Utilizing a VPN or a digital non-public community could seem difficult at first, however it’s software program that’s surprisingly simple to arrange and use. Whether or not you’re a part of a small enterprise or a bigger group, integrating a VPN is a good way to safe necessary firm data.
On this article, we’ll present a rundown of the right way to arrange a VPN, the right way to use it and how one can maximize options on 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 presents a clear and straightforward to grasp interface, whereas CyberGhost VPN prioritizes having an in depth server community that’s unfold throughout 100 areas.
It’s necessary 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 gadgets do you want protected by the VPN? The solutions to those questions will inform what VPN might be greatest on your wants.
Researching a VPN’s status and monitor report in defending person information must also be a part of the decision-making course of. VPNs are anticipated to safe information from malicious actors, not promote or report them for their very own profit. A very good indicator of that is if a VPN has a no-logs coverage that’s been confirmed by way of a third-party audit. A no-logs coverage states {that a} VPN doesn’t report any delicate person information, akin to shopping historical past or IP addresses. Whereas many declare to be no-logs, having an impartial audit confirm that is key.
In the event you want a headstart on selecting a VPN, you may take a look at 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 accessible 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 length, the decrease the month-to-month value you pay.
Usually talking, I like to recommend going for an annual subscription, because it offers you steadiness between decrease charges and an affordable length for the contract.
I additionally encourage making essentially the most out of VPN suppliers’ money-back ensures. Many distributors permit 30 or extra days after the preliminary join prospects to check out the software program and ask for a refund throughout the allotted time if the VPN isn’t the fitting match.
Within the case of ExpressVPN, you may select between a one-month plan at $12.95 per thirty days, a one-year plan at $6.67 per thirty days, or a two-year plan at $4.99 per thirty days.
There are free VPN choices accessible, however these normally come at the price of decrease safety, slower speeds, and an absence of different options.
3. Arrange VPN
When you pay for the VPN, the subsequent step is to obtain and set up the VPN utility. In the event you’re downloading the VPN on your Home windows or Mac, be sure to’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
Happily, trendy VPNs are comparatively simple to make use of. As soon as put in, VPNs normally have a one-click join/disconnect button and a listing of servers you may 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’re. You may, in fact, choose a selected server location relying in your wants and preferences.
With ExpressVPN, there’s a giant 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 may click on join, and there you’ve gotten it — you’re now utilizing a safe VPN connection.
Some folks is perhaps questioning if it’s good to manually hook up with a server every time and the reply isn’t any. Usually, most VPNs will be configured to launch at startup and robotically hook up with a most well-liked server of your alternative.
It’s necessary to notice that exiting a VPN desktop window normally doesn’t shut this system utterly. VPNs are software program that run within the background, so that you’ll have to shut the VPN utility both by Home windows’ process supervisor or manually quitting the app on a Mac.
In the event you discover that the VPN isn’t functioning the best way it’s speculated to, rule of thumb is to disconnect from the server and restart the applying. If that doesn’t work, VPNs present buyer assist both on their website or within the app itself.
High quality VPN suppliers supply 24/7 reside chat assist to help you when one thing goes fallacious. If that’s not accessible, you may ship an e mail utilizing the VPN’s assist web page or ticket system.
Greatest methods to make use of a VPN for your enterprise
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 may also be used to enhance a companies’ day-to-day operations. Listed below are a number of methods they will achieve this:
Defend firm and shopper sources
As a result of VPNs encrypt the connection between the community and a related gadget, all information transmitted between them is protected. Because of this each firm and shopper sources might be secured towards dangerous actors.
VPNs are a good way to guard confidential paperwork, inner communications, and different property from cyberattacks and hacking. To study extra about how VPNs work, you may take a look at 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 work at home, they tend to hook up with firm sources by way of an unprotected connection.
VPN encryption ensures that delicate information accessed by distant staff are made illegible and untraceable, even when they fall into the fallacious fingers.
Acquire geographical flexibility
VPNs provide the capacity to pick an alternate IP deal with and site totally different from your personal. This enables you quick access to geo-blocked content material everywhere in the world.
This may be helpful for workers that repeatedly 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 a giant step towards rising safety, however there are some things you are able to do to get essentially the most out of the service.
- Checking accessible VPN apps on your cellphone permits staff to safe work-related data on their private telephones. As extra organizations depend on cell gadgets for communication and different work, putting in a VPN service’s iOS or Android app ensures that the heightened safety is maintained throughout all gadgets.
- Using VPN browser extensions lets you 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 unique pc.
- Wanting into staff subscriptions is a good way to chop prices for those who’re a enterprise on the lookout for a VPN. On high of the VPN itself, staff subscriptions usually embrace decrease charges, centralized billing and an administrative console for managers.
SEE: IT Chief’s Information to Cybersecurity Consciousness Coaching (TechRepublic Premium)
Really helpful 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 person interface (UI) that appears trendy and is straightforward to grasp. Its browser extension additionally acts as a handy distant management for the desktop app, giving you quick access to Categorical proper from the browser.
You may learn our full assessment of ExpressVPN.
CyberGhost VPN well organizes its servers into servers greatest for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. On condition 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 may take a look at our full assessment of CyberGhost VPN.
TunnelBear presents essentially the most beginner-friendly and least intimidating person interface. With its bear-themed desktop utility, every server is represented by a tunnel, and once you change to a brand new server, the TunnelBear bear pops up as soon as the connection is established.
You may take a look at 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.
