Over the past several years, digital nomadism has become a major trending topic worldwide, and understandably so. In the wake of the global pandemic, our understanding of work-life balance has been completely reframed, with many now extolling the virtues of remote work and the freedom of movement that comes with it. All told, the appeal of this new lifestyle is considerable, and with an increasingly large selection of cloud-based collaboration and productivity tools available, embracing digital nomadism is as easy as it’s ever been.
Of course, with the freedom of digital nomadism comes a heavy reliance on the Internet, and that can cause some teething problems. With cyber threats, data privacy, and online censorship to consider, you’ll want to have the right solutions in place to ensure an easy transition to your new lifestyle. This is where Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, come into play. Here, we’ll provide guidance on VPNs and their function, shedding some light on the benefits they offer and what to consider when choosing one.
What VPNs do
VPNs are software tools that can enable you to establish more private and secure Internet connections. They provide you, the user, with access to an array of different VPN servers, each of which can be used to divert your internet connection. That means that a VPN is effectively a middleman between your browsing device and the websites you use, preventing them from identifying you or determining your location. What’s more, a VPN will encrypt your traffic, providing you with a vital extra layer of data protection.
How VPNs Empower Digital Nomadism
A VPN can facilitate your lifestyle as a digital nomad in several vital ways.
For one, by protecting your data with encryption, a VPN can allow you to be more flexible in your work. For instance, you may wish to work on public Wi-Fi networks in airports or cafes while traveling, but the lack of proper authentication on such networks makes this risky as your data could be intercepted. VPNs alleviate this issue by securing your connection, regardless of what kind of network you’re on. As such, you can work freely on public Wi-Fi, safe in the knowledge that your sensitive data is safeguarded against those who might seek to get their hands on it.
Additionally, a VPN can help to stay productive on the go. Depending on your line of work, you may struggle to access the online tools you need as you move from place to place, since not all cloud-based platforms are supported in every region. Normally, this would put a wrench in the works, but with a VPN, you can essentially change your IP address and location to bypass these kinds of geo-blocks. That means that if you work for a company in the USA, for instance, you can simply connect to a USA VPN server to use all the cloud-based software tools you would have access to if you were working on-site.
Were that not enough, using a VPN can also help you save a considerable amount of money while you travel from place to place. Though you might not be aware of it, airlines, hotels, and car rental companies routinely use dynamic pricing practices, changing the cost of bookings based on variable factors like your location. The extra cost can add up when you’re always on the move, but a VPN provides a simple solution. By changing your location with a VPN, you can simulate searches from other places to aggregate prices and find the best deal. This will allow you to get more bang for your buck to get the absolute most of the digital nomad experience.
Selecting the Right VPN
The VPN market has experienced huge growth recently, and there is now a plethora of different ones to choose from, both free and paid. Parsing the options can be tough if you’re not well-acquainted with the technology, but you can expedite the process by focusing primarily on three main aspects.
First and foremost, think about encryption. There are a variety of different encryption technologies that VPNs can use, including DES, 3DES, Blowfish, AES-256, and more. Cybersecurity should be a priority when you work online, so look for a VPN that meets your needs. If doubt, AES is usually a safe bet, as it offers military-grade protection and is the current industry standard.
You’ll also want to consider server locations. As a digital nomad, you’re likely to run into a lot of issues with geolocation, and you need to make sure that you have servers in the right regions to ensure that you can access the sites and platforms you need. Before choosing a VPN, check their server location options to make sure they’re suitable for you.
Lastly, it’s worth researching server counts before making your choice. Typically, VPNs with larger server counts have more bandwidth to work with, which means better connection performance. Choosing a VPN provider with an extensive server count will ensure that you’re never hampered by slow speeds.
Concluding
Given the freedom it allows, it’s easy to see why you might find the digital nomad lifestyle appealing. Before jumping in with both feet, though, it’s worth considering the challenges involved so that you can put the right solutions in place to avoid potential hiccups. A VPN is perfect here as it provides an all-in-one answer to some of the most common issues affecting digital nomads, namely cyber threats, geo-blocking, and online price discrimination. By using a VPN in your day-to-day life as a digital nomad, you can put these concerns to rest and focus on getting the most out of your travel adventure.
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