Utilizing a VPN or a digital personal community could seem sophisticated at first, but it surely’s software program that’s surprisingly straightforward to arrange and use. Whether or not you’re a part of a small enterprise or a bigger group, integrating a VPN is an effective way to safe essential firm data.
On this article, we’ll present a rundown of how one can arrange a VPN, how one can use it and how one can maximize options in your group.
1. Select a VPN
Whereas all VPNs encrypt the connection between a tool and a community, every service brings its personal taste and particular options. For instance, ExpressVPN affords a clear and straightforward to grasp interface, whereas CyberGhost VPN prioritizes having an in depth server community that’s unfold throughout 100 places.
It’s essential to know why you want a VPN. Would you like higher safety and privateness? Do you want it to unblock content material? What number of units do you want protected by means of the VPN? The solutions to those questions will inform what VPN shall be greatest in your wants.
Researching a VPN’s status and observe file in defending consumer knowledge must also be a part of the decision-making course of. VPNs are anticipated to safe knowledge from malicious actors, not promote or file them for their very own profit. indicator of that is if a VPN has a no-logs coverage that’s been confirmed through a third-party audit. A no-logs coverage states {that a} VPN doesn’t file any delicate consumer knowledge, resembling shopping historical past or IP addresses. Whereas many declare to be no-logs, having an impartial audit confirm that is key.
If you happen to want a headstart on selecting a VPN, you possibly can try our picks of the 4 Greatest VPNs for Small Companies.
For the sake of this information, let’s use ExpressVPN for instance.
ExpressVPN is without doubt one of the high VPN suppliers obtainable and is well-regarded for its reliability and ease of use.
2. Buy a VPN
After deciding on a VPN, it’s time to enroll and pay for a subscription. Most VPNs supply a number of subscription choices at month-to-month, annual, or two-year phrases. The longer the period, the decrease the month-to-month value you pay.
Usually talking, I like to recommend going for an annual subscription, because it provides you a superb steadiness between decrease charges and an inexpensive period for the contract.
I additionally encourage making probably the most out of VPN suppliers’ money-back ensures. Many distributors enable 30 or extra days after the preliminary join prospects to check out the software program and ask for a refund inside the allotted time if the VPN isn’t the appropriate match.
Within the case of ExpressVPN, you possibly can select between a one-month plan at $12.95 per 30 days, a one-year plan at $6.67 per 30 days, or a two-year plan at $4.99 per 30 days.
There are free VPN choices obtainable, however these often come at the price of decrease safety, slower speeds, and a scarcity of different options.
3. Arrange VPN
When you pay for the VPN, the subsequent step is to obtain and set up the VPN utility. If you happen to’re downloading the VPN in your Home windows or Mac, ensure you’re getting it from the VPN’s official web site.
After clicking obtain, the VPN’s installer file will seem in your downloads folder.
Clicking on the installer file will take you to the VPN’s setup course of. Simply observe the offered directions till the VPN is put in onto your system.
4. Use the VPN
Fortuitously, fashionable VPNs are comparatively straightforward to make use of. As soon as put in, VPNs often have a one-click join/disconnect button and an inventory of servers you possibly can hook up with.
By default, VPNs will hook up with the quickest server in your space. This usually means connecting to a server location that’s nearest to the place you might be. You possibly can, in fact, choose a selected server location relying in your wants and preferences.
With ExpressVPN, there’s an enormous energy button within the center that controls your connection, and the server menu is conveniently positioned under it.
When you’ve chosen a server, you possibly can click on join, and there you may have it — you’re now utilizing a safe VPN connection.
Some folks may be questioning if you could manually hook up with a server every time and the reply isn’t any. Usually, most VPNs could be configured to launch at startup and robotically hook up with a most popular server of your alternative.
It’s essential to notice that exiting a VPN desktop window often doesn’t shut this system fully. VPNs are software program that run within the background, so that you’ll have to shut the VPN utility both by means of Home windows’ job supervisor or manually quitting the app on a Mac.
If you happen to discover that the VPN isn’t functioning the best way it’s speculated to, a superb rule of thumb is to disconnect from the server and restart the applying. If that doesn’t work, VPNs present buyer help both on their web site or within the app itself.
High quality VPN suppliers supply 24/7 stay chat help to help you when one thing goes improper. If that’s not obtainable, you possibly can ship an e-mail utilizing the VPN’s help web page or ticket system.
Greatest methods to make use of a VPN for your online business
VPNs have quite a lot of use-cases. They can be utilized to entry streaming companies, to torrent recordsdata securely or to have a greater gaming expertise. They can be used to enhance a companies’ day-to-day operations. Listed below are just a few methods they will accomplish that:
Defend firm and consumer sources
As a result of VPNs encrypt the connection between the community and a related gadget, all knowledge transmitted between them is protected. Because of this each firm and consumer sources shall be secured towards unhealthy actors.
VPNs are an effective way to guard confidential paperwork, inside communications, and different property from cyberattacks and hacking. To be taught extra about how VPNs work, you possibly can try our information right here.
Safe entry to distant staff
One other benefit VPNs supply is securing distant staff’ entry to a company community. Since distant staff usually do business from home, they generally tend to connect with firm sources through an unprotected connection.
VPN encryption ensures that delicate knowledge accessed by distant staff are made illegible and untraceable, even when they fall into the improper arms.
Achieve geographical flexibility
VPNs provide the means to pick out an alternate IP handle and placement totally different from your personal. This permits you quick access to geo-blocked content material everywhere in the world.
This may be helpful for workers that recurrently journey and must view region-locked content material like information articles, streaming companies, and native web sites. This flexibility additionally advantages distant staff that will have a tough time accessing sources exterior of the place they work.
How to make sure you’re maximizing your VPN
Integrating a VPN is an enormous step towards rising safety, however there are some things you are able to do to get probably the most out of the service.
- Checking obtainable VPN apps in your telephone permits staff to safe work-related data on their private telephones. As extra organizations depend on cellular units for communication and different work, putting in a VPN service’s iOS or Android app ensures that the heightened safety is maintained throughout all units.
- Using VPN browser extensions allows you to use a VPN proper from the browser. Some VPN extensions may even be a standalone with out the desktop utility put in, making it simpler to do secured work on a special pc.
- Trying into staff subscriptions is an effective way to chop prices for those who’re a enterprise searching for a VPN. On high of the VPN itself, staff subscriptions usually embody decrease charges, centralized billing and an administrative console for managers.
SEE: IT Chief’s Information to Cybersecurity Consciousness Coaching (TechRepublic Premium)
Really useful easy-to-use VPNs
VPN encryption can get technical, however three companies that stand out for his or her ease of use are ExpressVPN, CyberGhost VPN, and TunnelBear VPN.
ExpressVPN comes with a consumer interface (UI) that appears fashionable and is simple to grasp. Its browser extension additionally acts as a handy distant management for the desktop app, giving you quick access to Specific proper from the browser.
You possibly can learn our full assessment of ExpressVPN.
CyberGhost VPN well organizes its servers into servers greatest for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. Provided that it reportedly has 10,000+ servers in 100 nations on supply, the classes assist in distinguishing which server is greatest for various customers.
You possibly can try our full assessment of CyberGhost VPN.
TunnelBear presents probably the most beginner-friendly and least intimidating consumer interface. With its bear-themed desktop utility, every server is represented by a tunnel, and while you change to a brand new server, the TunnelBear bear pops up as soon as the connection is established.
You possibly can try our full assessment of TunnelBear VPN.
This text was initially revealed in November 2023 and was up to date by Luis Millares in March 2025.
