How VPNs Can Help Your Business
by Aaron Balchunas

What is a VPN?

The nature of business is changing. Employees are no longer tied to the “office” to do their work. As businesses continue to expand into larger markets, it becomes increasingly important to keep these ‘roaming’ users connected to critical business functions.

In times past, businesses were forced to invest in “dedicated” leased lines from telecommunication companies like AT&T and SBC. This was (and still is) a very expensive solution, often taking weeks or even months to set up.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows companies to use the Internet, the world’s largest network, to connect users and offices together. VPNs provide a secure “tunnel” through the Internet, giving users access to email, documents, printers, and systems as if they were actually at their central office.

VPNs are generally used for two purposes:

1. Connecting home or “roaming” users to an office (This is known as a client VPN)
2. Connecting remote offices to a main office (Otherwise known as a site-to-site VPN)

What are the Advantages of VPNs?

First and foremost, VPNs provide a substantial cost savings to businesses compared to leased lines. Leased line costs can exceed $600-$1000 per month per line. For a business with a multitude of remote users or branches, these costs can be excessive. VPN’s, in contrast, can be configured to work over inexpensive Internet lines, such as DSL, Cable, and even dial-up connections. VPN’s do require a small investment in hardware, but at a fraction of the recurring cost of a leased line.

Secondly, VPNs provide far better scalability compared to leased lines. Leased lines are “fixed,” providing access to only a single location. VPN’s allow users to roam from site to site (such as from home, hotels, airports, etc.), and still have access to the central office, assuming an Internet connection is available. More and more hotels, restaurants, and similar institutions are providing Internet access to business users.

Finally, VPNs provides secure access to a central office. VPN’s can be configured with the latest encryption standards, ensuring that all data is protected while traversing the Internet.

What are the Disadvantages of VPNs?

While VPNs provide an inexpensive, scalable solution compared to leased lines, there is a tradeoff in speed of access. Leased lines are “dedicated,” meaning that the full bandwidth of the line is available for use, and thus are very fast.

VPNs, however, are subject to the volatile nature of the Internet. Furthermore, the encryption that occurs while using VPNs results in a discernable reduction in speed. However, this rarely prevents employees from being effective.

VPNs also require training on the part of the user. A VPN connection needs to be “established” before it can be used. Usually, this can be accomplished by double-clicking an icon on a computer’s desktop. Yet there can considerable setup involved, especially in companies highly concerned about security. Some computer savvy and training will be required for users.

Conclusion - When should I use a VPN?

Not every company requires the benefits that VPNs offer. Yet for those companies looking to reduce the cost of connecting users, VPNs should be considered.

Smooth Change, Inc can help evaluate whether a VPN is right for your business. We provide the technical expertise to recommend the appropriate solution, implement it, and ensure that your users are educated in its use.