VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A technology that establishes an encrypted tunnel for your network traffic, often used to securely connect a device to a company's internal network over the internet, or to protect data on untrusted networks (like public Wi-Fi).

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When remote workers use a VPN client to connect to the office network, it's as if their computer is "virtually" in the office - they can access resources securely, and all data passing between their computer and the office is encrypted against eavesdropping. VPNs are also used by individuals to maintain privacy (connecting to a VPN service to encrypt all their browsing on cafe Wi-Fi, for instance).

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For small to medium businesses, setting up a VPN means remote employees (or employees on the road) can safely reach file servers, intranet sites, or other systems that you don't expose to the internet. It's much safer than, say, opening remote desktop directly to the world (which is risky); with a VPN, only authenticated users who connect through the secure tunnel can reach those internal services.

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VPNs typically require an device or server running VPN software and employees use a VPN client app. Best practices include using strong authentication (certificates or MFA in addition to passwords) for the VPN, and limiting what network segments the VPN users can access (just what they need, principle of least privilege again).

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In essence, a VPN creates a safe pipeline through a chaotic internet, ensuring that whether you're at home, in an airport, or a coffee shop, you can communicate with your office network without leaking data or credentials to prying eyes. It's a staple of securing remote work - something even more prevalent now.