A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a useful tool to help safeguard sensitive data, establish secure connections and digitally protect your remote workforce. But a VPN can also offer other benefits like beating bandwidth and data throttling by your ISP, bypassing regional content restrictions or avoiding malware. To get started, set up VPN on the devices your team will be using most, either directly on your router or via a separate app installed on each device.
Look for a provider that offers software for all the operating systems your workers will need to use the VPN on, including iOS and Android. Many VPN services also have a “downloads” page on their website, so check it out first.
Then, download the client to your devices. Once you have downloaded a client, open it and enter the details that your VPN service provides (VPN name, VPN type, server address, username and password). If you are connecting through a work or school network, your IT team may provide you with a list of preferred VPN servers to select from. If your VPN allows it, selecting a preferred server can help you avoid slowness or congestion.
Alternatively, you can enable the “auto-assign” option to let your VPN choose the fastest and most reliable server for you. Then tap Save.
When you’re finished, click the Network icon in your taskbar and select the VPN profile you just created. If prompted, enter your sign-in information or smart card credentials (username and password, one-time password, certificate or a smart card, depending on your setup).
Once your VPN is connected to a server, it makes your web traffic go through a secure tunnel before heading out to the site you’re visiting. In addition, the best ssr vpn can assign you a new IP address so that opportunistic cybercriminals and nosy ISPs can’t assemble a profile of your browsing habits.
A good VPN will also have other security features, such as military-grade encryption and a kill switch that will stop data from being sent to the wrong place when the connection fails. Some will block malware, as well, making it even more difficult for malicious software to reach critical business systems.
A good VPN will have a solid customer support team and robust security features. They will be able to answer your questions, troubleshoot issues and provide advice on best practices. They’ll also be able to tell you which of their servers are optimized for speed, which is important if your VPN needs to handle high volumes of data or video. Some providers will also have extensive global server coverage, which is great for spoofing your location and unblocking geo-restricted content. Finally, a good VPN will be no-logs, meaning it will not store your personal or professional data for anyone to access. That’s a big one to consider, as it can make a significant difference in your privacy and security.
