A VPN is often sold as a cure for every security worry. It solves some problems well and others not at all.

What it does

A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between a device and a network. It protects traffic on public Wi-Fi and lets remote staff reach systems that sit inside the office.

When it helps and when it does not

Consider these cases.

  • Helpful for staff working from cafes, airports and hotels
  • Helpful for reaching an office server from home
  • Not needed for systems that are already in the cloud and use secure sign in
  • Not a defence against phishing or weak passwords

Keep it simple

If your systems are all online, strong sign in with two factor often does more than a VPN. If you have an office server, a properly managed VPN is worth setting up.