As a business owner, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) could be the final piece of the puzzle in your cybersecurity armoury, the extra step that safeguards your data or enables you to work remotely at a moment’s notice without compromising security. Fortunately, there are so many paid VPN services out there that it shouldn’t ever feel as though you can’t afford one. But if budget is one of your primary concerns, then a ‘free VPN’ might seem too good to pass up. After all, what business couldn’t do with a bit of cybersecurity or remote access for free? In actuality, the use of free VPN services by businesses is controversial – for good reason. In this article, we weigh up the pros and cons of using a free VPN with a business in mind.
Benefits of Using a Free VPN for Business
Efficiency in Cost
Of all the benefits that comes with making use of vpn gratuita, the first that jumps out at us is the fact that you get to save cost. This can be quite helpful to small scale businesses or those that want to cut costs. Instead of paying for it, you can utilise the money to fund other areas of your business such as development, marketing or customer service.
Security for data
Even the cheapest VPN provides a decent degree of data encryption, which is helpful in securing data sent over unsecured or less secure networks, like employees who travel frequently or work remotely.
Remote Access
While some people have the luxury of working from home, there are many more who need to connect to their workplace’s network from the jungles of Africa or cities in New Zealand while they are away on business. Without a VPN, they’d have to either work in the hotel’s business centre or carry all of their work with them, leaving it in the hotel’s mini-fridge (if they’re lucky). But with a free VPN, a company employee can sit in Timbuktu or Paris, France, and access files – or run whatever application that only works on the business network – without expensive infrastructure.
Risks and Limitations of Free VPNs
If you aren’t purchasing your free VPN, chances are you will be presented with limited features and performance. Some common side effects include limited bandwidth, speed, server availability and connection reliability, which can impact productivity, particularly within a workplace which highly depends on fast and continuous internet access. Businesses that heavily depend on certain geo-spoofed content might also be inconvenienced as they are limited by the amount of servers available to them within their free VPN.
Privacy Considerations
One of the main issues with the use of free VPN’s is privacy. Free VPN providers can log your Internet sessions and browsing information, which is then packaged and sold to third parties. For a corporation this could mean exposing business data, customer data and other proprietary information, this is certainly a big risk.
Ads and Malware
When services are provided for free, they’re often funded in a way that can make you question whether it’s really a good idea to use one. This might include undercover ads or malware that acts as an underlying threat on your network, beyond the reach of your antivirus software. When it comes to businesses storing data, it’s a big risk.
Lack of support and service
If user experience is important to your business, free VPNs will often not offer the same level of support as a paid service. Having almost immediate help at hand to solve connectivity or security issues could be vital.
Best Practices When Considering a Free VPN for Business
Weigh Needs and Risks
A business should carefully consider its security requirements and the risks of using a free VPN before putting it to use. If their employees frequently handle sensitive data, a good paid VPN might be a more cost-effective choice.
Read the fine print
At the very least, make sure to read the fine print before your free VPN service. If the terms and conditions explain that the provider is free to use your data, you can make an informed decision.
Hybrid Approach
Use a free VPN service for some tasks and a paid service of your choice for sensitive ones. You could run a stricter operation and use free VPNs for unimportant tasks, and pay for such services only for important ones. This is the highest outcome you can achieve.
A free VPN service might be an enticing option as it is offered for free. However, in terms of stability and security, a lot of factors should be seriously considered when businesses evaluate their needs against the problems associated with a free VPN service. Between the overall cost, privacy, speed and other important features, using a professional, paid VPN service ensures a stable and robust security level in both the short-term and the long-term operation of a business.