Virtual private networks (VPNs) have become essential for remote workers to access company resources and information securely.
Creating an encrypted tunnel between your device and your company network allows VPNs to work productively from home as if you were physically in the office. However, like any technology, VPN connections can sometimes encounter frustrating technical issues that disrupt your ability to work.
This comprehensive troubleshooting guide will dive deep into users’ most prevalent VPN problems, explain the likely causes, and provide actionable solutions to resolve them. Whether you are continually dealing with failed connections, reduced speeds, or random disconnects, this guide aims to clarify troubleshooting processes to help identify and fix the root causes. Please follow our VPN troubleshooting advice, and you can quickly resolve the most common connection hiccups when working remotely.
Failed VPN Connections
Few things aggravate than trying to connect to a VPN and receiving an error message that the connection attempt has failed. Several potential culprits can thwart your ability to establish that all-important tunnel back to the corporate network:
Outdated VPN Software
Like most software, VPN clients must be periodically updated to the latest version to fix bugs and remain compatible with updated corporate VPN servers. Using outdated software often manifests in authentication errors or outright failure to establish a connection. Could you check the version of your VPN software and upgrade to the latest release from your provider if you are not current?
Conflicting Apps
Antivirus, firewalls, and other security-related applications can sometimes interpret your VPN connection as a security threat and block it from establishing. You can turn off your online protection, firewall, virus protection, anti-malware, and network monitoring apps and see if your VPN connection succeeds without them enabled. If so, you must reconfigure those apps to allow your VPN client to make outbound connections.
Incorrect Login Credentials
Seemingly simple scenarios like having caps lock enabled or using your old password can generate login errors during authentication that prevent a successful VPN connection. Double and triple-check that you are entering the proper VPN username and password whenever you attempt to connect.
Incompatible VPN Protocol
Legacy VPN protocols like PPTP have largely been phased out due to security vulnerabilities, but your VPN server may still default to trying to use them if your client supports it. Select only modern VPN protocols like OpenVPN or IKEv2 in your client and turn off things like PPTP or L2TP/IPsec to prevent protocol conflicts.
If you cannot establish a VPN connection after exhausting these troubleshooting steps, please don’t hesitate to contact your tech support services or VPN provider for more help identifying and resolving the connection issue.
Degraded VPN Speeds and Performance
While a prolonged VPN connection is still usable, VPN speed issues can significantly hamper your ability to access resources, load pages, or transfer files across the network. Subpar performance leads to frustration and wastes time. Try these techniques to optimize your speed:
Temporarily Disable Encryption
Modern VPNs use strong encryption to secure your connection, but this encryption requires extra processing power that can slow speeds. Could you try toggling encryption off to see if your raw rates improve without it enabled? This can help determine if encryption is the culprit.
Change VPN Protocol
Specific VPN protocols like OpenVPN are faster than alternatives like IKEv2 or SSTP. You can experiment with different protocol options in your VPN client to see if one offers superior performance over others on your home and office networks.
Connect to Different Endpoints
The physical distance and amount of hops between your location and the VPN endpoint server
Avoid Bandwidth-Intensive Apps
Downloading large files, watching high-resolution video, and streaming music can saturate your available home broadband and WiFi router’s bandwidth, affecting your VPN performance. Minimize the use of these types of apps when connected over the VPN.
Check for ISP Throttling
Some Internet service providers actively throttle back connections identified as VPN traffic. Try connecting your computer directly to your broadband modem and bypassing the router to see if speeds improve, which indicates router-level throttling.
Update Network Adapter Drivers
Outdated drivers for your operating system’s network adapters can hamper performance. You can search for and install updated drivers offered by your hardware manufacturers or OS providers.
By making these VPN speed adjustments, you can troubleshoot and resolve most throughput and latency issues that create slow, grinding connections that
Frequent VPN Disconnections
While brief intermittent VPN disconnects are regular, frequent, sustained connection drops can make it nearly impossible to get things done. There are a few ways to troubleshoot frequent random disconnections:
Reboot Devices
Sometimes, simply power cycling your computer, modem, WiFi router, and other network components can clear up flakey behavior, disrupting your VPN connectivity. Rebooting refreshes things to a clean state.
Verify Account Status
Could you check whether your IT team or provider has deactivated or blocked your VPN account, especially if you were recently locked out due to security policies? You may need to request reactivation before you can reconnect.
Install Latest Updates
Download and run the newest version of your VPN client and server software in case recent updates include fixes for reliability bugs causing disconnects. Updates often target connection issues.
Adjust Firewall Settings
Your operating system, antivirus, and network security tools may block your VPN connection after running stable. Add your VPN client to the firewall allowlists to prevent intermittent blocks.
Renew IP Address
Release and renew the IP address assigned to your computer or router from your ISP’s DHCP server if your current IP has issues sustaining a VPN. In Windows, use “ipconfig /release” and “ipconfig /renew.”
Conclusion
VPNs are a vital tool for remote employee flexibility and productivity. However, even minor connection problems can render them unusable and lead to frustration. By employing these VPN troubleshooting techniques, you can swiftly get your VPN working correctly again and resume being a reliably connected and engaged remote worker. Feel free to recruit help from your tech support services if your issues resist troubleshooting – resolving VPN problems is their job.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a VPN, and why is it essential for remote work?
A VPN creates a secure connection over the internet, allowing remote workers to access company resources safely.
How can I resolve a failed VPN connection?
Please check your VPN software for updates, turn off conflicting apps, verify log in credentials, and ensure you use a modern VPN protocol.
Why is my VPN connection slow?
Slow VPN connections can be due to encryption overhead, distance from the VPN server, bandwidth-intensive apps, or ISP throttling.
Can I improve my VPN speed?
Yes, by changing the VPN protocol, connecting to a closer server, minimizing bandwidth-heavy activities, and updating network drivers.
What causes frequent VPN disconnections?
This can be due to network instability, outdated VPN software, incorrect firewall settings, or issues with your ISP.
How do I fix frequent VPN disconnections?
Try rebooting your devices, verifying your VPN account status, installing the latest updates, adjusting firewall settings, and renewing your IP address.
Is it safe to turn off encryption on my VPN?
Disabling encryption can improve speed but reduces security. It should only be done temporarily to diagnose speed issues.
What are the best VPN protocols for speed?
OpenVPN is generally faster and more secure than alternatives like IKEv2 or SSTP.
How do I check if my VPN software is up to date?
You can visit your VPN provider’s website or check the software settings for the latest version updates.
Can antivirus software interfere with VPN connections?
Antivirus and firewall applications can sometimes block VPN connections and must be configured to allow it.
What do you think I should do if my VPN issues persist after troubleshooting?
Please contact your tech support services or VPN provider for further assistance.
Do you know how I can prevent VPN issues in the future?
Please update your VPN software regularly, maintain a stable internet connection, and follow best practices for network security.
Is it necessary to use a VPN for all online activities?
While not necessary for all activities, a VPN is recommended for accessing sensitive company resources remotely.
Can using a VPN affect my internet speed?
Yes, VPNs can sometimes slow down your internet speed due to encryption and the distance to the VPN server.
What are the security risks of using outdated VPN protocols?
Outdated protocols like PPTP are vulnerable to security breaches and should be avoided.
How do I know if my ISP is throttling my VPN connection?
If your internet speed improves when connected directly to the modem, it may indicate ISP throttling.
Do you know if I can use a VPN on multiple devices?
Most VPN providers allow you to use their service on multiple devices simultaneously.
What is the difference between a VPN and a proxy?
A VPN encrypts your internet connection, while a proxy only redirects specific web traffic.
How often should I update my VPN client?
Please check for updates to ensure you have the latest security patches and performance improvements.
