The SBCN’s Linda Ockwell-Jenner and Ashley Griffin from Griffcom discussed VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), explaining their importance for small businesses, particularly those with remote workers. A VPN creates a secure, encrypted connection between a device and an office, protecting data when accessing it remotely. While VPNs have been around for decades, mobile VPN technology has become more prevalent and efficient. Essentially, a VPN allows businesses to securely access their data, regardless of location, and Ashley highlights the irony that smaller businesses often need this security more than larger ones. Finally, Ashley emphasizes the importance of owning your data, advising against relying solely on cloud services like Google Docs.