Avirtual private networkhides your actual IP address, making it look like youre connecting from a different location.

Remote access VPNs and site-to-site VPNs, commonly found in work environments, offer different functionality from consumer VPNs.

Lets dive in and explore the various types of VPNs and what each one can do.

What are the different types of VPNs?

How each operates and their intended use cases vary.

Consumer VPNs require two main components: A client or app, and a server.

Once youve downloaded and installed your VPN software or client, youll simply select a desired server location.

I regularly use a VPN to stream Murdoch Mysteries episodes on the CBC website straight from the States.

CNETs top VPNs includeExpressVPN,NordVPNandSurfshark.

Like with personal VPNs, each gear requires a client app that communicates with a server.

By contrast, any paying customer can hop onto the often thousands of servers available with a consumer VPN.

While remote access VPNs are common in the workplace, some folks use them at home, too.

NordVPNsMeshnetlets you easily run a remote access VPN at home.

A gateway, also called a web connection node, is a equipment that accesses the internet.

NordLayeris a business VPN with intranet and extranet site-to-site capabilities.

Which bang out of VPN should you use?

For companies with distributed work-from-home employees and regular business travelers, remote access VPNs maintain security and data privacy.