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Understanding Your Company's VPN

Applies toGlobalProtectCisco AnyConnectFortiClientOpenVPN
4 min read Updated 10 Jul 2026

By , 10+ years in IT support and helpdesk How these guides are checked

Quick Answer

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates an encrypted connection between your device and your company's network, letting you access internal resources like shared drives, intranet sites, and line-of-business apps from outside the office.

Checked against Microsoft Learn - end of support and retirement and Google Chrome Releases between 5 Aug 2026 and 12 Sep 2026. Nothing published in that period has been linked to this guide.

Summary ​

When you work remotely, IT asks you to "connect to the VPN." But what exactly does that do? This guide explains what a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is in plain English, why your company requires it, and how it differs from a personal consumer VPN.

Before You Start ​

  • No prerequisites — this is a reference guide for remote workers

Instructions ​

What is a VPN? ​

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates a secure, encrypted "tunnel" over the public internet between your computer and the company's private network.

Think of it like a secure subway train that goes directly from your house to the office building, passing right through the city (the internet) without stopping or letting anyone else on board.

Why Do You Need It? ​

1. Access to Internal Resources ​

Many company servers, like file shares (e.g., the Z: drive), legacy databases, or intranet sites, sit behind a corporate firewall. They are literally invisible to the public internet. Connecting to the VPN puts your computer "inside" the office network, granting you access to those hidden resources.

2. Encryption on Public Wi-Fi ​

If you're working at a coffee shop or hotel, the Wi-Fi network isn't secure. Anyone on that network could potentially intercept your data. The VPN scrambles (encrypts) all your traffic so even if someone intercepts it, it looks like gibberish.

3. Corporate Security Filtering ​

When connected to a "full-tunnel" VPN, all your web traffic goes through the company's security systems first. If you accidentally click a malicious link in a phishing email while at home, the company's firewall can block the site before it loads on your laptop.

Full-Tunnel vs. Split-Tunnel VPNs ​

You may hear IT mention these two terms. Here is the difference:

  • Full-Tunnel: All internet traffic goes through the VPN. If you go to google.com, the request travels from your house to the office server, then out to Google, and back again. This is highly secure but can slow down your connection.
  • Split-Tunnel: Only traffic destined for the company network (like the intranet) goes through the VPN. General internet traffic (like google.com or Spotify) goes straight to the internet via your home Wi-Fi. This is faster and uses less company bandwidth, but offers less security filtering.

Company VPN vs. Personal VPN ​

You've probably seen ads for personal VPNs (like NordVPN or ExpressVPN). While they use similar technology, they serve different purposes:

  • Company VPN (GlobalProtect, Cisco, etc.): Used to securely connect you to your employer's private network and protect company data.
  • Personal VPN: Used to hide your browsing activity from your Internet Service Provider (ISP), secure public Wi-Fi, or bypass geographic content restrictions (like watching another country's Netflix).

INFO

Never try to use a personal VPN to access company resources. It won't work, and running two VPNs at the same time usually crashes your internet connection.

When Should You Use the VPN? ​

Follow your organization's specific policy, but generally:

  • Always connect to the VPN when working on public Wi-Fi (airports, hotels, cafes).
  • Always connect if you need to access a shared network drive or internal server.
  • Optional (if split-tunnel): If you are working from a secure home network and only using cloud apps like Microsoft 365, you may not need the VPN active all day.

Troubleshooting ​

WARNING

VPNs rely entirely on your underlying internet connection. If your home Wi-Fi is dropping, your VPN will constantly disconnect. Fix the Wi-Fi first.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
"Authentication failed" when logging inWrong password or expired MFADouble-check your password and ensure your phone is receiving MFA prompts
VPN connects, but internet stops workingFull-tunnel VPN routing errorSee How to Fix "No Internet Access" After Connecting to VPN
VPN keeps dropping and reconnectingUnstable home internetSee How to Troubleshoot a Slow or Dropping VPN Connection
Cannot access the Z: drive even on VPNMissing drive mappingThe drive may need to be re-mapped, or you lack permissions

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Frequently asked questions

Can my employer see my personal web browsing when the VPN is on?
Usually, yes. When a VPN is active, all your internet traffic is routed through the company's servers. IT can theoretically see that you visited Facebook, though they cannot see the encrypted contents of the page.
Why is my internet so slow when the VPN is connected?
A VPN routes your internet traffic to the corporate office and back out to the internet, adding an extra stop to the journey. Disconnect the VPN when you are doing high-bandwidth tasks like watching training videos.