🔐 VPNs: What, Why, and When
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and another network. That's the technical answer. The practical answer is that it helps protect traffic and extend private access when you're away from the office.
When a VPN Helps
- Working on public or untrusted networks
- Accessing office-only systems remotely
- Protecting traffic between remote users and internal services
When It Doesn't Solve Everything
A VPN does not replace MFA, device security, or good access controls. If a compromised laptop connects through a VPN, the risk still follows it.
Business VPN vs Consumer VPN
- Business VPN - connects staff to company systems securely
- Consumer VPN - usually focuses on privacy, location masking, or public browsing
What Good Looks Like
- Access is limited to the right people
- MFA protects the login
- Traffic is monitored sensibly
- Performance is good enough that staff will actually use it
Pro Tip: If your business relies heavily on SaaS tools like Microsoft 365, you may need a smaller VPN footprint than you think. Sometimes modern identity-based access is a better fit.
VPNs are still useful, but they work best as one part of a wider remote access strategy rather than the whole strategy on their own.
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