What Are The Advantages of a VPN?

VPN stands for virtual private network and it is a tool that can be used to help people disguise their location as well as prevent their activity and data from being monitored. With a VPN, your internet traffic is directed through a VPN server first, encrypting your data. Rather than relying solely on your internet service provider (ISP), using a VPN helps to mask the IP address associated with your internet traffic, concealing your location and data.

Understanding the potential benefits of using a VPN can help an organisation or individual decide whether it would be beneficial for them to have one. Most companies and people using a VPN do so in order to increase the security of their personal data as well as that of their business, preventing hacking and cyber threats and even being able to book cheaper flights based on the location of the user’s web data.

One of the fundamental and most popular benefits of a VPN is that it stops software, bots, people and even web trackers from accessing your web connection when you browse online.

 

VPNs Can Improve Security

 

A key advantage of any VPN is that it can help those browsing online to secure their network by encrypting their data, meaning there is less chance of databases and browsing sessions being hacked and sensitive information lost, as this information needs to be decrypted before any hacker or cyber criminal can discovered and access it. Websites can access sensitive information and track activity without the browser being aware, particularly if you are online and using a public Wi-Fi network without a VPN.

This can lead to web user being targeted with advertisements, or in the worst cases, falling victim to fraud, hacking and data leaks. A key advantage of using a VPN is that when browsing online, you are less likely to receive advertisements and pop ups which interrupt browsing experiences, or be hacked and data leaked about you or your company.

 

 

VPNs often offer a kill switch for when a VPN is suffering technical problems. A kill switch will be enabled automatically whenever an internet connection fails to be rerouted through a VPN server and encrypted successfully. This ensures that a user does not remain vulnerable online without their knowledge, as typically it is difficult to tell when a VPN is not working.

VPN kill switches should also be automatically turned off when the issue has been fixed, meaning that users should not be left without a connection to the internet for longer than is absolutely necessary when protecting their browsing data and online security.

 

Can Using a VPN Prevent Bandwidth and Data Throttling?

 

Bandwidth throttling occurs when the internet speed is reduced by an internet service provider (ISP) or a third party who can control the performance of the WiFi network. This is sometimes caused by using specific websites or accessing specific information online and can be prevented by using a VPN when browsing online.

One of the major advantages of a VPN is that it ensures that the mobile traffic coming from a device is automatically encrypted, meaning others will be unable to see which sites have been visited. If the ISP cannot access data from a device, it cannot be throttled. Typically, if others have access to the same internet connection, companies should still be able to conceal data transmissions and a VPN can help with this.

Data throttling occurs after using a certain amount of available data, causing the ISP to reduce the speed of their service. In this case, a VPN may be able to conceal how much data has been used, benefitting the web user who may need to use data whilst travelling but have caps on their data usage that may otherwise contribute to data throttling occurring.

 

VPNs Can Conceal Sensitive Information

 

VPNs are able to hide private or sensitive information by encrypting the user’s connection, meaning hackers should be unable to gain access to it and exploit it for their personal gain. Without a VPN, it may be possible for hackers to use personal data to impersonate an individual, therefore gaining access to bank accounts or credit card information. By using a VPN, it makes it much harder (sometimes near impossible) for a hacker to gain access to the connection as it will be encrypted and the location may also be masked by the VPN.

VPNs provide protection through blurring online communications, causing them to appear nonsensical and meaning hackers should not be able to decode them. The encrypted data when using a  is extremely difficult to decrypt, meaning your sensitive data is much better protected when a VPN is used.

 

VPNs Can Reduce Support Costs For Businesses

 

Using a VPN can reduce a company’s support costs by incorporating cloud computing architecture. This will reduce the need to employ IT staff for on-site setup and performance or maintenance of the in-house server of an organisation. It also reduces time spent identifying and addressing potential security issues and the impacts they could have, as the VPN can do this for you, at least in part.

VPNs allow the service provider to take control of performance checks, general upkeep and security measures which should be paid for by paying clients. Cost savings are then returned to the organisation through lower than usual fees, which is an often overlooked benefit of a VPN.

 

 

Network Scalability With a VPN

 

VPNs can provide secure and encrypted access for employees working remotely. Key applications can also be run through a cloud environment, providing access through a secure VPN tunnel which can protect the user’s web data.

This typically includes all applications which can be run on a desktop computer. Employees connecting to the VPN will be able to gain access to the VPN and therefore the application which they are required to use.

 

Can a VPN Help You Access Geo-Blocked Services?

 

Yes, VPNs can provide organisations with a new or different IP address and very effectively mask the location of the person browsing online. This can be as a device streams content, browses the internet or engages in other activities online. Some sites block access to users from certain countries and some countries block users from certain platforms like WhatsApp, Netflix and Facebook. Countries including China and the UAE do not allow web users to access certain services within their borders and thus, a VPN is often the solution.

Businesses can also limit the use of public work services based on location, making it difficult to access necessary information from certain locations. VPNs can help individuals to appear as though they are accessing data from an alternate location, reducing the chance of them being blocked from specific services.

In spite of this, VPNs should not be used to access content which is blocked due to legal reasons. VPNs should not be used to download or access pirated or restricted content as doing so may be illegal.