial protection benefits that can help businesses mitigate the risk of cyber-attacks. In this piece, we will assess the true value of the VPN, what a VPN provides to both users and businesses and how setting up a VPN can provide great additional protection compared to not using a VPN.
A virtual private network or VPN is a data transmission technology where a cryptographic encryption protocol is used to protect data as it's transmitted between two endpoints. It’s important to note that there are different design implementations for VPNs, so to fully understand what a VPN provides, it’s important to dig into some of these design considerations.
A VPN can be a valuable tool for businesses to protect internal communication between teams of individuals. In this scenario, a VPN connection is established between two devices communicating over an internal private network. This strategy ensures that if a malicious internal user were to stage a ‘man in the middle attack’—a strategy where a malicious user covertly monitors traffic between devices—the encrypted data would prevent the malicious user for gaining any valuable data.
Today’s work environment is remote. Fortunately, for remote users, VPNs can be a great way to keep both the company and the remote user protected. When a remote user deploys a VPN, the connection established between the remote user and a company’s internal network is encrypted limiting the risk of a malicious attack occurring as a remote user is attempting to connect to a company’s network.
A VPN for connecting to the internet is often more a consumer-based solution, as it allows users to protect their connection as they use the internet. Although the security value still holds, this strategy is often used by those using unsecured networks such as surfing the web from a coffee shop.
Today, it’s easy to spot social media influencers, or advertisements promoting the VPN as a silver bullet solution. And although the VPN is valuable for encrypting data in transit, there are additional considerations and cybersecurity strategies that need to be considered for both businesses and individuals. For instance, no cyber security solution is truly effective without a firewall, an anti-virus/malware/ransomware solution, a backup/recovery strategy, as well as role-based access security strategies such as zero trust… not to mention a team of security specialists watching your infrastructure.
All of which can be provided, implemented, and supported via a strategic cybersecurity services provider.
A VPN service connects a user to a remote server or set of servers which interact with the public internet on the user’s behalf. The major application use for VPNs such as Express VPN, Nord VPN, and others, was initially intended to evade the identification of a user’s location and IP address, allowing users to download torrents, music, and movies illegally while remaining anonymous.
These days VPN services are marketed and sold through blogs and affiliate links for uses like streaming in other countries or keeping your browsing history private from Internet Service Providers. But, in the pursuit of marketing the VPN to the everyday consumer, claims that involve cyber security and hacking protection have gone too far and have confused people.
With the rise of cyberattacks, many business owners and business managers are looking for ways to stay better protected. Naturally, the consideration of a VPN service implemented and managed by a third-party service provider quickly becomes a top consideration.
This is where Techmedics can help. At Techmedics, we not only provide a rich full portfolio of IT managed services backed by years of experience, but we specialize in implementing highly tailored IT solutions that keep our clients secure.
Techmedics can help the following organizations:
Interested in learning how Techmedics can help protect your business from cyberattacks? Speak with one of our helpful staff today!
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