Mobile VPN: How to Protect Remote Workers

Whether working remotely at home or on the road, virtual private networks (VPNs) are vital for protecting sensitive data. VPNs provide added online security, encrypting data going to and from your device to prevent anyone from accessing company information and databases.

Considering how critical mobile devices are in the modern workplace — from answering emails to reading documents to attending company meetings — a mobile VPN is an important tool to ensure data is as secure as it is in the office.

Today’s mobile devices present the same threats and weaknesses laptop and desktop computers do — but with the added risk of connecting to unsafe networks that can intercept your communications and data. This vulnerability increases the potential risk to employee and company security.

Mobile VPNs encrypt any data your device sends and receives, making it unreadable to anyone potentially trying to gain access. Yet mobile VPNs are not simply VPNs linked to a mobile device. They can keep running across different levels of connectivity, networks and IP addresses — meaning your data is protected even as you switch from one network to another within the same session.

Once installed, a mobile VPN raises the device’s security. In addition to encrypting data when accessing online banking or making online purchases, it ensures secure connections to public Wi-Fi networks and scrambles data linked to video chat and audio calls.

A survey regarding mobile defense management found 64% of C-suite executives reported data security and privacy was a top priority, while 67% said implementing security processes and controls were a challenge. While there are benefits to using mobile devices, they’re only attainable if you can use them securely in different work situations, such as:

1. Remote work — One study found 90% of remote workers perform work tasks on personal devices.
2. Traveling for work — To protect data against unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, a mobile VPN ensures a secure network at any time.
3. General usage improvement — VPNs can improve connectivity and help maintain connections with fewer interruptions.

The reality is our home networks can be hacked, and home computing environments are likely not as secure as office networks. One way hackers can get access to your home network is to guess the password. Routers often come with a default password the manufacturer uses for all devices — and many users never bother to change that password. By looking up the default password for a particular type of router, a cybercriminal can gain access to all devices on the network.

In addition, attackers can also exploit security flaws in the router’s firmware — the permanent, onboard software that enables the device to run. Firmware is updated infrequently, giving cybercriminals time to find and exploit security flaws.

While updating the password to your router and adopting cybersecurity best practices at home can help reduce these risks, using a mobile VPN at home makes any intercepted data useless to criminals.