As a business leader you are tasked with making decisions well beyond what you had ever envisioned. With the current COVID-19 situation many companies are debating whether or not going 100% remote is an appropriate response. To many people the decision may seem straightforward, but if you’re responsible for the protection of sensitive company or client information you may be weighing the security implications of a significant portion of your workforce being remote for an extended period of time.
If you’re familiar with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) you’ve probably considered if it’s a solution for your company. Maybe you’re asking, what is a VPN? Simply put, a VPN establishes a secure connection between your internet-connected computer and business office, allowing you to use company resources safely while outside the office. This can include shared folders, email, and even printers.
Let’s be clear, a VPN won’t be right for every company. You may not need it. If you’re debating opening your remote work policy you should consider the following about establishing a VPN for your employees to log into in order to access or share protected content.
- Government regulations: If your work is in any way bound by government regulations it is best to consider a VPN to ensure you’re not exposing yourself to unnecessary risks.
- Clients’ Proprietary Information and Intellectual Property: This may seem like a grey area. Every company has proprietary information and intellectual property stored digitally nowadays. You might be comfortable with the security of your MS OneDrive or G Suite. However, if you are collaborating on and sharing clients proprietary information you should consider a VPN.
- Financial information: if you’re sharing company financials and payment information a VPN can help limit your exposure to data that might otherwise be compromised while it’s transmitted over the internet.
If you think a VPN connection might make sense for your business, we’d love to help.
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