Using a virtual private network (VPN) is one of the most effective ways to secure your data, privacy, and communications on the internet. This is both as an individual and also as a business or an organization.
For individuals, setting up a VPN often happens on the device. This could be a desktop, a tablet, or a smartphone. For example, if you are using Windows, you can make the necessary changes on the control panel.
If you don't know where exactly to go, then you can simply type 'VPN settings' on the Cortana search box, and you will find your way there. You can also click on the start button, network & internet, and then choose VPN. It is not much different on Mac or any other operating system.
For Android and Apple devices, you have to download the VPN app by your service provider, and through a few clicks, you are all set.
However, you first need to get credentials from a VPN service provider, which are necessary for the setup. This includes the username, the IP address, and the password. Before this, you need to do your research and find yourself a great service provider, and, in particular, one that offers the best VPN for Australia. Often what works in other countries might not work here.
What if you need to protect an entire local area network (LAN) such as what you have within an office?
And what about when you don't have a LAN (complete with a server) but devices in the office that use the same internet access?
Why protecting an entire network is better
It is important to point out that there are advantages to using a VPN for the entire network in the office instead of setting it up separately on individual devices.
The most important of those advantages is that, by securing the entire network, you can protect even those devices that you couldn't set up a VPN on.
The number of such devices is growing each day, especially with the adoption of the concept of the internet of things (IoT). The fridge, CCTV cameras, and even the heating system at the office, and home, are now some of the things that were a few years back not connected to the internet but are today.
And even among the appliances that have always connected to the internet, there are a few you can overlook and can turn out to be loopholes in your system. An excellent example of such an appliance is the office printer.
The office printer might seem harmless, but it can be used to collect data about your organization. Most printers have a memory size ranging between 15MB to 2GB, and every document printed is often stored there until you clear it.
The cache memory can be accessed remotely and used to harvest data, including sensitive information you don't want outsiders getting hold of.
Using the VPN on the server
If you are a large organization, you most likely could have a server that manages all the other IT resources you have. In particular, this is the computer through which all the others on the organization (the local area network) access the outside internet.
In addition to other security measures, a VPN can be set up on the server as well. The process of setting up a VPN on the server is not significantly different from how you do it on a client machine.
But what about small businesses that don’t need to have a server but have several devices in what could easily qualify to be a local area network?
Using the VPN on the router
There is an option for that too, and it is to set up the VPN in the router. The router is the device in the office or at home that acts as the WiFi hotspot, and all the devices connect to it to access the internet.
You need to make sure that the router’s firmware can work with a VPN. Unfortunately, not all firmware is designed with the capability to accept VPN settings.
Some don't have the capability because of their firmware (the operating system). For some, you can replace the firmware with one that can accept VPN settings. You can use either DD-WRT or Tomato, the two are open source and available free of charge.
The process of doing this is known as flashing. If you are not a tech-savvy kind of person, then you may have to find someone to do it for you.
If the router you have now is not the kind you can easily flash, you may have to buy one that is open for you to install the firmware you want. These are known as pre-flashed routers.
You also have the option of buying one that already has a firmware that accepts VPN settings (pre-installed), which costs a little more.
Once you have set up a VPN on your router, any device connected to the internet through it gets its communication encrypted before it leaves the office.
Conclusion
Your business has a lot to lose if strangers can get into your network as they wish and eavesdrop on what you are doing. Using a VPN on your local network is an added layer of security.
For individuals, setting up a VPN often happens on the device. This could be a desktop, a tablet, or a smartphone. For example, if you are using Windows, you can make the necessary changes on the control panel.
If you don't know where exactly to go, then you can simply type 'VPN settings' on the Cortana search box, and you will find your way there. You can also click on the start button, network & internet, and then choose VPN. It is not much different on Mac or any other operating system.
For Android and Apple devices, you have to download the VPN app by your service provider, and through a few clicks, you are all set.
However, you first need to get credentials from a VPN service provider, which are necessary for the setup. This includes the username, the IP address, and the password. Before this, you need to do your research and find yourself a great service provider, and, in particular, one that offers the best VPN for Australia. Often what works in other countries might not work here.
What if you need to protect an entire local area network (LAN) such as what you have within an office?
And what about when you don't have a LAN (complete with a server) but devices in the office that use the same internet access?
Why protecting an entire network is better
It is important to point out that there are advantages to using a VPN for the entire network in the office instead of setting it up separately on individual devices.
The most important of those advantages is that, by securing the entire network, you can protect even those devices that you couldn't set up a VPN on.
The number of such devices is growing each day, especially with the adoption of the concept of the internet of things (IoT). The fridge, CCTV cameras, and even the heating system at the office, and home, are now some of the things that were a few years back not connected to the internet but are today.
And even among the appliances that have always connected to the internet, there are a few you can overlook and can turn out to be loopholes in your system. An excellent example of such an appliance is the office printer.
The office printer might seem harmless, but it can be used to collect data about your organization. Most printers have a memory size ranging between 15MB to 2GB, and every document printed is often stored there until you clear it.
The cache memory can be accessed remotely and used to harvest data, including sensitive information you don't want outsiders getting hold of.
Using the VPN on the server
If you are a large organization, you most likely could have a server that manages all the other IT resources you have. In particular, this is the computer through which all the others on the organization (the local area network) access the outside internet.
In addition to other security measures, a VPN can be set up on the server as well. The process of setting up a VPN on the server is not significantly different from how you do it on a client machine.
But what about small businesses that don’t need to have a server but have several devices in what could easily qualify to be a local area network?
Using the VPN on the router
There is an option for that too, and it is to set up the VPN in the router. The router is the device in the office or at home that acts as the WiFi hotspot, and all the devices connect to it to access the internet.
You need to make sure that the router’s firmware can work with a VPN. Unfortunately, not all firmware is designed with the capability to accept VPN settings.
Some don't have the capability because of their firmware (the operating system). For some, you can replace the firmware with one that can accept VPN settings. You can use either DD-WRT or Tomato, the two are open source and available free of charge.
The process of doing this is known as flashing. If you are not a tech-savvy kind of person, then you may have to find someone to do it for you.
If the router you have now is not the kind you can easily flash, you may have to buy one that is open for you to install the firmware you want. These are known as pre-flashed routers.
You also have the option of buying one that already has a firmware that accepts VPN settings (pre-installed), which costs a little more.
Once you have set up a VPN on your router, any device connected to the internet through it gets its communication encrypted before it leaves the office.
Conclusion
Your business has a lot to lose if strangers can get into your network as they wish and eavesdrop on what you are doing. Using a VPN on your local network is an added layer of security.
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