Business vs. Personal VPN [ Learn the Difference]

Every 39 seconds, a hacking incident occurs, making the need for internet security and privacy essential. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have become a standard solution for more than 1.6 billion users globally.

There are two primary reasons for using a VPN: commercial and private. There are several significant distinctions between the two types of VPNs, even though they offer protection and anonymity. 

Continue reading this article to learn what personal and business VPNs are, their uses, and their differences.

Differences Between Business VPN and Personal VPN

A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes it to a private server, securing your online activity and personal information.

The key distinction between a business VPN and a personal VPN is how and why you use it. Both VPNs offer an encrypted connection for ordinary internet activity and remote networks.

A personal VPN allows users to connect to remote servers that interact with the public internet on their behalf. Meanwhile, a business VPN lets users connect securely to their company’s network.

Here is a summary of the differences between a business VPN and a personal VPN.   

Read the following sections to learn more about the differences between corporate and personal VPNs.

Understanding How Business VPNs Work

A corporate VPN, often a business VPN, is used only for business-related purposes. Companies use a VPN to secure communications with their remote employees and branch offices.

Remote employees connect to a private network to access all company services and resources. The internet bridges the private network and the internet for secure and private connections. The VPN encrypts the connection to guarantee data security.

Companies use business VPNs primarily to protect their connections, but they can also be helpful in certain situations.

Read the following section to learn more about these cases.

Use Cases of a Business VPN

These are a few distinct ways a business VPN can boost productivity and security in an organization.

1. Secure Transmission of Sensitive Business Information

One of the most common use cases for a business VPN is allowing employees to connect securely to their company’s internal network. 

Additionally, business VPNs provide a secure connection for transmitting sensitive business information between employees and the company.

2. Transferring High Volumes of Data

Like any other user, businesses can experience data throttling. It occurs when the corporate Internet Service Provider (ISP) has a limited connection speed to regulate network traffic and avoid bandwidth congestion.

However, with business VPNs, ISPs cannot measure data use by employees, allowing them to transmit large volumes of data freely and without limitation. 

3. Data Logging

ISPs can log and read traffic; for companies, this is a potential risk for data breaches. Businesses regularly send confidential information, including strategies, projects, new technologies, and client details. 

Hackers value this information highly, so security must be maintained. A commercial VPN, which anonymizes IPs and makes logging and tracking more challenging, can solve this problem.

Understanding How Personal VPNs Work

A personal VPN is also known as a home VPN.  They enable users to access websites and material blocked in their area and browse the web anonymously.

A virtual tunnel is created between the device and the Internet when a personal VPN is connected to a chosen VPN server. 

The user's traffic passes through that tunnel, where the user receives encrypted data. When the data is encrypted, it can’t be monitored, intercepted, or altered.

While personal VPNs can ensure users' privacy in their online activities, other uses exist for this type of VPN. 

Use Cases of a Personal VPN

Personal VPNs come in handy in various settings, such as when using the internet while traveling or connecting to public Wi-Fi. It can protect the user’s security while browsing when using a personal VPN.

For further information, see the list of additional uses for a personal VPN below:

1. Anonymously Browsing the Internet

Anonymous browsing is one of the most remarkable benefits of using a personal VPN. A private VPN masks the user's location, so their online activities cannot be tracked.

2. Accessing Public Wi-Fi

A personal VPN can protect users' data from cyberattacks and data breaches when using public Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi in coffee shops, hotels, libraries, and airports are examples of public Wi-Fi. On average, a new attack occurs online every 39 seconds. 

When connecting to public Wi-Fi, a personal VPN encrypts the traffic between the user’s device and the public Wi-Fi. The encryption of data makes it safe from hackers and snoopers.

3. Availing Cheap Deals Online

Finding cheap deals online can be advantageous when using a personal VPN. E-commerce sites usually charge customers based on their IP address and location. Prices vary based on users' willingness to pay more; others will pay less for the same service.

For example, if a user lives in an area with a higher average income, they will see a higher price at online shopping sites. A user can avoid price discrimination by using a VPN and choosing a location to buy a service or product at the lowest price.

4. Bypass Geographical Restrictions

Using a personal VPN allows users to access restricted content in their region. It changes the original IP address to the IP address where the content is available. Knowing the definition and how business and personal VPNs are used gives a clear understanding of their purpose. 

An extensive discussion of the differences is provided in the following section. 

Comparing Business VPN vs. Personal VPN

Personal and business VPNs are used for different purposes.

1. Allowed Connections

A personal VPN account can only support one connection, and at the same time, there is a limit on the number of devices that can connect.

Alternatively, business VPNs can handle multiple users and host hundreds or thousands of simultaneous connections. In addition, business VPNs are scalable, meaning they can add more users as the business expands. 

2. Type of IP Address Provided

For personal VPN users, IP addresses are shared with multiple users. Sharing with multiple users may cause server overload, which leads to slow connection speeds. 

Business VPNs provide their users with a dedicated IP address and servers.

3. Account Management

Individual users have complete control over their VPN accounts. Meanwhile, a business VPN has an account manager responsible for managing the account. 

The account manager can remove users and devices, connect company servers, configure global settings, and monitor users' activities.

4. Download and Setup

Technical knowledge is optional for downloading and setting up the personal VPN. Users only need to download the software and install its extensions.

Business VPNs sometimes require coordinating with the service providers when setting up the software. Customizing the features requires specialized knowledge.

5. Maintenance

Personal VPNs have lower maintenance requirements; users must ensure the software is updated. Typically, the VPN service notifies the users of updates and the latest security patches.

Complex maintenance is needed for business VPNs since they need customized solutions to accommodate their specific demands.

6. Use Cases

Typically, personal VPNs protect personal data and bypass geographical restrictions, while business VPNs are used to secure connectivity for remote work.

7. Subscription Price

A personal VPN is cheaper than a business VPN.  This is because a business VPN  needs more features and customization.

Conclusion

A business VPN is designed to be used by employees to connect to their company’s networks. It can scale up as the company grows and is made to accommodate hundreds of users.

While a personal VPN is only used for daily online activities, it still offers equal security compared to a business VPN.

To ensure privacy and security, users must choose the right VPN that fits their needs and requirements.