A VPN provides security for businesses and individuals by shielding a user's IP address. The virtual private network forwards commands from the user to the website while hiding the user's location and identity. Since the user IP address is concealed, the data are out of the reach of hackers and third parties. Businesses benefit from VPNs that protect customer and company information. Also, it is easy for employees to learn to use a VPN.

How Do VPNs Secure Data?

So, how secure is a vpn? A VPN secures data in several ways. They provide an IP address from a different location to keep the user's IP address private. This is useful for bypassing geo restrictions and preserving privacy while browsing the internet. If the VPN is working well and there is no disruption in its service, the user's IP will remain disguised. This is an inexpensive way of increasing security, and it is worth installing a free vpn for this purpose.

VPNs also protect data through end-to-end encryption which scrambles information into a code that cannot be cracked even if the data is retrieved by outside users. It also provides extra security when devices are logged into public networks where data can be particularly vulnerable.

A VPN adds an additional layer of protection when firewalls and anti-virus protection fail. Although these methods of internet security are trusted, the truth is that most can only eliminate 75% of malware and other viruses. Also, typical connections usually contain only minimal security, and a VPN is necessary for added security.

How Do VPNs Help With Access Control?

Film streaming sites or websites with informative content often restrict access by region. This is related to licensing or other regulations. A VPN broadens access to geo-restricted content by showing an IP address from a permitted location. If the user is located in a restricted area, the website will not detect it and will only see the VPN's IP address.

The Drawbacks of VPN Access Control

Although a VPN should in theory provide access to geo-restricted content, not everything goes according to plan. Sites such as Netflix and Hulu are becoming more vigilant about VPNs and to protect their licensing agreements, are detecting and blocking VPNs more effectively than in the past.

Fortunately, the top VPN companies are also improving their technology, but that means there will be an ongoing battle between VPN product developers and websites. You may suddenly lose access to valuable content only to regain it by switching to a new VPN service.

You may also lose access to geo-restricted content without warning if there is an issue with the server and your actual IP address is revealed. To prevent this from happening, use a kill switch that will turn off your internet if there is a disruption in a server. However, this means your internet will likely fluctuate along with the server. Here are some other drawbacks to VPNs:

1.   Single Point of Failure

On Twitter, Edward Snowden called VPNs a "single point of failure" and added that VPN companies can see browsing activity. Snowden is expressing the idea that a VPN can create a false sense of security with the illusion of privacy and anonymity. In reality, a VPN company could, theoretically, act in an unscrupulous way, track activity, and sell information.

However, that doesn't mean the rest of the internet is safe. Internet Service Providers track users and social media platforms have been known to use information in unauthorized ways. When installing a VPN, it is important to work with a trusted company that guarantees it doesn't sell or share data with third parties.

2.   VPNs Can Be Unwieldy to Manage

Although an extra layer is beneficial in terms of security, there is a price in the form of added complexity and awkwardness. If your commands have to be forwarded through a private network to a website, there is little doubt that the communication will be slower.

In addition to slowing the internet, the set-up of multiple parties with separate VPNs could be unwieldy. For instance, if you are a business manager, and human resources has one VPN and customer service uses another, each department's VPN is working more slowly than it would otherwise, and communication through several types of VPNs will be even slower and more awkward. If one server fails, communication could be interrupted at crucial times.

3.   VPNs are Not Granular

Although VPNs can improve security by disguising an IP address and encryption, it can actually put data at risk since it is not granular. In the above example, if a company has one VPN for the human resources department and another VPN for customer service, anyone who has access to the VPN for a particular department can access all of the data.

Since there is one VPN for overall access, rather than a distinct network connection for each user, a VPN can be less protected than a Software-Defined Perimeter or SDP. The only way to make VPNs granular is if each user has their own VPN. Also, SDPs, unlike VPNs verify users rather than automatically granting access.

Is a VPN Worth It?

VPNs may have certain advantages and disadvantages. How much this matter depends on what it is being used for. The issues concerned with simply streaming videos are different than for a business owner who wants to find better ways to manage remote workers. The security and freedom provided by VPNs make them preferable in many cases to using the internet without a VPN. Their advantages and disadvantages compared to SDPs may be issues business owners may want to explore further.