What is a VPN and How Does It Work?

Let’s say you're grabbing a quick coffee at your favorite local café. You hop on the free Wi-Fi, answer a few emails, maybe access a file or two from your business server. Simple, right?

Here’s the not-so-simple part: That free Wi-Fi is anything but secure. Hackers love these open networks, and if you’re not protected, your sensitive information might as well be written on a sticky note left on the table.

That’s where a VPN (Virtual Private Network) comes in.

So, What Exactly Is a VPN?

A VPN is like a secure, private tunnel between your device and the internet. It hides your data, location, and activity from prying eyes, whether you’re at home, in the office, or connected to public Wi-Fi.

Imagine sending a postcard versus a sealed envelope. The postcard (your unsecured data) can be read by anyone along the way. But the envelope (your VPN-encrypted connection)? Only the recipient can open it.

When you're using a VPN, your internet traffic gets:

• Encrypted — so outsiders can’t read it

• Rerouted — through a secure server, often in another location

• Hidden — your IP address and location are masked

That means hackers, internet providers, and even your coffee shop’s router have no idea what you’re doing.

How Does It Work?

Here’s the play-by-play:

1. You connect to the internet through your VPN app.

2. Your device talks to a secure VPN server, which could be across town or across the country.

3. That VPN server sends and receives data on your behalf, wrapping it in encryption and sending it back to you securely.

To anyone snooping from the outside, it just looks like you’re talking to the VPN server, not to your business email, your accounting software, or your cloud drive.

Pretty slick, right?

Why Small Businesses and Local Governments Should Use a VPN

VPNs aren’t just for tech giants or secret agents. If you have:

• Remote workers

• Cloud-based tools like Microsoft 365

• Sensitive customer or financial data

• Team members who travel or work from home

...then you need a VPN for small business protection.

Here’s why it matters:

• Secures remote access to your systems without risking a data breach

• Prevents unauthorized spying on employee traffic, especially over public Wi-Fi

• Keeps you compliant with security standards for data handling

• Reduces your exposure to cyber threats like man-in-the-middle attacks

VPNs are a simple, cost-effective way to protect your people, devices, and data.

How DaZZee Helps with VPN and Cybersecurity

Through Fortify IT, DaZZee builds custom cybersecurity solutions for small businesses and local governments, and yes, that includes secure VPN configurations.

Whether your team works in the office, at home, or somewhere in between, DaZZee ensures they connect safely with:

• Business-grade VPN access

• Microsoft 365 security hardening

• 24/7 Security Operations Center monitoring

• Monthly cybersecurity training for your staff

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. We work with your goals, your people, and your technology to build something that actually fits your world.

Ready to Lock-in, and Lock Down Your Remote Access?

DaZZee has helped businesses from Springfield to Kansas City protect their data and secure their systems with VPNs and full-scale cybersecurity support.

Let’s make sure your team can work from anywhere, without putting everything at risk.
👉 Schedule a Fortify IT consultation today

Because staying secure shouldn't depend on where your Wi-Fi comes from.