Question 1

What's the difference between a VPN and a proxy?

Accepted Answer

A VPN encrypts your network traffic and extends your device into a private network (often at the IP level), so many apps can use it transparently. A proxy typically forwards traffic for a specific app or protocol (like a web browser) and may not encrypt everything end-to-end. VPNs are generally used for secure private access; proxies are often used for routing or content filtering.

Question 2

When should I use a VPN?

Accepted Answer

Use a VPN when you need secure access to private resources over the internet—such as employees connecting to internal company apps, admins managing cloud servers without opening them to the public, or connecting an on-premises network to a cloud VPC/VNet. If you need consistently high bandwidth and low latency between sites, consider dedicated private connectivity (like AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute, or Google Cloud Interconnect) instead of, or in addition to, a VPN.

Question 3

How much does a VPN cost?

Accepted Answer

Costs depend on the type (client VPN vs site-to-site), throughput needs, number of users, and data transfer. In cloud providers, you typically pay for the VPN endpoint/gateway hourly plus data processing/egress charges. With third-party VPN appliances or services, pricing may be per user, per device, or per bandwidth tier, plus operational costs for setup, monitoring, and certificate/identity management.

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