Business Owners are Being Urged to Consider Private VPN Alternatives
Microsoft is making significant changes to its Microsoft 365 subscription, with one of its biggest privacy features set to be removed by the end of this month.
The built-in Virtual Private Network (VPN), which was previously available through the Microsoft Defender app, will no longer be a part of the subscription service from 28th February 2025.
The decision to discontinue the VPN just so happens to coincide with the recent increase in Microsoft 365 subscription fees. While Microsoft has introduced new AI-powered features, businesses relying on the built-in VPN for security and privacy will now need to find an alternative.
Microsoft 365 VPN to Be Discontinued
While the built in VPN was admittedly not the most advanced service and although it did not come with all the bells and whistles one would get from a more sophisticated option, users still greatly benefitted from having an easily available way to protect themselves when browsing the web.
Now, only a few years after it first became available, a Microsoft support statement was released explaining the rationale behind this move. The statement said, “Our goal is to ensure you, and your family remain safer online. We routinely evaluate the usage and effectiveness of our features. As such, we are removing the privacy protection feature and will invest in new areas that will better align to customer needs”
Why Businesses Should Invest in a Private VPN
It should be noted that at the moment, the removal of the VPN is only affecting Personal and Family 365 packages. But it does beg the question: If Microsoft can remove VPN privileges from these users, what would stop it from doing the same to businesses?
With Microsoft withdrawing its VPN offering to some users, businesses should be considering third-party VPN solutions, if they don’t already have such a system in place. With cybersecurity threats constantly on the rise, businesses can’t afford to suddenly lose access to important security tools (or be forced to make extra space in their budgets, at the drop of a hat).
While Microsoft’s VPN is a convenient addition, it was never designed to provide the best or most sophisticated enterprise-grade protection. But a private VPN service does provide several key advantages that Microsoft cannot:
- A business-grade VPN uses stronger encryption protocols and security measures to protect company data from cyber threats.
- Unlike Microsoft’s VPN, which is automatically assigned a region, private VPNs allow businesses to choose their server locations, ensuring unrestricted access to global resources.
- With stricter GDPR regulations in the UK, businesses must ensure their data is encrypted and secure at all times. A private VPN helps maintain compliance by safeguarding sensitive information.
For UK businesses concerned about privacy, the removal of Microsoft 365’s VPN should serve as a wake-up call to invest in a more robust and reliable alternative.
It is more important than ever before for business owners to take proactive steps towards protecting their digital security in an increasingly threat-prone online landscape.
And 24/7 IT Services can help you do just that. With our approach to IT Security Solutions and our expansive Managed IT Support Services, we can help you ensure that your online data stays secure and your IT needs met. Contact us today for more information.
