Business VPN Protection for Texas Small Businesses & Remote Teams
When your team works from home, on the road, or from a hotel Wi-Fi network, your data is exposed to risks you’ll never see coming. A business VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates an encrypted tunnel between your devices and the internet, so your logins, files, and cloud apps stay private—even on untrusted networks.
SofTouch Systems doesn’t run its own VPN infrastructure. Instead, we help clients choose, set up, and use a trusted VPN provider. For most of our small and mid-sized business clients, we recommend Surfshark VPN and provide guidance on how to use it as part of a layered security plan. If you sign up using our links, STS may earn a small referral commission—at no extra cost to you.
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What Is a VPN?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a secure, encrypted connection between your device and a VPN server. Once connected:
- Your internet traffic is encrypted, so anyone snooping on the network (hackers, rogue Wi-Fi owners, even ISPs) sees scrambled data instead of readable information.
- Your IP address is masked, making it harder to tie online activity back to your office or specific devices.
- Your team can access business tools more safely from home, hotels, airports, and coffee shops.
Think of it as a private lane on a busy highway. Other cars are still out there, but they can’t see who’s in your vehicle or where you’re really headed.
Why a VPN Matters for STS Clients
Our clients rely on cloud services, email, and remote access more than ever. That means your staff are often working outside the safety of your office network, on personal Wi-Fi, in airports, or on guest networks you don’t control.
A SurfShark VPN helps reduce risk in real-world situations like:
- Travel and public Wi-Fi
- Checking email or logging into cloud apps at hotels, airports, coffee shops, or conferences.
- Banking, paying vendors, or accessing billing tools on the road.
- Work-from-home employees
- Staff connecting from home routers that may be poorly configured or never updated.
- Shared household networks where kids’ devices, smart TVs, and IoT gadgets increase attack surface.
- Remote contractors & field staff
- Technicians, sales reps, or volunteers who need access to business tools from wherever they are.
A VPN is not a magic shield that replaces antivirus, firewalls, or backups but it’s an important extra lock on the door, especially when your people are outside the office.
How SofTouch Systems Recommends Using a VPN
We treat VPN usage as part of layered security, not a standalone fix. For most Texas SMBs, we suggest:
1. Always-On VPN for Laptops and Travel Devices
Set SurfShark VPN to connect automatically on:
- Company laptops and tablets
- Personal devices used for company email or files
- Any device taken on trips or used on public Wi-Fi
If the VPN drops, the connection should stop sending data until the secure tunnel is restored (a “kill switch” feature).
2. VPN for Cloud & Remote Work
Use SurfShark VPN when:
- Accessing email, cloud storage, accounting, or line-of-business apps outside the office
- Using remote desktop or browser-based access to internal tools
- Handling client data, payment information, or confidential documents
This shrinks the window where credentials or data can be stolen in transit.
3. Role-Based Usage
We especially recommend VPN use for:
- Owners, executives, and finance staff
- HR and payroll staff
- Anyone who travels regularly
- IT admins and technical power users
These accounts are prime targets. A VPN adds another layer of protection on top of strong passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
4. Combine VPN with the Rest of Your Security Stack
A VPN works best when paired with:
- Monitored IT & antivirus/EDR (our Managed Services base layer)
- Password management (1Password) and enforced MFA
- Managed Backup for recovery if a device is lost, stolen, or compromised
STS can help you decide where a VPN fits in your existing setup and how to roll it out without slowing your staff down.
Why We Recommend Surfshark VPN
There are many VPN providers on the market. We chose to affiliate with Surfshark because it aligns with what our clients need most:
- Strong encryption and modern security standards to protect data in transit
- Multi-platform support (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and browser extensions) so your team can use it on whatever devices they carry
- Support for multiple devices per subscription, which is ideal for small teams and families
- Features like kill switch and split tunneling (so you can choose which apps always go through the VPN)
We like Surfshark as a cost-effective, user-friendly option for small to mid-sized organizations and remote workers. STS does not operate Surfshark’s servers we help you evaluate whether it fits your needs, assist with setup, and integrate it into your broader IT security plan.
Transparency note: When you sign up for Surfshark through our affiliate links, STS may receive a referral commission. This helps us keep offering guidance and resources to clients and the community—without changing your price.
Who Is This VPN Page For?
This service is a good fit if:
- You or your staff work remotely, even part-time
- You travel with business devices or access company tools on hotel or public Wi-Fi
- You handle client records, financial data, or regulated information from outside the office
- You want another layer of protection without building your own complex remote access infrastructure
If you already have STS Managed Services, we’ll review VPN usage as part of your security conversation and help you decide where it makes the most sense.
Next Steps: Talk to STS About VPN & Remote Security
If you’re not sure where to start with VPNs or you’re worried about staff using the wrong kind of “free VPN” apps, reach out before you guess.
Here’s how STS can help:
- Review how and where your team works remotely
- Recommend a VPN strategy that fits your size, budget, and risk level
- Help you sign up for Surfshark using our affiliate link (if it’s the right fit)
- Configure devices, basic policies, and simple how-to guides for your staff
Call us, send an email, or use the Contact form to ask about “VPN & Remote Worker Security.” We’ll walk you through your options in plain English and help you decide if Surfshark and a business VPN in general, belongs in your security stack.