Build A Secure VPN: A virtual private network (VPN) is known to provide an additional layer of security and privacy when you’re browsing online. Because of the benefits of a VPN, almost everyone uses it for personal and business purposes. In fact, the implementation of VPNs has become much easier while its cost has plummeted.

But it isn’t enough to have a VPN. Although it’s proven to be an excellent security tool, it can become a useless and dangerous system without proper research and planning. Like any other great device or app, you must learn how to properly use a VPN to maximize its potential benefits and reduce risks.

Thus, highlighted below are different ways on how you can build a secure VPN.

Use the Appropriate VPN

When you go to a store, you won’t buy the first laptop you see. Perhaps, it would take you a lot of time to figure out what you exactly need. The same applies to a VPN. You should consider all your options, needs, and resources to find the one that could best sustain the security and privacy you’re looking for.

VPNs come in various shapes. Thus, it can be challenging to distinguish them and pick the optimal choice. There are many factors to consider to use a VPN that’s appropriate for your needs and preferences. But the first key is to understand the basic types and where or when they are handy.

Below are the two main categories of VPNs. Take a closer look and learn how each one works.

Remote Access VPN

Remote access VPN is the most popular type of VPN nowadays. It works by connecting you to a secure server to access a private network in a different location. By using such a VPN when surfing the internet, the data you sent and received from local networks will be hidden. Thus, you can protect your information from potential hackers.

The good thing about a remote access VPN is it’s easy to set up and use. You can access it without much difficulty. But it is only ideal for personal use and may not be appropriate or compatible with large-scale business needs.

Site-To-Site VPN

On the other hand, a site-to-site VPN is commonly used in large-scale business environments. It enables multiple users in different fixed locations to securely access each other’s resources. This type of VPN effectively provides secure connectivity between various business sites as it encrypts any business data crossing over the public internet, protecting it against intruders.

Unlike a remote access VPN, this isn’t easy to implement. You would need specialized equipment and substantial resources. Because a site-to-site VPN is set up with a purpose, it is not as flexible as the remote access VPN.

Secure Implementation

Once you’ve figured what you actually need for a VPN, you have to implement and maintain it correctly to eliminate the threat of being attacked by potential hackers. You can do this by combining different measures to ensure optimal security with your VPN.

The following are a few things you need to be mindful of when building your VPN, either on your own or with a VPN provider.

Use The Strongest Protocol

One of the essential things that a VPN does is assigning you a new Internet Protocol (IP) address. It protects you from potential intruders by transmitting the amount of data you sent and received online through an encrypted tunnel. However, not all VPNs are created equal since it depends on what kind of protocol is in use.

Because different protocols provide different security levels, you must then use the one with the strongest encryption. PPTP (point to point tunneling protocol) is the fastest protocol yet has the lowest encryption. Although LT2TP (layer 2 tunneling protocol) is more secure, it uses pre-shared keys that are easy to crack and is the slowest of the protocols.

If you want maximum privacy, OpenVPN would be an excellent option since it is fast and includes a 256-bit key, one of the most secure encryption methods.

Utilize Kill Switch

A VPN connection tends to fail occasionally. When it does, your computer will instantly fall back to your regular IP address, making your online activity vulnerable to potential hackers. The worse thing is, you might not even know that it’s already happening. But utilizing a kill switch can prevent the leaking of your real IP address.

When your VPN connection is lost, a VPN kill switch will automatically shut down your internet connection and all apps you’ve been using. With that, your actual IP address remains hidden, and the risks of breaching will be minimized even if you’re not connecting over the VPN.

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication

Despite the use of VPN, hackers can still gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. One disturbing trend that hackers do is credential phishing. They steal username and password combinations by disguising themselves as reputable individuals or entities in communication channels, such as email.

To prevent this from happening, enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) is important. It boosts your primary authentication with an extra layer of authentication to validate your identity. Because of that, attackers cannot access your account even if they get your username and password.

Control Access To The VPN Box

A VPN connection is a portal to your local area network (LAN). Thus, it should only be accessed as necessary. When you’re using a remote access VPN for your business, you must control access to the VPN box.

For instance, you should discourage remote employees from connecting to the VPN all day to check an email that is public domain. Restricting access to a public network is the best way to protect sensitive data from malicious users.

Choose A Trustworthy Provider

With different VPN providers and tons of services out there, it can be overwhelming to pick the right one for you. It seems that most of them may offer the same features like privacy, bypassing geographic restrictions, and staying anonymous online. But regardless of how promising they are, some providers may not implement such essential features and services.

Thus, you must ensure that you sign up with a trustworthy provider to deliver the optimal security you need. If you want to get fast yet dependable service, you might consider looking at this Fastest VPN guide. It wouldn’t hurt to equip yourself with further knowledge about VPN services.

Takeaway

There is no one-size-fits-all formula in building a secure VPN. It would all depend on what level of security you need for your online activities. Also, bear in mind that how you use your VPN can significantly affect your privacy and security. Thus, it is essential to do proper research before relying on VPNs for your online safety.

Author’s Bio

Whether he’s researching the latest mobile hardware specifics or diving deep into the world of software development technologies, Zachary loves to stay in the know. His talent at simplifying and explaining complex technological concepts makes his blog posts easy to read but very informative. Few people are as enthusiastic about mobile technology as he is, and he’s always ready to analyze a new trend.