Telecom
Things to Consider Before Choosing an IP VPN Service Provider

You want secure networks for your organization. Currently, you’re using VPNs. But you’ve been told that IP VPNs are an even better option, as they offer extra protection against security risks.
Now you’re wondering whether you should transit to IP VPN or stick with what you currently use. Maybe you don’t know much about the new option, and you’re not conversant with your existing solution either. What’s the superior alternative? What should you go with?
This article is a guide to answering these questions.
Let’s begin by explaining some of the terms involved.
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a number that is given to every device that connects to the internet. It’s like a ‘name’ or means of identification for each device; no two devices bear the same number.
Besides identifying the device (and, by extension, its user), it also indicates the location of the user and their device. For instance, you can tell what country a person is in through their IP address.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a network setup that lets its users connect to their organizations’ internal network remotely via the public internet. It makes it possible for employees to access their company’s shared files from locations outside its physical offices.
An IP VPN functions in a similar way to a regular VPN. But there’s at least one difference: IP VPN connects to internal networks via private gateways, rather than the public internet.
How IP VPN Works
IP VPN utilizes something called Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) to allow the user to get to their organization’s intranet while avoiding the public internet.
The MPLS sorts the bits of data passing through the World Wide Web into appropriate groups—video, voice, or images for instance. It also speeds up the transmission of these data to their destination.
Why Choose an IP VPN Instead of a VPN?
An IP VPN can help you expand your bandwidth and increase uptimes for your applications. It’s not as susceptible to DoS (Denial of Service) attacks as a regular VPN. Because it functions away from the public internet, it’s not vulnerable to many of the threats that come through the broader web.
What to Consider Before Choosing an IP VPN Provider
Many firms offer IP VPN as a product. But they won’t all give you the same quality of service. That’s why you need to know what to look out for when prospecting for a service provider in this area.
Here are some things you should consider.
- Security
This is one reason why you want to get an IP VPN in the first place, so you should be sure that your vendor’s offering will guarantee it. If you find that the details related to this are too technical, you should ask your IT team to look at what’s being offered. They may spot defective aspects of the product, or give it an all-clear, depending on the results of their assessment.
- Speed
Your IP VPN should give you the advantage of a higher speed connection, compared to the public internet. Several factors will affect the speed of your network, including some localized to your organization or location. But it may be a function of the quality that a vendor can provide. So you should consider the reputation of various vendors in this area before deciding which one you will go with.
- User Friendliness
Can you use the service without much help? Or is it so complex that you require a technician to help you with it?
Your IP VPN should give you good user experience. The fact that it’s somewhat advanced technology isn’t an excuse for complexity. If you can’t navigate it yourself after a few tries, it’s probably not worth your while.
- Access
This service lets you connect all your business locations to your organization’s internal files and other resources. A high-grade IP VPN should enable you to achieve quick access to your business’s intranet regardless of where you are.
- Price
It’s important to compare prices too, where you can. Look for an IP VPN provider that gives the best balance of price and quality that matches your needs. On one hand, unusually low prices may indicate less than optimal product quality. But there may be a less expensive option than the pricey IP VPN services that are just as effective.
- Support
What happens if you run into some difficulty while using an IP VPN? Is the service provider always available to take on your requests for help?
Support is an important part of any IT vendor’s package. They should have resources that cover the issues you are most likely to encounter while using their service. You should also be able to speak with their agents when this is the more helpful thing to do.
Should You Choose a VPN or IP VPN?
You can settle with a regular VPN if:
- You are a small business with little need for the sort of expanded bandwidth that IP VPN gives.
- You don’t have a lot of staff working remotely.
- There’s no significant IT security threat.
Consider using an IP VPN if you meet these criteria:
- You are a medium or large scale business that has to deal with a lot of traffic on your networks.
- A lot of your employees work remotely.
- There’s a potential but significant IT security threat to your organization.
Final Words
There’s a lot that Virtual Private Networks can do for your company. With IP VPNs you can achieve even more. Whether it’s securing your banking details or raising the efficiency of your VoIP systems, this technology can make your operations much easier and more secure.
When you weigh up your options for an IP VPN service provider, you’ll certainly prefer one that’s been around for a while. You will also want them to know the peculiarities of the environment you work in.
That’s what you get with Layer3. For over 14 years, we have helped organizations in the public and private sectors with IT solutions they need to function optimally. We bring this experience to bear in our delivery of IP VPN services. Our team can deploy one that suits your specific needs, and provide expert management and support along with it.
If you would like to find out more about our access solutions, you can contact us here.
Telecom
Paradigm Initiative Warns of AI-Driven Hate Speech, Urges Global Tech Reform

As the world commemorates the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is calling on big tech companies to intensify their efforts in combating online hate speech and ensuring respect for fundamental human rights.
PIN’s 2024 Londa report highlights the widespread prevalence of hate speech online. In Angola, for instance, at least 25 content removal requests were made in connection with hate speech, harassment, and political misinformation. Globally, the consequences of unchecked hate speech have been severe—ranging from incitement to violence and heightened ethnic tensions to the targeting of vulnerable communities, including minorities, women, and foreigners.
Nigeria witnessed a tragic example in 2018 when a Facebook post showing a massacre in Plateau State was viewed more than 11,000 times, triggering ethnic conflict and resulting in fatalities. In South Africa, inadequate content moderation has worsened the problem, while in Ethiopia in 2021, a false Facebook post led to the killing of a man wrongly implicated in a scandal. India saw a surge in hate speech during its elections.
PIN notes that actors behind hate speech are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often leveraging technologies like artificial intelligence to boost visibility. Meanwhile, existing moderation systems—especially for non-English content—struggle to keep up.
Bridgette Ndlovu, PIN’s Partnerships and Engagements Officer, said, “Hate speech online is a direct attack on the dignity and safety of individuals.” She urged technology companies to adopt transparent and effective moderation strategies and to prioritize human rights in their operations.
The spread of hate speech raises complex challenges for lawmakers. Governments are trying to regulate harmful content such as misinformation and harassment while protecting freedom of speech. However, PIN warns that hate speech laws should not be misused to arbitrarily detain human rights defenders or stifle dissenting voices.
To address these concerns, PIN recommends that tech companies invest more in moderating non-English content to reflect local nuances, improve transparency around government takedown requests, promote digital literacy—particularly in underserved regions—and conduct regular human rights due diligence, aligned with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Telecom
Moniepoint Deepens Commitment to Africa’s Future Through Education and Innovation

Moniepoint Inc, one of Africa’s leading financial institutions partnered with the Mega Impact Foundation to support the 5th edition of the NextGen Connect Interschool Oratory Competition in Asaba, Delta state. This collaboration showcases Moniepoint’s unwavering commitment to youth empowerment and human capital development across the African continent.
The competition, which was held commemoratively to celebrate this year’s International Day of the Boy Child, brought together SS2 students from across Delta State to address the critical theme: “The Role of Financial Inclusion and Technology in Shaping a Brighter Future for Young People in Africa.” Moniepont has received critical acclaim over its core mission of advancing financial inclusion through innovative digital financial technology solutions and payment services..
The oratory competition showcased exceptional talent among Nigeria’s youth, with Otovo Praise of Crystalloid International School emerging as the champion. His outstanding performance earned him a full-year scholarship through the Tosin Eniolorunda STEM Foundation, reflecting Moniepoint’s philosophy of investing in educational excellence. Second-place winner Audi Innocent of St Patrick’s College received ₦300,000, while third-place winner, Asher David of Glorious Kids Academy was awarded ₦200,000.
“At Moniepoint, we believe that driving sustainable innovation begins with future-proofing and expanding the talent pool by empowering the next generation with the tools that they need to succeed especially basic literacy skills which remain fundamental pillars in socio-economic development,” said Tosin Eniolorunda, CEO Moniepoint Inc. “These young voices represent the future of African leadership, and their insights into financial inclusion and technology demonstrate the remarkable potential that exists within our communities. Through our various educational and developmental initiatives such as the CAD/CAM lab we donated to OAU last year or the Moniepoint DreamDevs programme, we are betting big on an investment in Africa’s future.”
The initiative extends beyond monetary rewards, creating meaningful platforms for young people to express their ideas on a global stage. Through its support of the NextGen Connect Conference and Tech-In-School conversations, Moniepoint is fostering an environment where youth can develop critical thinking skills, build confidence, and engage with pressing societal issues.
In her remarks, Founder, Mega Impact Foundation, Florence Ogonegbu said that “we reaffirm our commitment to building an Africa where every young person has simplified access to sustainable education, capacity building, and empowerment. By leveraging technology and local initiatives, we are creating platforms that enable our youth to thrive and transform their communities.
“Together with partners like Moniepoint, we are not just shaping futures—we are driving a movement for social development that will resonate globally. Every boy, every young person, deserves the opportunity to unlock their full potential and drive lasting impact across our continent.”
The competition received additional support from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Delta State, highlighting the collaborative approach required to nurture young talent effectively.
Telecom
Zoho Unveils Zia Hubs to Harness AI Insights from Unstructured Business Data

Zoho, a global technology company, today launched Zia Hubs, a solution within Zoho WorkDrive that brings new forms of unstructured business data into the company’s broad portfolio of applications and AI services. Using Zia Hubs, organisations can now present any type of business content to Zoho’s powerful capabilities and services—including agentic AI, comprehensive analysis, and accurate, unified search—regardless of file format or structure.
“According to IDC, 80 percent of business data is unstructured,” said Kehinde Ogundare, Country Head, Zoho Nigeria. “Most unstructured data is text-based, meaning pertinent information lives within email conversations, social media posts, word processor documents, or audio and video transcripts. With Zia Hubs built into the full product suite, Zoho can provide customers with a deeper integration than any comparable software platform and nearly limitless potential uses for their data.”
Deeper Intelligence Accessing More Customer Data
Launching as part of Zoho WorkDrive, Zia Hubs brings content intelligence to the company’s unified content management and collaboration platform. Designed with a high level of user control over what content AI is allowed to access, Zia Hubs enables users to organise project or task-specific content into dedicated hubs within WorkDrive. Each hub serves as a focused space where Zia, Zoho’s flagship AI, can understand and act on the content stored within. This includes a wide range of formats such as PDFs, documents, videos, and audio files.
Zia Hubs automatically organises uploaded content by grouping related information—such as section headings, supporting text, and visuals—to preserve context. For video and audio files, Zia generates transcripts and links key moments to relevant topics, making it easier to pinpoint exactly where something was said.
With Zia Hubs, users can surface the most relevant answers when asked a question, even across different content formats. Each response includes clear citations that link back to the original content, whether it is a document, spreadsheet, image, or a specific moment in an audio or video file.
Organisations can also create custom workflows with Zoho Flow, automating document storage processes for particular projects or specific teams. This ensures that Zia always has access to the latest necessary documents automatically.
Furthermore, content from third-party software—such as Docusign PDFs, RingCentral call logs, Zoom video files—are all readable by Zia, and can be automatically placed into a hub by building a workflow with Zoho Flow.
From Intelligent Content to Intelligent Action with Zia
Zia Hubs is a foundational element of Zoho’s long-term AI strategy. It lays the groundwork for a future where intelligent agents can act contextually on content across the company’s entire product suite. With full ownership of its technology stack spanning more than 55 products, Zoho is uniquely positioned to help organisations unlock deeper value from their business content compared to competitors.
Potential use cases for Zia Hubs include: a legal team’s content hub hosting a case’s relevant files: court files, correspondence, and research, allowing a lawyer to have Zia provide summaries with citations without having to manually scan lengthy files to gain insights; a company’s support center placing call logs into a hub, then querying Zia to identify trends, like, “Have we received an increase in calls regarding specific issues?”
Future updates to Zia Hubs will enable it to identify structured information within unstructured files and trigger specialised agents tailored to specific business needs. This will further establish Zia Hubs as the central content intelligence layer that activates AI-native workflows across the full Zoho ecosystem.
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