Work from Home VPN: Why You Need One & Setup Information
As the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak gets worse, many organizations are ordering employees to remotely, which means a work from home VPN (Virtual Private Network) is essential for tackling the increased security risks.
You may wonder: what risks? Well, if you have not already heard, hackers are exploiting the coronavirus (fearware) to target victims. There have even been cases of cybercriminals pretending to be WHO officials to steal data.
Radware, NJCCIC, SANS, and DHS have already warned companies about securing enterprise VPN services amid this outbreak. Meanwhile, individuals who do not have one are investing in VPN subscriptions to work from home:
- Surfshark: Best VPN to Work from Home. Static IPs available. No logs certified. User-friendly and intuitive app. Available for $2.49/mo
- PureVPN: Cheap Work from Home VPN. Dedicated IPs at $0.99. Audited no logs policy. Powerful security/privacy. Costs $1.99/mo
- NordVPN: All-Rounder VPN Service. Dedicated IPs available. Strong anonymity. Unblocks all streaming platforms. Costs $3.99/mo
- ExpressVPN: Fast VPN for Remote Working. No speed/connectivity issues. Strong security/privacy. Costs $6.67/mo
- Ivacy VPN: Unblock Anything Anywhere Worldwide. IvacyPrime App for unblocking. Budget-friendly service. Costs $1.19/mo
With all these insights, you are probably wondering; what is a VPN, how can it help you work from home, and which VPN should you use? I’ll be answering these questions below:
So, What is a VPN?
As you can see, we are a VPN affiliate website, and us being operational means only one thing: Virtual Private Networks are useful tools. For who? Those who regularly use the internet (and that’s pretty much everyone nowadays).
In laymen terms, a VPN is an online privacy/security tool that doubles as an unblocker (similar to a proxy service, but with added encryption). Therefore, it is used to keep your identity anonymous online, as to prevent being tracked by cybercriminals, hackers, copyright infringement hunters, and even government agencies.
At the same time, it allows you to bypass geographical and content limitations through technologies like obfuscation, which enables you to download torrents securely or perhaps unblock the complete Netflix US library. In short, a VPN has many purposes.
Now for the more important part…
How Does a VPN Help You Work from Home?
Think of it this way: a VPN is like a sanitizer for your virtual self, amid the coronavirus outbreak. It focuses more on your digital well-being, a factor that not many people consider (I should know because I’m an online privacy/security advocate, who no one takes seriously).
Firstly, if you get a VPN, you can keep yourself protected from any and all kinds of hacking and scamming attempts that have especially increased during the coronavirus outbreak, as people are clicking on dangerous links to find out more about the pandemic.
Secondly, similar to wearing a mask on your faces, a VPN utilizes IP address masking and encryption, which keeps you anonymous at all times, preventing your private information from being exposed to malware/viruses and other scamming attempts.
Thirdly, a VPN presents a huge list of benefits for those working remotely. They offer dedicated/static IPs and split tunneling, which helps you telecommute and even access your office LAN network, all while sitting comfortably at home.
Last, but not the least, as we continue to work from home until this pandemic reaches its end, procrastination does certainly take over. And what better way to kill time, than access a whole new world of entertainment on Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, and more?
So, now that we got that handled…
Which VPN You Should Use to Work from Home?
If you want to reap all the benefits of a VPN service, consider choosing a VPN from the list below. Also, please avoid guides that tell you to setup a VPN yourself.
It is way easier to just get a subscription, download the VPN client for the relevant platform/device you want to use it on, and then continue on with your life.
1. Surfshark: Best VPN to Work from Home
Based in British Virgin Islands, Surfshark enjoys a reputation for being a budget-friendly option, which means it is most suited for people working from home.
It gives users access to static IPs that are accessible to all users directly from within the app. These static IPs are available in 7+ locations worldwide.
Best part of all: the provider offers great security/privacy, unblocks over 16+ Netflix libraries, and offers 1,000+ servers in 61+ countries for avoiding the “bad neighbor” affect.
- 1040+ servers in 60+ countries
- BVI is a safe jurisdiction
- Strict no-logging policy
- Automatic Kill Switch
- DDoS Protection
- Free trial only for iOS and Android
For more information, check out this full 2020 review of Surfshark!
2. PureVPN: Cheap Work from Home VPN
Headquartered in Hong Kong, PureVPN is another great work from home VPN, which allows users to enjoy all the benefits of remote working with maximum security/privacy online.
The provider offer users dedicated IPs in more than 8 locations for added flexibility online in remote working, and provides unmatched unblocking for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Hotstar, Voot and more.
PureVPN also barely ever gives disconnection issues, allowing users to communicate and collaborate with colleagues or family members on video or simple voice calls, minus any hassles.
- 2000+servers in 140 countries
- VPN Hotspot and NAT Firewall
- Multiple protocol support
- Support for 4K HD live calls
- Allows Split Tunneling
- No free only paid trial
For more information, check out this full 2020 review of PureVPN!
3. NordVPN: All-Rounder VPN Service
Based in Panama, NordVPN is an all-rounder VPN that works perfectly amidst the coronavirus pandemic to enjoy remote access and security/encryption from hacking attempts.
The service has all the important security features, such as a no-logs policy, DDoS protection, and the strongest encryptions making it a logical VPN provider to use for working via home.
Its thousands of IPs and the sheer number of its servers are enough to ensure that users will never have to worry about losing secure access to the internet ever again.
- 5,500+ Servers in 61 Countries
- Dedicated IPs Available
- Unblocks US/UK Netflix
- Zero WebRTC/DNS/IP leaks
- 30-Days Refund Policy
- Past record is not transparent
For more information, check out this detailed NordVPN Review!
4. ExpressVPN: Fast VPN for Remote Working
Headquartered in British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN is renowned for its fast speeds, hence it tends to be a great option for working via home, especially if you are reliant on apps like Skype and Zoom.
Its combination of secure encryption, an impressive array of servers and a safe jurisdiction guarantees that users will not have to worry about their safety while remote working.
Despite being one of the most expensive VPN options, ExpressVPN’s slew of features makes it one of the best VPN services to work from home on the market.
- Multi-logins on 5 devices
- Torrenting/P2P is allowed
- Unblocks American Netflix
- 3000+ servers in 94 countries
- Round-the-clock live support
- The most expensive VPN option
For more information, check out this full 2020 review of ExpressVPN!
5. Ivacy VPN: Unblock Anything Anywhere Worldwide
Ivacy comes across as the jack-of-all-trades VPN that even works in China. It delivers several important features that are sure to elevate the users’ remote work from home experience.
With its 1000+ servers spread across 100+ locations, a strict no-logs policy, and formidable 256-bit encryption, WFH users will find it to be a terrific option.
As it supports 5 simultaneous devices and all the major platforms, users can rest assured that their calls and messages will be secured regardless of the medium they use.
- 1,000 servers in 100 locations
- Singapore is a safe jurisdiction
- Strict zero logging policy
- Automatic kill switch
- Split tunneling available
- Tech support is not user-friendly
For more information, check out this full 2020 review of Ivacy
How to Set Up a VPN in Windows and Other Platforms
- Subscribe to any of the above listed VPN providers.
- Download the relevant app for Windows or other platform.
- Install the application and enter user credentials.
- Select any suitable server and hit the “connect” button.
- Enjoy using a VPN on your Windows and other platforms/devices.
Wrapping Things Up
I hope this guide helps those working from home to understand how a VPN comes in handy, but if you have any questions/concerns, do not hesitate on dropping a comment below.
I will respond personally to provide assistance, as I believe it is my duty amidst this coronavirus pandemic to help users stay protected from opportunists looking to steal your data.
Cheers and have a nice day ahead! 🙂
