How to Set Up a Work VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) lets you work remotely while still being connected to your office network. Allowing you to continue working as if you were still in the office. Using a VPN when traveling or working remotely can also help prevent privacy issues. You can also set up your VPN to only allow certain websites and web services into your private network. Setting up a VPN at work can be a pain. There are so many different options and each one has its own set of configuration requirements. To save you the effort and headaches, we’ve gone ahead and created this detailed guide. In it, we’ll teach you how to set up a VPN quickly and easily. Once you’ve got that set up, you can move around as much as you like without any fear of leaking your company’s sensitive data.

Why Should You Setup A VPN At Work?

As a business owner, manager, or employee, you may have considered the benefits of a VPN at some point. Here are just a few of the reasons why you should consider setting up a VPN at work:

• Encryption – Data sent over a VPN is encrypted, which can be a great way to prevent information from being compromised. If your work computer gets stolen or infected with ransomware, your sensitive information (like credit card numbers) would be more secure with end-to-end encryption.
• Privacy – There are so many ways that a VPN can help ensure your personal privacy. For instance, you can use a VPN to keep your personal information (like credit card numbers) secure when you’re on public Wi-Fi. You can also use a VPN to prevent apps or sites from identifying you as an individual when you’re on the web. Setting up a VPN at work will also help keep your personal information secure when you’re using company-owned devices or those provided by your employer.
• Security – Having a VPN setup at work can help prevent malicious software from being installed on your company-owned devices or those provided by your employer. This could include spyware, adware, or ransomware. The best part is that you don’t need to be a security expert to set this up – any average user can do it with a little bit of tech knowledge.
• Mobility – You can take your work anywhere with you with the use of a VPN. Even if you have a perfectly good Wi-Fi connection at home, you may not have an open connection where you need to work. Having a VPN connection allows you to change that. You can also use a VPN connection for remote work – even if you’re at home. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could even set up a VPN connection on an airplane and connect during the flight. This may not be possible everywhere, but it’s certainly viable in some situations.
• Access To Private Networks – Some employers have private networks that they allow their employees to connect to. Having a VPN allows you to access those private networks, whether they’re located inside or outside of your home country. Employees whose job functions involve working remotely can also take advantage of this feature to allow them to work from home or anywhere with an internet connection. This can make a significant difference in terms of both productivity and employee satisfaction. It also helps prevent the spread of COVID-19, since employees aren’t gathering in person as much.
• Reduced Risk Of Data Exposure – A VPN can help reduce your risk of data exposure. If you’re unsure of what this means, think of all the data shared online by people who have no concept of security. This data is often sold or given to third parties for financial gain. If a hacker or data thief gets their hands on your personal information, chances are it’s going to be abused. A private network is just a VPN away – protecting your data while still having the ability to access private networks at work.

How Do I Setup A VPN At Work?

So you’ve decided that you want to setup a VPN at work. Great! There are a few different ways that you could go about doing this. Here are our favorite two methods for setting up a VPN at work.

• Use Your Smart Phone – If you already use a VPN on your smartphone, you can setup a dedicated VPN app for your work. Allowing you to connect to your workplace network no matter where you are. This app would then encrypt your data before sending it over the internet. While this method is great because it allows for complete flexibility, it requires a bit of tech savvy and can be a pain to setup on a regular basis.
• Use Web-Based Software – A lot of companies make a whole-house VPN solution that connects to all of your devices and services with just a few clicks of the mouse. This allows for easy set-up and use – as long as you have an internet connection, you can connect to your VPN and begin using it. The major downside to this is that it requires a steady internet connection to work properly. If you shut down your internet connection, your whole house may not be able to connect to the VPN. To prevent this from happening, it’s essential that you keep your internet connection active all the time – especially in the case of a power outage. This means that you’ll be spending a lot of time troubleshooting issues associated with your VPN connection.
• Use A Dedicated IP Address – Instead of using a VPN to protect your privacy and security at work, you could use a public library computer to access the internet. Most public libraries have a computer for guest use. This computer would then be connected to the internet through a dedicated IP address. A dedicated IP address is a unique identifier that is assigned to you by your internet service provider. This means that all of your activity while at the library will be attributed to you. While this may be convenient, it comes with the risk of your activity being tracked.
• Use A VPN To Connect To The Internet – Instead of using a dedicated library computer to access the internet, you could use your company’s network computer. This would then be connected to the internet through a VPN. A VPN will allow you to connect to the internet and work remotely while still maintaining your work network’s security. The downside to this is that you’ll need to set up a VPN account separately from your work account – which may not be possible if your employer does not offer a business-class VPN.

Step One: Choose A VPN Provider

There are a lot of different VPN providers to choose from, all offering varying levels of protection and features. It can be a bit overwhelming deciding which one to go with. Here are some of the things you should look for in a VPN:

• Security – This is the backbone of any VPN. You want to ensure that your data is safe when using a VPN. The best way to do this is by using a VPN that is endorsed by a trusted company. Security should be a major concern for you – especially if you’re working with highly confidential or sensitive information. If you’re not sure whether or not your chosen VPN provider is truly safe, read their certification for cyber security. This should give you a good idea of whether or not they are doing everything that they can to protect your data.
• Features – Depending on your needs and the services you need from your VPN, you may want to look for a VPN that offers additional features. For example, did you want to be able to securely share a drive with your coworkers while still being able to access your corporate VPN? Or do you need an app for your phone that can be used to easily connect to your workplace network?
• Customer Support – Did you want to call or e-mail customer service to get help with your VPN? Perhaps you’re locked out of your account and cannot get into the app with the authorization code that was sent to you. In this case, you would need someone to help you troubleshoot the issue so that you can get back into your account.