A virtual private network (VPN) is important for personal and business use. It is now an indispensable tool for the latter.

There are many VPN options to choose from. Some are free to use, whereas others charge users for their features. Also, there are those VPNs that offer both free and premium versions.

However, most VPN services offer advanced features at a fee. For this reason, some businesses that have a limited budget refrain from using a VPN. A company without a VPN is like an engine without fuel in the current age. It makes a positive contribution to a company’s success by promoting customer engagement and enhancing the value of a brand. Are you running your business without a VPN for windows or other devices?

If yes, you are missing out on the benefits of a VPN for business. If opting for a paid subscription for using a VPN service is not possible due to budgetary constraints, you can consider trying out some free VPN options. While such an option may not provide you with the complete set of features that you get with a paid VPN service, they can come in handy to help you build a solid customer experience and gain the trust of your customers.

Here are some ways a free VPN can help you raise the standard of your brand’s customer service.

The Relationship Between a VPN and Customer Service

Customer service determines how a customer feels about its products or services. Customer experience is no more a face-to-face affair as it used to be in the past. The deeper penetration of the Internet into business has made digital technology the game-changer in customer service.

Once customers start trusting a brand, they do not even hesitate to share their confidential information. As regards the scope of such information, it may range from a customer’s credit/debit card information or any other piece of information.

After entrusting their confidential information to brands, customers expect the latter to protect their privacy and confidentiality. Doing otherwise can be risky for a company as well as its customers. Going by research on customers’ preferences, they expect a truly Omnichannel experience from brands without compromising the confidentiality of their sensitive information. This is precisely where the role of a VPN becomes critical for a brand.

There are a few things that you can do even with a free VPN to give a facelift to customers’ overall experience.

How a Brand Can Improve Its Customer Experience With Free VPNs

In the post-Covid-19 pandemic phase, customer service is all set to assume greater prominence for brands. By using a VPN, companies can move forward in this direction. A free VPN can help a brand lift its level of customer service in the following ways:

1. By Securing the Data of Customers

A service or product of a brand can be inviting, but customers won’t feel attracted unless they feel secure about their data. With several players in the market, customers have choices. The majority would go with an option to get their preferred products and data security.

A business VPN comes in handy in protecting the data security of customers. Because the data exchange takes place through a secure tunnel, it considerably reduces the possibility of unauthorized access to data.

2. By Improving Service Performance

For some business activities, companies need to use the confidential data of customers. The efficiency of handling it safely reflects the service performance of a brand. Installing a VPN can be of great help in this regard.

It brings the following benefits to the table for businesses:

• Increased network efficiency and bandwidth
• Reduced costs
• Remote control
• Online anonymity
• Safe sharing of files
• Faster action times
• Increased efficiency based on external portals

Though you can bank on most premium VPN options to provide these features, you need to be careful while choosing a free option. You would benefit more from a free VPN by making sure that the above features are available.

3. By Offering Technology-Assisted Customer Service

Those business organizations that display competence and dependability gain an advantage in customer service. Given that customers are becoming tech-savvy, they look for technological assistance in the customer service of their preferred brands.

Most customers use VPN personally, so they trust brands that employ VPNs for improving technology-assisted customer service.

 Final Thoughts

At present, a VPN is an indispensable tool for businesses. If you wish to try out VPN features without paying a fee upfront, you can consider using a free VPN. Give your brand the power of VPN and see how it transforms your customers’ experience.

About the Author

Jacob Davis is a data analyst and strategist working in the Israeli startup tech space for the last decade. Jacob specializes in turning unstructured alternative data into actionable decision-making. His passion is uncovering stories and trends in the digital space and turning data into stories.

When it comes to protecting the privacy of your company’s data, a VPN is essential. Depending on your needs, it can provide a high level of security to your business and its customers.

What is a VPN?

The acronym “VPN” stands for virtual private network, an encrypted network that extends across the Internet and enables users to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if their computing devices were directly connected to the private network. It’s like a secure tunnel that brings remote users into your business’ private network. All data traveling to and from your device through that tunnel will be encrypted. Only your device and the site with which it is communicating will have the keys needed to unencrypt and read the data.

VPN Applications

VPN client applications allow you to connect your router, computer and devices to a remote server that hosts the VPN service. A good VPN network will have servers in many geographical locations worldwide to handle the traffic so that users don’t experience delays or dropped connections. Once your traffic is being routed through a VPN server, the IP address of your device or network is replaced by an address being used by that server. Using a VPN network with many servers means that the IP address your device will be using will frequently change, further masking your identity and location.

Business VPN

A business VPN has several advantages. It allows you to share confidential data with anyone you want, while allowing you to keep it private. It can be used for every connection to and from your company network, including emails and storage networks. Files uploaded to the VPN are encrypted and only a company employee with the encryption key can access them. This ensures that any potential hacker cannot access your confidential data. This feature is a must-have for any business.

Protecting Customer Data

Besides securing your network, a business VPN is a great way to safeguard customer data. Businesses are increasingly moving away from the office to work from home, particularly in the contact center industry. When communicating with clients, customer service representatives frequently come into contact with a great deal of sensitive information. Because these interactions are increasingly occurring online, a VPN is an ideal solution for safeguarding your customers’ data.

When customers entrust your business with their private information, they expect you to safeguard it against hackers and other third parties. A reputable VPN is an ideal solution because it encrypts and securely transmits personal data. As a result, third parties and cybercriminals are unable to access it.

For these reasons, utilizing a VPN is an extremely effective method for businesses to safeguard and secure consumers’ data. A business VPN is scalable, which means it can scale as necessary and evolve to meet your needs. It’s also possible to upgrade your VPN system as your company grows.

Accessibility

A VPN also helps you bypass certain geographic restrictions. For example, if a customer in Europe needs help with a product, traveling to your office for training or taking your call isn’t always feasible. Allowing a customer to send questions via email can result in slow turnaround times, and not always successfully answering their questions. A VPN solution makes it possible for you to connect with customers instantly from wherever you are, making your business globally accessible.

In summary, surveillance and data breaches are facts of life these days and with the rise of cloud computing, you can’t afford security lapses that can be exploited by your cyber criminals or unscrupulous competitors. A virtual private network (VPN) is a secure network tunnel that masks and encrypts corporate data from outside threats ‐ giving data-driven businesses peace of mind as they operate and grow.

You may have heard the term VPN used by your IT department. You may have even used a VPN at home or while travelling. But what exactly is a VPN and why should you consider using one?

A VPN provides a secure and stable connection between your home or work computer and an external network. The term VPN is an acronym for Virtual Private Network, and that gives users a good idea what to expect.

Businesses often use a VPN to allow traveling employees and those who work at home to connect to the office and use company resources. Since the VPN sets up a private connection between the employee’s computer and the company network, workers can safely access personal information without fear of data loss, intrusion, or interception.

Here are some answers to the most commonly asked questions about using a VPN.

1. What exactly is a VPN?

A VPN, or virtual private network, provides a secure and stable connection between two points. A company might use a VPN to connect employees who work from home to the company network. Students may also use a VPN to connect to the resources of their school.

2. Why would I use a VPN service?

A VPN service provides many advantages over a traditional Internet connection. Those benefits include improved safety, enhanced security and greater stability. Since the data transmitted across a VPN is encrypted, users do not have to worry about their personal information being intercepted.

3. How do I get a VPN account?

If you work for a major corporation or attend college, you may already be using a VPN account. Your employer may have given you instructions on how to connect from home that is likely a VPN connection. The school you attend may provide students with remote access to its resources that is most likely a VPN connection as well. You can even sign up for a VPN service to use at home. There are a number of VPN services that provide safe, secure and stable private connections for home users.

4. Can I use a VPN if I have a Mac?

Yes. There are VPN services available for the Mac. If you need to connect to your company or school, be sure to let IT support know that you have a Mac. There may be specific instructions you will need to follow to get connected. When choosing a home VPN service, be sure it is compatible with Apple products.

5. Is it safe to use a Free VPN service?

That depends on a number of factors. There are many competing VPN services out there – each with its own pricing structure and safety features. Some VPN services are quite costly, while others are free. A free VPN service can be an acceptable choice for the cash strapped, but it is important to look at the type of security the service uses. Make sure that all incoming and outgoing traffic is encrypted, and that the provider uses the latest security features to protect your data.

6. Will a VPN slow down my Internet connection?

A properly configured VPN should not slow down your Internet connection, but you may have to make some changes to your internal firewalls and other software protections. The VPN service you use should have its own built-in firewall, and it is best to use that firewall instead of relying on an external one. If you must use your own firewall, be sure to configure it to allow traffic from the VPN to move back and forth freely.

7. What does a VPN let me do?

A VPN is designed to provide a safe and secure connection to another network. Once you are connected, you will be able to do anything you would normally do when connected directly to that network. If your employer has a VPN, you will be able to work as if you were sitting at your desk. To enhance your online experience at home, you can install Kodi VPNs which allow you to stream content with privacy and anonymity.

8. What is the payment structure for a VPN service?

The payment structure will vary depending on the VPN service. Many VPN services are similar to Internet service providers and require their members to pay on a monthly basis. Other VPN services have annual or semi-annual payment plans in place. Be sure to read the terms carefully before signing up for a new VPN service.

9. Do I need to have a subscription?

While most VPN services do require a subscription, some may allow you to pay as you go. These pay as you go services can be great for travelers, and for those who only need VPN service on an occasional basis.

10. How can I tell the difference between VPNs?

Some differences will be apparent, while others may be more difficult to determine. A well-built and properly configured VPN will provide you with a seamless experience and excellent network stability. You should not experience disruptions in service, slow traffic or disconnections. A good VPN will also be easy to use, with an intuitive interface and instructions that are clear and easy to follow.

11. Will I really be anonymous?

Maybe. While a VPN does provide safe and secure communication, it may not be truly anonymous. Data is encrypted while enroute between your computer and the remote network, and that provides protection for you and your personal information. Keep in mind, however, that government agencies and law enforcement may still be able to access certain data sent through a VPN service.

12. Do I have to use the VPN every time I go online?

No. You can choose to use the VPN, or your normal Internet connection, depending on your needs. You can use the VPN to connect to the office or your virtual classroom, then use your regular Internet connection to catch up with personal email, Facebook and other online resources.

13. What is a VPN protocol?

In its simplest terms, a protocol is the set of instructions that allows the VPN to connect a computer to a given network. A VPN will typically use one of two main protocols PPTP or L2TP/IPSec. The latter is the more secure VPN protocol, and as a result it is often used by businesses that handle confidential or otherwise sensitive data, as well as by government agencies.

14. How can I use a VPN on my mobile device?

Many people now use their mobile devices for everyday tasks, including connecting to business networks. You will typically need to download and install a piece of software on your mobile device in order to use a VPN. Once that software is installed, just follow the instructions given to you by your service provider.

15. What are the speed and storage limitations of a VPN?

Each VPN provider will have a different maximum speed and storage capacity, so it is important to read the fine print carefully. Keep in mind that speed ratings may not be guaranteed, since the speed of a VPN can be impacted by a number of external factors. Those factors include the speed and reliability of your own Internet connection, as well as the impact of firewalls, anti-virus software and the like.