A virtual private network (VPN) creates an encrypted tunnel to a server you select, then forwards your connection request to the destination address — hiding, or ‘spoofing’ your actual address — and encrypting the content of your message(s). So-called smart DNS, or DNS filtering, doesn’t hide your IP address or encrypt your traffic, but reroutes your requests through a proxy server, providing a safe route. Easy to implement and more cost effective than VPN, DNS filtering is an essential component of business cybersecurity.