Sentrly
VPN Best Practices for Work and Travel
A practical checklist for digital nomads, frequent fliers, and remote teams.
For remote work and travel, choose an audited VPN, enable the kill switch, use the WireGuard protocol where available, and connect before you join unfamiliar Wi-Fi. Keep a second backup provider so you’re never stuck if one is blocked.
Key takeaways
- Always connect to the VPN before joining the network, not after.
- Turn on the kill switch so traffic never leaks if the tunnel drops.
- Pick the nearest server unless you specifically need another country.
- Keep a backup provider; some networks block specific VPN endpoints.
Before you leave home
Install your VPN on every device you’re taking. Sign in, run a test connection, and verify your kill switch is on. Save the support number or chat URL somewhere you can reach without the VPN — for example as a saved offline note.
On the move
Phones tend to auto-join known networks. In airports, that can mean joining a network with the same name as last month’s but run by someone else. Forget old public networks before you travel.
At the destination
Hotel networks frequently throttle or block VPNs. Most quality providers offer obfuscated or ‘stealth’ servers for these situations. If one server doesn’t connect, switch to another.
A short checklist
1) Two providers installed, 2) Kill switch on, 3) DNS leak protection on, 4) Auto-connect on untrusted networks, 5) Up-to-date apps on every device.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a VPN at the office?
Not for company traffic — your employer manages that. A personal VPN can still help if you use the office network for personal browsing and want to keep that private.
Should the VPN be on 24/7?
It’s a reasonable default if you value privacy. Some banking and government sites block VPN ranges, so split-tunnel exceptions are useful.
Will a VPN slow my video calls?
A nearby server on WireGuard usually adds only a few milliseconds. Distant servers can hurt call quality.
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