As more organizations have their employees working remotely, there is concern about data security at the workplace. Therefore, companies utilize virtual private networks to securely access servers while protecting sensitive information. A VPN is a tool that enables data encryption while accessing the internet. Communication from a digital device to the internet can be risky. Still, the tool masks the information from access by other parties.

On the other hand, in countries like China, where there is a restriction to certain websites, VPN enables businesses to interact with the outside world. You may be wondering whether VPNs are legal or illegal in China. The answer is actually not that straight forward. Without the tools, it would be challenging for international companies to do business. So it is allowed under strict rules. But the Chinese government may crack down on its use from time to time. Without the right approach, it would not be easy to get the benefits of a VPN. So, it is vital to know the best practices when using the tools at work. Here are some tips to effectively use a VPN.

Use Multiple Factors to Authenticate Users

Passwords will not be enough to secure data because hackers can steal the login information of workers and infiltrate your network. However, using multi-factor authentication in your VPN beefs up security and makes it difficult to hack. It means that an employee will need to use their passwords to log into the VPN and confirm their credentials via the phone.

Initiate Timeouts

Workers will likely leave their computers open even though they are not using them. It would help to have system timeouts when the computer is inactive for a particular period. Consider at least 10 minutes of inactivity or more for the VPN to lock the session. The user needs to use the authentication to use the network.

Have a Policy

It is vital to have policies to guide a business in its cyber security needs. The initiative helps to create the standard in operations and what the employees need to do. Having straightforward policies on the utilization of VPN in the organization consolidates the efforts to network security. The policies need be in the form of a written document that workers can study and understand.

Every employee should know their rights and authorization to the system access. It will eliminate the chances of unauthorized people accessing the servers or the network. The management can give limited access to workers working remotely from home and leave full access to the administrators at the IT department. Policies will help each employee know their tasks and roles.

Performance Monitoring

It is vital to monitor your VPN accessibility and performance. In addition, the users will require to understand the various features and how to utilize them. They should know the tools to use depending on their work and how to use them effectively. It will ensure employees perform better in their duties as well as enhance the VPN’s performance.

On the other hand, the company can adapt its security needs depending on the user experience. It will ensure the management can upgrade their systems depending on the traffic and number of employees using the network. In turn, there will be improved internet and business performance.