Photo by Petter Lagson on Unsplash
However, you might not want to use a third-party provider for your VPN. There might be several reasons behind this decision, the most popular one being privacy concerns. Lots of people are hesitant about using third-party providers for VPNs because they don’t want their sensitive information to be dealt with by other parties.
Let’s take a look into installing your own VPN server on the cloud.
Why should I create my own VPN?
Even though this is a less popular approach in the age of an abundance of VPN providers, creating your own VPN also has some advantages.
Only you’ll deal with your private data
If you use a VPN provider’s VPN server, you will be routing your traffic through their cloud. Even though there are many trustworthy VPN providers out there, this might not be the ideal approach for everyone. When you set up your own server, you cut away the middleman, and only you deal with your sensitive data.
You’ll save money
Especially if you are using a premium Fast VPN service, there is a high chance that you will need to pay high fees. If you are not getting a VPN for a big organization, that spending might feel like a waste of money.
However, making your own VPN costs little to nothing, it just requires some setup time. Some cloud service providers even provide free, fully functional server hosting or generous sign-up credits for you to create your own VPN server on the cloud.
You’ll learn a lot!
Although setting up your own VPN only requires a basic understanding of computers, the procedure will introduce you to many IT-related terms and technology. If you are looking to improve yourself in cybersecurity and IT, this is a great chance!
You’ll have fewer bad neighbors
The bad neighbor effect is one of the annoyances of using a VPN or another shared service. Another potential benefit of creating your own VPN is that you won’t share your VPN IP address with many other people. This means there’s less likelihood of websites bothering you with captchas and you won’t be banned from websites for other people’s actions.
If you are not interested in having to build your own VPN server for the cloud and want to use a reliable and premium service instead, then click here.
What do you need to build your own VPN server?
All it takes to establish a VPN on the cloud is to build an encrypted tunnel from your device to your cloud server. By doing this, your cloud server’s issued IP address will effectively take the place of your actual IP address. Your traffic will be sent through an encrypted tunnel and this will prevent unauthorized parties from accessing your data. You will then be able to use the internet without ever having your traffic traced back to you.
A few things to keep in mind before you venture into building your own VPN: Remember that although it gives you complete control and customization, it requires technical expertise and upfront costs. A cloud VPN provider, as explained, is easier to set up and use but involves trust in the provider and may have limitations on customization and control. When choosing a provider, it’s essential to consider their reputation, security features, and server locations. Ultimately, the choice depends on your specific needs and priorities.
Building your own VPN server is doable, but it takes some effort. So let’s look at the main tool you need to build your own VPN server.
Virtual private server (VPS)
A virtual private server, or VPS, is a physical server that is controlled and maintained by a cloud or web hosting company. It serves as a virtualized and isolated environment. Using virtualization technology, many private server environments can be created on a single physical computer using VPS hosting and sharing the same resources.
You’ll need to install your self-hosted VPN somewhere. Virtual private servers might be useful in this situation. Hosting on virtual private servers offers a comparable experience to dedicated hosting without the high expenses and administrative burden of a dedicated server. There are a lot of virtual private servers out there, so you should make sure to pick a cloud service provider that fits your requirements and price range.
Things to pay attention to while installing your own VPN server
Personalize the security options
Assuring the greatest level of security is a crucial step in the setup process. You should always make sure that you have the most secure settings selected. The default settings that your cloud provider had set up might not be the most secure ones. Because of this, cybercriminals will find it easy to access your data.
Pay attention to the location you are renting your server through
Setting up your own VPN might not give you the same geoblock bypassing options as a VPN from a provider. You will only have the option to use your VPN server in the country that you rented your virtual service provider through. Even though you can rent a server in another country, that will cost you extra money and you might not want to have that as a regular practice.
FAQ about installing your own VPN server
What is the price of building a VPN?
Building a VPN will either be at no cost or will cost you a nominal amount, this depends on the creation mode you select. If you’d like to build your VPN using cloud servers, it will either be free or require a monthly premium membership.
Generally speaking, you can build your VPN for a little more than $5–$10. This generally refers to the price of renting a cloud server. The remaining tasks are free and simple.
Does a VPN cause internet lag?
Despite its advantages, some users are hesitant to utilize VPNs because they think they have a detrimental effect on their internet connection’s performance. That’s not entirely incorrect. Your internet speed may be affected by the VPN protocol you use, the encryption procedure, and the distance to the server.
So, your internet may somewhat slow down if your VPN is effective, but not significantly. Most VPN users determine that a tiny performance loss is worth the benefits of VPNs. Some users don’t even notice a performance lag.
Is using a VPN legal?
VPN use is completely legal in the great majority of countries worldwide. There is absolutely no harm in taking precautions to safeguard your online security. Therefore, you shouldn’t be concerned that using a VPN for privacy will land you in legal problems of any kind. However, keep in mind that whether or not you’re utilizing a VPN, participating in criminal activities online is still unlawful.
Final words
Once you know how, building your own VPN server on the cloud is not very difficult. It can be the best option for you if you don’t want to depend on third-party VPN services. Building your own VPN server can make your life much safer and easier by giving you control over your data and ensuring its security.