Common Factors that Affect the Speed of a VPN

Many users are turning to personal Virtual Private Networks to enhance security on their networking devices. As a result, many providers are offering these services. Not all providers are able to offer the same level of support or even the same degree of security. Users have to do research on the various providers before making their decision. However, without knowing what features they are looking for, they can inadvertently pick a provider who is unable to meet their specific needs.

Speed is one of the top factors that users consider when they choose a VPN provider. Not all providers can offer top speeds. However, it is not always the fault of the VPN provider when the VPN fails to perform at optimum speed. Sometimes, the fault lies with the user or their Internet Service Provider. To understand why speed can vary, it is important for users to have a better understanding of what factors affect speed.

In addition to the VPN service provider, there are three main factors that can affect the speed level of a VPN.

• Internet Service Provider (ISP) – The speed of a VPN largely depends upon the speed of the user’s ISP. If the ISP is unable to offer users a lightening fast connection, users should not expect the VPN to overcome this. The VPN relies on the ISP as a means of transmitting data. This is a common misconception that users have. The VPN will work in conjunction with the user’s ISP. It will not be able to bypass it.

• User’s Distance from VPN Servers – It is recommended that a VPN provider have many server locations is so that users do not experience connection problems. The greater the distance from the server, the more likely the user is to experience problems with speed and connectivity. To prevent these issues from occurring, users should research the location of the server placement of the provider that they are considering.

• VPN Protocol Choice – The choice of a VPN protocol also plays a significant role in the speed of a VPN. Some protocols such as OpenVPN and PPTP are faster than others – namely L2TP/IPsec. The speed is affected by the encryption level. L2TP/IPsec is often slower than the others because it encapsulates the data twice. Users should keep varying speed differences in mind when choosing a protocol.

The VPN service provider may also experience slower speeds if they rely on outsourcing as a method of offering services. Providers, who opt to maintain their own servers, write their own codes and maintain their hardware will be able to offer faster connections than those who do not. When looking for a suitable VPN, users should always choose a VPN that is able to offer the fastest speeds and guarantee connection.