Utilizing a VPN or a digital non-public community could appear sophisticated 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 an effective way to safe vital firm data.

On this article, we’ll present a rundown of the best way to arrange a VPN, the best 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 affords a clear and straightforward to grasp interface, whereas CyberGhost VPN prioritizes having an intensive server community that’s unfold throughout 100 areas.

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 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 repute and monitor document in defending person information also needs to be a part of the decision-making course of. VPNs are anticipated to safe information from malicious actors, not promote or document 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 document any delicate person information, comparable to shopping historical past or IP addresses. Whereas many declare to be no-logs, having an impartial 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 among the prime 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 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 worth you pay.

Usually talking, I like to recommend going for an annual subscription, because it offers you a great 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 clients to check out the software program and ask for a refund inside the allotted time if the VPN isn’t the correct match.

Within the case of ExpressVPN, you possibly can select between a one-month plan at $12.95 per 30 days, a one-year plan at $6.67 per 30 days, or a two-year plan at $4.99 per 30 days.

There are free VPN choices accessible, however these often 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 following 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 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 often 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 may, in fact, choose a particular 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 possibly can click on join, and there you may have it — you’re now utilizing a safe VPN connection.

Some individuals is perhaps questioning if you want to manually connect with a server every time and the reply is not any. Usually, most VPNs might be configured to launch at startup and robotically connect with a most popular server of your alternative.

It’s vital to notice that exiting a VPN desktop window often doesn’t shut this system fully. VPNs are software program that run within the background, so that you’ll have to shut the VPN software both by Home windows’ process supervisor or manually quitting the app on a Mac.

For those who discover that the VPN isn’t functioning the best way it’s alleged to, a great rule of thumb is to disconnect from the server and restart the applying. If that doesn’t work, VPNs present buyer help both on their website or within the app itself.

High quality VPN suppliers provide 24/7 stay chat help to help you when one thing goes flawed. If that’s not accessible, you possibly can ship an electronic mail utilizing the VPN’s help web page or ticket system.

Greatest methods to make use of a VPN for what you are promoting

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 here are a couple of methods they will achieve this:

Defend firm and consumer assets

As a result of VPNs encrypt the connection between the community and a linked system, all information transmitted between them is protected. Which means that each firm and consumer assets might be secured in opposition to dangerous actors.

VPNs are an effective 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 employees

One other benefit VPNs provide is securing distant employees’ entry to a company community. Since distant employees sometimes earn a living from home, they generally tend to connect with firm assets by way of an unprotected connection.

VPN encryption ensures that delicate information accessed by distant employees are made illegible and untraceable, even when they fall into the flawed arms.

Acquire geographical flexibility

VPNs provide the potential to pick an alternate IP deal with and placement totally different from your individual. This permits you quick access to geo-blocked content material all around the world.

This may be helpful for workers that often 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 assets exterior 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 essentially the most out of the service.

• Checking accessible VPN apps on your telephone 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 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 laptop.

• Wanting into staff subscriptions is an effective way to chop prices should you’re a enterprise searching for a VPN. On prime 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 (roosho 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 may learn our full evaluate 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 provide, the classes assist in distinguishing which server is greatest for various customers.

You may take a look at our full evaluate of CyberGhost VPN.

TunnelBear presents essentially the most beginner-friendly and least intimidating person interface. With its bear-themed desktop software, 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 evaluate of TunnelBear VPN.

This text was initially printed in November 2023 and was up to date by Luis Millares in March 2025.