As the digital world continues to evolve, one term that’s become increasingly significant in the IT realm is “VPN.” But what exactly is a VPN, what is the point of a VPN better network security, and why is it so crucial? In this blog, we’ll discuss the definition of VPNs and other valuable factors that make VPNs crucial for enhanced security.
What is a Virtual Private Network (VPN)?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a service that allows you to connect your computer and a remote server via an encrypted tunnel. It acts as an intermediary between your device and the internet, encrypting your private data and hiding your IP address. VPNs are used to establish a secure connection to another network over the internet.
The top 5 IT security fundamentals in this free NinjaOne guide. → Download your copy today.
What does a VPN do?
A VPN enables users to browse the internet anonymously by masking a user’s IP address, effectively hiding their online identity and location from websites, advertisers, internet service providers, hackers, and other unauthorized parties. Using a VPN is particularly useful for instances where users need to connect to unsecured networks such as public Wi-Fi. For businesses, utilizing a VPN adds an extra layer of security for online activity and sensitive data. VPNs also obfuscate a user’s location, allowing users to use geo-spoofing to access content that would normally be unavailable in their area.
What is the importance of a VPN?
If you’ve wondered what the point of a VPN is, it’s mainly to protect users by hiding their IP addresses and encrypting their data. Here are more benefits that using a VPN offers.
- Privacy:
Privacy is a key concern in the digital world today. A VPN protects your privacy by masking your IP address, making your online actions virtually untraceable. This becomes especially important when you’re using public Wi-Fi networks, where your information could be easily exposed to other users on the same network.
- Security:
With its encrypted tunnel, a VPN ensures that your sensitive data, like banking details, passwords, and personal emails, are secured from hackers or any third parties trying to access this information. This makes VPNs a must-have for individuals and businesses alike, as data breaches can have severe consequences.
- Accessibility:
VPNs can allow you to access restricted websites, applications, or services that would otherwise be blocked in your region. By connecting to a server in a country where the content is accessible, a VPN allows you to bypass these restrictions, making the internet truly global.
What are the types of VPN?
There are three main types of VPNs:
- Remote access VPNs are used by individuals to access a company’s network resources remotely.
- Site-to-site VPNs are used by companies to connect multiple networks together.
- Compared to the other two types, a cloud VPN offers greater flexibility. This type’s VPN servers are hosted via cloud computing technology, allowing remote workers to connect to an organization’s network from anywhere in the world.
How does a VPN work?
A VPN works by creating an encrypted tunnel between your device and the server you are connecting to. Any data transmitted through the tunnel remains confidential.
VPNs utilize tunneling protocols such as include OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, and IKEv2/IPsec to create an encrypted connection. Once the connection is established, any data and traffic is routed through one of many secure VPN servers located in different parts of the world. This helps mask a user’s location through their IP address and, prevents any third party from snooping on your browsing activity or accessing sensitive information.
What is VPN tunneling?
VPN tunneling refers to an encrypted connection between an end point device and a VPN server. The VPN tunneling process first encapsulate data packets within a secure protocol before they are sent over the internet, creating a “tunnel” through which data can be safely transmitted. This encapsulation ensures that the data remains private and protected from unauthorized access during its journey across the web.
What is a VPN server?
A VPN server, sometimes also known as a VPN gateway, handles requests from your device and acts as a secure, encrypted gateway to the internet. When a user connects to a VPN server, it effectively masks their IP address by assigning a new one, routing the internet traffic through a secure tunnel. VPN servers are strategically set up in different geographical locations, further obfuscating your real-world location and allowing users to bypass geo-restrictions.
What are the benefits of a VPN?
Once you set up a VPN, the benefits of using it include:
Increased Privacy: A VPN masks your IP address, making your online actions virtually untraceable.
Enhanced Security: When you use a VPN, your data is encrypted, providing a higher level of security for your data.
Access to Geo-Restricted Content: VPNs allow you to bypass geographic restrictions on websites or streaming audio and video.
Is VPN traffic encrypted?
Yes, VPNs encrypt data from a device to a VPN server. VPN tunneling typically use powerful algorithms such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) which uses block ciphers to encrypt data. That being said, VPN tunneling happens between a device and the VPN Server but the VPN server cannot encrypt data submitted to a website without HTTPS protocol. This means that VPN users still need to be vigilant about the websites they visit and be aware of common cyberattacks to avoid visiting suspicious websites asking for sensitive information.
How secure is a VPN?
While a VPN provides a more secure way to connect to the internet, it’s not completely invincible. The security of a VPN largely depends on the protocols used, encryption strength, and other features like VPN kill switches. It’s also important to use a reputable service that is regularly updated with the latest security patches.
🛡️ Protect critical business data with NinjaOne. Learn more here.
How to choose a VPN
Choose a reliable VPN service that uses strong encryption and has a clear privacy policy. When choosing a VPN, consider factors such as security features, server locations, connection speed, the number of simultaneous connections allowed, and the provider’s reputation. It’s also important to read reviews and check the provider’s transparency and privacy policies.
Increase security by using a VPN
A VPN is more than just a privacy tool—it’s an integral part of safe and secure online browsing. While they are crucial for the online privacy and security of individual end-users, they provide even more value for organizations who handle sensitive data and must follow stricter standards for network security.
Once you’ve selected a VPN provider, consider consolidating VPN management alongside all your endpoint and networking devices with NinjaOne. Learn how NinjaOne boosts your IT security or watch a demo today.
