A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a closed logical network in which the participants are physically separated from each other but connected via an IP tunnel. How this works exactly is explained below.
VPN connection simply explained
- With a "virtual private network" (VPN) you can access your private or local network while you are somewhere else. This can be very useful both privately and professionally.
- To do this, you need to install a VPN software that communicates with the network's router.
- A VPN connection might come in handy while being on a business trip or working at home. If you need to access the company’s network from another location you can do so via VPN.
- Make sure you are connected to the internet before connecting to the VPN network via the software you have already installed. Now you have access to the company’s network just as if you were sitting in your office.
- Advantages: Via a VPN connection you can use all services that are only available in your private or professional network. Especially in companies, there are often programs which are only allowed to be used in the intranet. With VPN, you can also access these from outside the office. You also have access to all locally stored files. These do not have to be synchronized after your return.
VPN connection for privat use
VPNs are advantageous not only for business, but also for private use. VPNs are most often used to bypass geoblocking systems.
- If, for example, you want to use another country’s offer from Netflix or HBO, this is normally not possible. With the help of a VPN software, however, you can run your Internet connection through another country’s server.
- As a result, Netflix and HBO think that you are in this other country of your choice because they recognize that you are opening the website via this particular country’s server and not your own country. Therefore, access is granted.
- In doing so, you are not connected via VPN to the local network of your office as in the first example, but to any network in the desired country. The various VPN providers operate different servers in numerous countries for this purpose.
