A business VPN creates an encrypted connection between a remote user or site and your office network or systems, so staff can reach internal resources securely from anywhere. It is different from a consumer VPN, which is about privacy and hiding your location.
When a small business needs one
- Staff need to reach an on-site server, application or file share from home or the road
- You have more than one office or site that need to connect
- Remote access to network equipment for management
- Staff regularly use untrusted Wi-Fi and need a trusted path back
When you might not
If everything you use is cloud (Microsoft 365, cloud apps, cloud file storage) and secured with MFA and conditional access, you may not need a traditional VPN at all – the security moves to identity rather than the network.
What is replacing the old VPN
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and identity-based access give each user access to specific applications rather than the whole network – safer than a VPN that, once connected, exposes everything. For most small businesses the practical setup is a firewall VPN for on-site resources plus zero-trust principles for cloud.
Doing it right
- Run the VPN on the business firewall, not a random appliance
- MFA on VPN login, always
- Give access to what people need, not the whole network
- Keep the firewall firmware patched – VPN flaws are heavily targeted
Part of our network setup and remote work support services.
Related security guides
- What a firewall does
- Multi-factor authentication explained
- Network segmentation
- EDR vs antivirus vs MDR
- Security awareness training
- How to prevent ransomware
Want this handled? See our remote work support or talk to our Edmonton team.
Frequently asked questions
Is a consumer VPN like NordVPN useful for business?
For privacy on public Wi-Fi, a little. It does not give access to your internal systems and is not a substitute for a properly configured business VPN or identity-based access.
Do we still need a VPN if we use Microsoft 365?
Often not, for the 365 apps themselves. You still need one if you have an on-site server or application that staff reach remotely.
Is a VPN secure?
A properly configured firewall VPN with MFA is secure. VPNs become a risk when the firmware is unpatched or access is too broad – both are avoidable.
How does Scandifix help?
We set up secure remote access – firewall VPN with MFA, scoped access, or identity-based access for cloud – matched to what you actually run.