Working from Home? Don’t Forget a VPN to Protect Your Data

The Covid-19 pandemic has grounded businesses, stopped flights and forced people to stay home. These measures are adopted as a means to stop its spread and to minimize the health hazard associated with the disease. Due to the outbreak, a lot of businesses now ask their employees to work from home.

Despite this pandemic, cybercriminals have not relented in their attacks. In fact, this unprecedented social and economic upheaval may open up more vulnerabilities for them to exploit. This is because a lot of people are not used to working from home and don’t know the best way to stay safe while connected.

It is important to take the proper precautions when working from home in order to maintain a high level of security. Using a VPN when working from home can create a secure network connection.  In this article, we explain why you need a VPN to protect your data.

VPN Explained

VPN stands for a virtual private network. It helps with internet security by encrypting information between a source and the target destination. VPN prevents third parties from stealing your data or spying on your online activity as only authenticated devices are able to communicate and decode your data.

When you browse the internet or connect to a remote machine, your readable data can be intercepted by a third party such as your ISP, government, employer or cybercriminals even if you accessed the service with a password. With a VPN, intercepting your browsing data is useless as such data is unreadable due to encryption. A VPN can protect your data while you are connected on smartphones, PCs and other internet devices.

Why use a Virtual Private Network?

While you could get by without a virtual private network, you will be putting yourself and especially your company data at a great risk if you don’t use one.

The reasons for using a VPN include the following:

  1. Data Security

Your organizations and business data may be stolen if you work online. VPN allows you to connect to your workplace without the fear of eavesdropper monitoring your online activities. This is especially important for organizations who deal with financial and customer personal information. When working remotely, you authenticate your identity with provided credentials. An insecure communication channel may allow attackers to steal your credentials and impersonate you. 

  1. Privacy

VPN also provides privacy to employees working from home. While this is not limited to work-related issues, it helps to minimize phishing as cybercriminals will be unable to pinpoint your identity, location and device. This is made possible because a VPN goes through another machine before reaching the final target. Hence, you may appear to be from a different location and even seen to be using a different device all of which make it difficult to devise a phishing attack based on your personal information.

  1. Restricted Access

Some businesses block access to their system based on IP addresses which covers specific geographic areas. This is done to prevent spam or automated attacks. If you happen to live in such an area, you are out of luck as you will be unable to access your work servers from home or help clients with their IT challenges. With a VPN, you can bypass such restrictions and easily connect to target machines.

How to Choose a VPN?

There are so many VPN providers out there and it could be challenging to choose one to work with at home without knowing what’s important.

  1. Cost

The explosions of VPN providers means that many compete solely on price. If you are on a budget, you may select the best package within your budget. However, you should not sacrifice your device’s security for cost and must vet the provider you would like to use. Also check with your employer as they may have already connected with a managed IT service provider who can set up a VPN – this service could be part of a larger IT security plan.

  1. Cross-Platform Support

If your work will involve using both mobile and desktop devices, you need a VPN that supports both platforms so you don’t have to subscribe to two different plans. The more platforms a VPN supports, the better. You don’t want to buy a different VPN for your windows machine while subscribing to a different plan for your iPhone.

  1. Strong Encryption

Any VPN you choose must have a strong standard encryption algorithm such as the various implementations of Advanced Encryption Standard(AES). This makes the encrypted data practically unbreakable.

How to Use a VPN

Using a regular VPN is as simple as downloading the client, subscribing and connecting to its servers. For an enterprise VPN, the configuration will be different and you can get the guide from your employer or the VPN provider. After connection, you can then use any app on your devices and your transmitted data will be safe. 

As you work from home, a VPN is necessary to maintain data security. When available, activate the “kill switch” feature so that none of your data is accidentally transmitted unencrypted. While staying safe with VPN, don’t give up your credentials (PC, Business or VPN) to anyone that asked for them to avoid being hacked. Remember to stay safe! For help with building a secure network while working remotely, contact SDTEK today

June 17, 2025
Meeting IT security compliance standards is crucial for businesses that handle sensitive data, particularly in industries such as healthcare, finance, defense, and e-commerce. Regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, CMMC, PCI-DSS, and GDPR exist to help ensure businesses protect customer information and maintain robust cybersecurity practices. Unfortunately, many organizations fall short of these requirements, often due to common, avoidable mistakes. These gaps can result in costly fines, data breaches, and reputational damage, which can significantly impact the business's bottom line and customer trust. 1. Failing to Conduct Regular Risk Assessments The Pitfall: Many businesses overlook the importance of conducting routine risk assessments. Without these, it’s challenging to identify vulnerabilities or evaluate whether your current cybersecurity controls meet compliance standards. How to Avoid It: Implement a regular risk assessment schedule. Work with a qualified IT provider to evaluate your systems, identify weaknesses, and document remediation plans. These assessments should be performed at least annually, or whenever significant changes to the system occur. 2. Inadequate Employee Training The Pitfall: Your employees are your first line of defense—and often your most significant vulnerability. A common compliance issue arises when businesses fail to train staff on cybersecurity best practices or on handling sensitive data appropriately. How to Avoid It: Invest in ongoing cybersecurity awareness training. Ensure employees understand how to recognize phishing emails, create strong passwords, and report any suspicious activity. Training should be updated regularly to reflect current threats and compliance requirements. 3. Improper Data Handling and Storage The Pitfall: Storing sensitive data in unsecured locations, failing to encrypt information, or retaining data longer than necessary are significant compliance risks. These practices are often flagged during audits. How to Avoid It: Adopt data classification policies that define how different types of data should be handled; encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit. Establish clear data retention policies and ensure that obsolete data is disposed of securely. 4. Lack of Incident Response Planning The Pitfall: When a security incident occurs, time is of the essence. Many businesses lack a documented incident response plan, or their existing plan hasn’t been thoroughly tested. This can lead to delayed responses, increased damage, and regulatory penalties. How to Avoid It: Develop a formal incident response plan that includes roles, responsibilities, communication protocols, and steps for containment and recovery. Run simulated breach scenarios with your IT team to ensure everyone knows how to respond effectively. 5. Using Outdated Software or Systems The Pitfall: Running outdated operating systems, software, or firmware is a common issue that can lead to compliance failures. Unsupported technologies are more vulnerable to exploitation. How to Avoid It: Keep all systems and applications up to date with the latest patches. Use automated tools to track software versions and receive alerts about end-of-life technologies. Schedule regular maintenance windows to apply updates and upgrades. 6. Insufficient Access Controls The Pitfall: Allowing too many employees access to sensitive data—or failing to revoke access when it’s no longer needed—can lead to data breaches and non-compliance. How to Avoid It: Implement role-based access controls and follow the principle of least privilege. This principle means that each user should have the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job. Regularly audit user accounts and permissions to ensure access is current and appropriate. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an additional layer of protection. 7. Neglecting Third-Party Vendor Risks The Pitfall: Businesses often overlook the fact that their compliance responsibilities extend to third-party vendors. If a vendor mishandles your data, you could still be held accountable. How to Avoid It: Vet third-party vendors carefully. Ensure they meet the same compliance standards as your business and include security requirements in your contracts. Conduct periodic audits or request compliance certifications from your vendors. 8. Failing to Document Policies and Procedures The Pitfall: Even if your security practices are strong, failing to document your compliance policies can result in audit failures. Regulators want to see evidence that you have formal processes in place. How to Avoid It: Create and maintain clear documentation for all compliance-related policies, including data protection, access control, incident response, and employee training. Make these documents easily accessible for audits and regularly review them to ensure updates are current. Conclusion Compliance with IT security standards is not a one-time project—it requires ongoing attention, regular updates, and a proactive approach to maintain effectiveness. By understanding and addressing these common pitfalls, your business can stay ahead of regulatory requirements, strengthen its security posture, and reduce the risk of costly incidents. This ongoing attention is crucial to maintaining your business's security and audit readiness. If you’re unsure whether your business is meeting current IT compliance standards, professional support can help. Contact SDTEK today to schedule a compliance assessment and learn how our IT services can keep your business secure and audit-ready. With our support, you can navigate the complex landscape of IT security compliance with confidence.
April 9, 2025
In today’s digital-first world, cybersecurity isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you run a small startup or a growing enterprise in Fort Wayne , protecting your business’s data, systems, and clients is essential for long-term success. From ransomware attacks to phishing scams, cyber threats are evolving every day, and the best way to stay ahead of them is by partnering with a reliable IT services provider that understands the unique needs of local businesses. Here’s why investing in professional business IT support is one of the smartest decisions Fort Wayne businesses can make—and how working with SDTEK helps protect your operations, your data, and your reputation.