You might have heard of VPNs. They’re a common feature on crime shows – ‘The killer has used a VPN, so we can’t track where he is!’ – so you might have negative associations with VPNs. After all, aren’t VPNs used to cover up internet history and hide your location?
In reality, VPNs should be used by everyone – within work and out. But before we talk about the benefits of VPNs, let’s establish what they are first.
What is a VPN?: A VPN is a virtual private network. The main purpose of a VPN is to encrypt your internet traffic and, in doing so, protect your online privacy. When you use a VPN, the sites you visit can’t be tracked, nor can your computer. Thus, your internet connection is private and secure, allowing for peace of mind.
So VPNs can keep you safe and secure when using the internet. Great! Why, in particular, should they be used for work, though?
Remote working
Many of us have had to do some form of remote working over the past eighteen months. Since the pandemic, the landscape of working has changed. Even as restrictions lift in some parts of the world, many workplaces are looking into remote working as a permanent fixture. Jobs are going up for completely remote working, while other jobs offer part-time hours working from home as part of a full-time job.
VPNs can benefit remote working in two ways. For one, VPNs have data encryption features. This means that data is stored in a coded format, obscuring its meaning. This means that, even when you’re working from home, documents can be kept confidential.
Secondly, VPNs’ location obscuring technology allows workers at home to connect to office networks. This allows you, as an employee, to access sensitive files, even when you’re at home and working on your device.
Data privacy
Data privacy has been a big focus in the past fifteen years, yet the world still seems to be struggling for an answer. If the sale of your data makes you uncomfortable, using a VPN is a smart way forward.
Your internet provider has access to all of your internet data: what you search, when you search, and your sale patterns. This data can be sold to other companies, and if it gets into the wrong hands, it can be dangerous.
While you have control over your internet provider at home, you don’t have that security at work. By using a VPN, you can protect yourself from your data being accessed by your work’s internet provider.
Greater access to content
Have you ever wanted to read an article or watch a YouTube video, and been met with the message: Content not available in your country? Well, with a VPN, you can say goodbye to these messages.
With a VPN, you can access unlimited content, regardless of your location. In your spare time, this means you can access other countries’ Netflix, but in terms of work, it means your research capabilities are limitless.
The best VPNs can help you to be a better worker while also protecting you and your data.
