Internet users can’t get far without hearing about VPNs and what they do. However, there’s still some confusion on their exact purpose and how they work, affecting things like network anomaly detection and IP addresses. Even so, there’s an increasing awareness of VPNs thanks to influencer sponsorships, online advertising, and word of mouth. No longer is VPN usage restricted to tech enthusiasts but is becoming mainstream for business and private users.
Looking to the future, there’s more we can expect from VPNs as they continue to rise in popularity and be used more frequently across the globe. Anticipating the next VPN trends can help to prepare your businesses and personal internet usage accordingly. Based on the current statistics and existing VPN trends, this guide provides insight into what trends you should be watching out for in 2023 and beyond.
Starting with the basics, a virtual private network (VPN) allows users to access the internet with a virtual connection whilst their data is contained within a private network. This means that a VPN doesn’t need a physical connection to a server to connect to the internet, instead using wireless connections with public networks. Yet, the user’s data is kept private within this network, so that only those using the same VPN can access it.
Adding a VPN to your network connection encrypts your data, meaning advertisers, streaming services, hackers and more can’t use your information. People use VPNs for a variety of reasons as it offers an additional level of privacy and anonymity online.
For example, you could access a website as if you were actually in Australia, when in reality you could be in another country, bypassing any geographical restrictions on content thanks to your VPN server.
Technology is constantly developing and VPNs are getting a lot of attention currently. Keeping updated on the latest developments and anticipating the trends allows you and your business to optimize your VPN usage. Whether you offer software solutions for manufacturing industry or are deciding on getting a personal VPN, knowing about trends can help you to more effectively use the features available as well as understand how they integrate with other products.
As remote and hybrid working has risen within companies, adopting a VPN for business usage has become more common. This keeps business connections and information private whilst allowing employees to connect from any location, even when traveling internationally for work. With remote working becoming a standard business practice, VPNs are essential in keeping teams together and allowing them to securely communicate and share information.
VPNs have been used by large businesses, to connect different offices to the same network, for a while. However, these are now being used by all types of businesses and employees. With a greater understanding of how VPNs work, more businesses will adopt VPNs. Likewise, those businesses already using VPNs may increase their use of their existing network.
With VPNs becoming more accessible to the public and used in a variety of ways, marketing them to individuals will become more common. We’ve already seen this with influencer campaigns and social media advertising, highlighting the functions of a VPN to potential customers. These focus on the benefits of changing your IP address to access country-specific deals and content, along with emphasizing the data privacy elements.
As VPNs become more widely used by the public, companies need to review their approach to selling platforms or figuring out how to increase sales on eBay. VPNs can encrypt the online data used by businesses to target potential customers with relevant campaigns and products, limiting possible personalization. Similarly, for B2B sales, companies may see more success in approaching clients directly instead of relying on widespread online campaigns.
The two main reasons for using a VPN are general security and privacy. As more user data becomes available online the risk of fraud, or cyber attack increases; especially for those regularly using public networks to access the internet. Using a VPN encrypts user data, making it harder for hackers to find and steal, as well as obscuring it from other sources external to your network.
Encryption is particularly beneficial for users that regularly use public WiFi networks. For some workplaces, using a VPN is already a requirement to optimize business security. Working in these environments, employees need the security of VPNs for their data safety as well as to protect private company information, whether it’s oil industry data analytics or important passwords.
VPN use isn’t limited to desktops, but also mobiles and other devices. As smartphones play an increasingly central role in the public’s lives, more attention will be given to prioritizing their security. This could involve more mobile VPNs being installed to encrypt data, making users feel more secure when making mobile purchases and sending private messages.
However, 57% of mobile VPN users say that they use it for accessing entertainment and better content. With the popularity of streaming services, trustworthy VPNs enable users to stream media available in different regions by changing their IP addresses. This shows how individuals have different purposes both for their devices and how they use VPNs with them, meaning VPN marketing and features should adapt based on their target device.
The highest rate of VPN market growth and adoption by new users can be found in Middle Eastern countries. Countries like UAE, Qatar, and Oman are all among the highest percentage of VPN adoption for their population size. For many people in these locations, VPNs offer freedom from regional restrictions, giving them access to wider sources of information and preventing their internet data from being tracked.
Similarly, the Asia Pacific VPN market is expected to grow the most in future years, with increased spending on VPN services and solutions largely for commercial use. Although the region may not have the biggest existing market base, the increase in users is anticipated to be the largest.
Around 40% of personal VPN users depend on free services, suggesting that cost is a barrier for individuals thinking about installing a VPN. However, these services have network issues more frequently than paid VPNs. These free VPN services could act as a taster for new users, acquiring and convincing potential customers. For those utilizing them regularly, paid VPNs provide a more reliable experience.
For this reason and their larger budgets, businesses are more likely to use paid VPN options. This enables businesses to depend on their VPN, allowing more employees to use it from various locations without experiencing difficulties. Particularly for SaaS businesses or those that exist primarily online, a stable network connection is essential. Paid VPNs are more able to guarantee this availability and functionality.
As the awareness of VPNs continues to spread, and as they are being developed to higher standards, it’s expected that they’ll gain more private and business users. With improvements and bug fixes for both free and paid usage, VPNs will become more reliable, encouraging potential customers to invest. Likewise, as people become more familiar with using VPNs at work, they’ll likely feel more comfortable installing one at home.
Personal data privacy continues to be a concern to companies and individuals. The encryption features and anonymity that VPNs offer can support users in avoiding and handling data breaches. Similarly, with streaming services monopolizing entertainment, more users will want to change their IP address to access more content. As international travel rises, selecting your location makes communication and accessing work files easier.
Whether you’re a VPN advocate or still thinking about whether to use one, staying aware of the trends can help to prepare yourself and your business for the future. This can help to keep personal data private, preventing online hackers, websites, and keeping you out of government data analytics. As companies seek to gather more and more information about users, there’s more data at stake when you’re online.
Furthermore, with the increasing usage of VPNs worldwide, it’s important to anticipate their impact on the software and applications you use and create. If your apps don’t work when VPNs are active, this can cause issues for your customers, preventing them from making purchases. On the other side, you want the apps you install and regularly use to integrate with your VPN, enabling safe network connections when using them.
