Public Wi-Fi Risks and How a VPN Helps Protect Your Business
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Coffee shops, airports and hotels all offer free Wi-Fi, and plenty of Portland-area staff use it to answer email or reach company files. Shared networks are convenient, but you do not control them, which makes them a risk for business data.
The risks
- Eavesdropping: on some networks others can observe traffic that is not encrypted.
- Fake hotspots: an attacker can create a network with a believable name to lure connections.
- Man-in-the-middle attacks: traffic can be intercepted or altered between your device and the site.
How a VPN helps
A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts traffic between your device and a VPN server, so other people on the same Wi-Fi cannot read it. A company-managed VPN also lets staff reach internal resources safely. A VPN is useful but is not a complete answer on its own.
Other habits to adopt
- Prefer your phone hotspot for sensitive work.
- Use multi-factor authentication on business accounts.
- Keep devices updated and encrypted.
- Never ignore browser certificate warnings.
- Turn off automatic connection to open networks.
Set it up for the team
The most reliable approach is to make the safe setup the default on managed devices: VPN, updates, encryption and endpoint protection configured centrally.
Related reading
- managed cybersecurity for Portland businesses
- 4 cyberthreats small businesses need to know
- Securing your remote workforce and BYOD policy
Talk to a local team
PDX Information Technology Services provides managed IT, cybersecurity and compliance support for small businesses in Portland, Lake Oswego, Beaverton, Hillsboro and Vancouver, WA. Plans start at $100 per user per month (Gold) and $180 per user per month (Platinum). Call 971-331-4871 or book a free assessment.
Request an IT assessment
Tell us a little about your business and a PDX IT team member will follow up to schedule an assessment. Prefer to talk? Call 971-331-4871.
About the author: Steve Shaff
Steve Shaff is the owner of PDX Information Technology Services, a managed IT provider he founded in 2020. From the Tualatin office he helps businesses across Portland Metro & Southwest Washington with IT support, cybersecurity and compliance. More about Steve ยท Contact PDX IT
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