Virtual Private Network (VPN)

What Is a Virtual Private Network (VPN)?

A virtual private network (VPN) is a technology that establishes a secure, encrypted connection between a user’s device and a remote server, enabling the user to access the internet or a private network while maintaining privacy and confidentiality. By tunneling data through a secure channel, a VPN masks the user’s IP address, encrypts communications, and protects sensitive information from interception — especially on unsecured networks.

VPNs are commonly used to ensure secure remote access to enterprise resources, protect user data on public Wi-Fi, bypass geo-restrictions, and anonymize online activity. In corporate settings, VPNs serve as a foundational tool for enforcing security policies for remote workers and distributed teams.

Why VPNs Are Critical

VPNs enable secure remote access to internal systems, particularly in a world of hybrid work and geographically dispersed teams. By encrypting all traffic between users and corporate systems, VPNs help prevent eavesdropping, session hijacking, and man-in-the-middle attacks.

Business benefits include:

• Secure remote work: Enables users to safely access enterprise applications from home, airports, hotels, and other unsecured networks. ‍
• Data protection: Ensures that credentials, sensitive files, and internal communications are encrypted and shielded from interception. ‍
• Network segmentation: Allows organizations to control and limit access by user group, region, or role — reducing lateral movement and exposure. ‍
• Cost-effective scalability: Provides a flexible, infrastructure-light way to extend secure access as teams grow or shift locations. ‍
• Compliance support: Helps businesses meet data protection requirements under regulations like HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI DSS by enforcing encrypted access and activity logging.

VPNs are especially important for sectors like healthcare, finance, and legal services, where secure remote access to confidential data is mandatory.

How VPNs Work

VPNs operate by creating an encrypted “tunnel” between the user’s device and a VPN server. This tunnel routes internet or intranet traffic through a secure connection, hiding the user’s IP address and protecting transmitted data from unauthorized access.

Key elements of VPN functionality include:

• Tunneling protocols: VPNs use secure protocols such as OpenVPN, IPsec, or WireGuard to wrap data in an encrypted envelope as it travels through the internet. ‍
• Encryption: All data passing through the tunnel is encrypted to prevent eavesdropping or tampering. ‍
• Authentication: VPNs often require credentials, digital certificates, or multifactor authentication (MFA) to verify user identity. ‍
• IP masking: VPN servers replace the user’s real IP address with one from the VPN provider, anonymizing their location and identity. ‍
• Split tunneling: Some VPN configurations allow users to route only certain traffic through the VPN, maintaining speed and flexibility.

VPNs can be deployed in various forms — including client-based, site-to-site, and cloud-hosted — to match the needs of both individuals and large enterprises.

Why VPNs Are Critical to Cybersecurity

While not a silver bullet, VPNs play a vital role in protecting data and infrastructure in modern cybersecurity strategies.

• Protection on untrusted networks: VPNs shield users from attackers operating on public Wi-Fi, preventing interception of traffic or credential theft. ‍
• Secure app access: When used with strict identity verification, VPNs reduce the risk of unauthorized access to internal apps and databases. ‍
• Mitigating insider threats: By restricting access to corporate systems through authenticated VPNs, organizations can better track and control internal activity. ‍
• Bypassing censorship and restrictions: VPNs help users in restrictive environments access open internet content securely and without surveillance.

VPNs are most effective when integrated with other security tools like endpoint detection and response (EDR), single sign-on (SSO), and threat intelligence — helping to balance usability with risk management.

Key Takeaways

VPNs play a foundational role in secure access for today’s hybrid workforce. They protect sensitive data, enable compliance, and reduce the risk of remote-based attacks — particularly when used in tandem with modern security platforms.

However, VPNs are just one piece of the puzzle. As attackers increasingly exploit compromised credentials and remote entry points, security teams must pair VPN usage with advanced monitoring, behavior analytics, and contextual threat intelligence.

Anomali enhances VPN security by enriching access data with threat context, identifying high-risk sessions, and triggering automated response — ensuring that even trusted connections are continuously evaluated for risk.

Ready to see how Anomali supports VPN-secured environments with real-time intelligence and behavioral analytics? Schedule a demo.

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