The working world has undergone massive changes in recent years, especially regarding where people work. Today, people don't need to go to the office daily—or at all—to work as hybrid and remote setups have become widely adopted and are preferred by many employees. Around eight in ten remote-capable employees expect to be hybrid or fully remote. In 2023, 29% of these workers now work remotely, a significant increase from the 8% in 2019. While many have returned to the office, it seems unlikely that the trend of working remotely will die down, especially for those whose tasks can be accomplished from outside the office. However, remote work also brings new concerns and issues about security, especially as employees are working in varying systems and conditions.
Remote work can leave employees vulnerable to cyber attacks, which have become more frequent due to sophisticated tactics developed over the past few years. As such, 72% of employers are either very concerned or somewhat concerned about the security risks of employees working remotely. With cyber-attacks becoming more sophisticated, prioritizing security is paramount to protect your personal details, finances, and more. A personal VPN can make a huge difference in your cybersecurity measures when working at home, in public, and abroad.
What is a personal VPN?
A VPN, which stands for virtual private network, creates a secure connection between your device and the internet. It protects users' online security by encrypting data and internet traffic and masking their IP address. A personal VPN is a VPN connection intended for individual use or non-commercial purposes. Remote workers with a personal VPN can connect to a remote server, hiding their IP address and online activity. This prevents outside parties, such as internet service providers (ISPs), government agencies, and cyber criminals, from snooping on and accessing sensitive details and your virtual location. This allows you to stay secure and safe when working from home or anywhere with an internet connection.
Here's why you need a personal VPN for remote work:
Protecting sensitive data
In the US, 800,944 cybercrimes were reported in 2022 alone. Personal data breaches were among the most common cyber attacks, with 58,859 reported victims and a loss of $742.44 million. Business email compromise was also a hugely costly cyber crime, amounting to losses of $2.74 billion with 21,832 victims. These scams trick employees into revealing personal details or transferring funds to scammers' accounts, leading to substantial financial impacts, the tarnishing of business reputation, and a threat to individual security. A personal VPN can make it much more difficult for cybercriminals to target you by encrypting your internet connection and converting your data into an unreadable language. Hackers or scammers won't be able to find, obtain, or unscramble your traffic easily, lessening their chances of executing a cyber attack. You can safely handle your company's confidential documents and your personal information without the threat of prying eyes looking to exploit you.
Accessing content while abroad
If you're working abroad, accessing your work content and information securely can be more difficult. Some of the content or websites you use may not be accessible due to geographical restrictions, and the threat of cyber-attacks may be more concerning due to unfamiliar regulations and systems. A personal VPN provides peace of mind when you're far from home. You can connect to a VPN server in your home country and easily access all the websites, platforms, and apps you need, bypassing any restrictions in your location. The security also prevents cybersecurity threats from connecting to public airport or hotel Wi-Fi networks, so you can work without worry and stay productive.
Security when using public networks
One of the perks of working remotely is choosing your workspace. You can leave your home and work at a coffee shop, library, or any other public place with a strong internet connection. While connecting to a public Wi-Fi network is convenient and sometimes necessary, doing so can also increase your risk of cyber attacks. Hackers can access your accounts and logins on public networks, compromising your security and your business's private information. A personal VPN can protect you when working in a public location, as cybercriminals won't be able to decipher your encrypted data. For increased security, ensure you use two-factor authentication while on public Wi-FI, so even if cybercriminals somehow access any passwords, they won't be able to get into your account without first gaining access to your phone or email. This helps add an extra layer of security to your activity or data on top of your personal VPN.
Safeguarding company resources and communication
Even while working remotely, you're likely constantly communicating with other colleagues to accomplish your work. Whether you're sending confidential documents or sensitive information through file sharing, communication platforms, or virtual meetings, a personal VPN can keep collaboration and communication secure and away from outside parties. You can send these resources through the encrypted tunnel provided by your VPN server. A VPN can also ensure that only authorized users can access internal resources and applications. Even while working remotely, you can easily control who gets to access certain data or systems within the corporate network. This prevents the risk of data breaches or leaks of confidential information. Thanks to encryption, your company's resources can be safeguarded and controlled so that the information won't fall into the wrong hands or even to those within the company who do not need access to specific data or documents.
Working remotely has revolutionized the work landscape, but it's easy to be more lax about cybersecurity when working from home or elsewhere. A personal VPN can make all the difference in keeping your personal and business information secure and private, preventing breaches and leaks that can threaten you or your company.
* This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of sciencetimes.com
