Utilizing a VPN or a digital personal community could appear sophisticated at first, nevertheless it’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 a good way to safe vital firm data.
On this article, we’ll present a rundown of find out how to arrange a VPN, find out how 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 gives a clear and straightforward to grasp interface, whereas CyberGhost VPN prioritizes having an intensive server community that’s unfold throughout 100 places.
It’s vital 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 via the VPN? The solutions to those questions will inform what VPN will probably be finest on your wants.
Researching a VPN’s fame and monitor file in defending person 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. An excellent 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 person knowledge, corresponding to searching historical past or IP addresses. Whereas many declare to be no-logs, having an unbiased audit confirm that is key.
For those who want a headstart on selecting a VPN, you possibly can 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 example.
ExpressVPN is likely one of the prime VPN suppliers out there 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 provide 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 inexpensive length for the contract.
I additionally encourage making probably 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 inside the allotted time if the VPN isn’t the precise match.
Within the case of ExpressVPN, you possibly can 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 out there, 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 software. For those who’re downloading the VPN on your Home windows or Mac, be sure 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
Luckily, trendy VPNs are comparatively straightforward to make use of. As soon as put in, VPNs normally have a one-click join/disconnect button and an inventory of servers you possibly can connect with.
By default, VPNs will connect with the quickest server in your space. This sometimes means connecting to a server location that’s nearest to the place you’re. You’ll be able to, 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 beneath it.
When you’ve chosen a server, you possibly can click on join, and there you could have it — you’re now utilizing a safe VPN connection.
Some folks could be questioning if you should manually connect with a server every time and the reply is not any. Usually, most VPNs might be configured to launch at startup and mechanically connect with a most popular server of your selection.
It’s vital 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 software both via Home windows’ process supervisor or manually quitting the app on a Mac.
For those who discover that the VPN isn’t functioning the way in which it’s imagined to, rule of thumb is to disconnect from the server and restart the appliance. If that doesn’t work, VPNs present buyer assist both on their web site or within the app itself.
High quality VPN suppliers provide 24/7 stay chat assist to help you when one thing goes improper. If that’s not out there, you possibly can ship an e-mail utilizing the VPN’s assist web page or ticket system.
Greatest methods to make use of a VPN for what you are promoting
VPNs have a wide range 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 accomplish that:
Defend firm and shopper assets
As a result of VPNs encrypt the connection between the community and a linked machine, all knowledge transmitted between them is protected. Which means each firm and shopper assets will probably be secured in opposition to dangerous actors.
VPNs are a good way to guard confidential paperwork, inside communications, and different belongings from cyberattacks and hacking. To study extra about how VPNs work, you possibly can take a look at our information right here.
Safe entry to distant staff
One other benefit VPNs provide is securing distant staff’ entry to a company community. Since distant staff sometimes work at home, they generally tend to connect with firm assets 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 skill to pick out an alternate IP tackle and placement totally different from your individual. This permits you quick access to geo-blocked content material everywhere in the world.
This may be helpful for workers that repeatedly journey and have to view region-locked content material like information articles, streaming companies, and native web sites. This flexibility additionally advantages distant staff which will have a tough time accessing assets outdoors of the place they work.
How to make sure you’re maximizing your VPN
Integrating a VPN is a giant step towards growing safety, however there are some things you are able to do to get probably the most out of the service.
- Checking out there VPN apps on your telephone permits staff to safe work-related data on their private telephones. As extra organizations depend on cell 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 software put in, making it simpler to do secured work on a distinct pc.
- Trying into workforce subscriptions is a good way to chop prices when you’re a enterprise in search of a VPN. On prime of the VPN itself, workforce 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 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 person interface (UI) that appears trendy and is simple 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’ll be able to learn our full evaluate of ExpressVPN.
CyberGhost VPN neatly organizes its servers into servers finest for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. On condition that it reportedly has 10,000+ servers in 100 nations on provide, the classes assist in distinguishing which server is finest for various customers.
You’ll be able to take a look at our full evaluate of CyberGhost VPN.
TunnelBear presents probably the most beginner-friendly and least intimidating person interface. With its bear-themed desktop software, every server is represented by a tunnel, and while you swap to a brand new server, the TunnelBear bear pops up as soon as the connection is established.
You’ll be able to take a look at our full evaluate of TunnelBear VPN.
This text was initially revealed in November 2023 and was up to date by Luis Millares in March 2025.
