I’m an IoT Systems Engineer, and I’ve been using a VPN for over two years now. My job involves connected devices, cloud platforms, and distributed networks.
To begin with, I worked in the office. I work for a big company, so the dedicated IT and security team handled most of my day-to-day security concerns.
However, my responsibilities increased, and my role became more flexible. Like many engineers, I started splitting my time between the office and home. Later, I also found myself working from airports, cafés, and hotels.
I signed up for a VPN free trial to keep my network secure when working remotely. It worked to encrypt my network and continues, today, to help me work from anywhere. But now, over two years in, do I still consider the VPN worth the price?
2 Years In, What Has Changed?
In two years, the way I think about cybersecurity has completely changed. I was already aware that cybersecurity moves fast and that cybercriminals can move even faster. However, I underestimated just how far cybercrime had advanced in the last few years.
Cybersecurity Has Further Advanced
From sophisticated phishing attempts to AI-automated vulnerability discovery, I’m fortunate not to have fallen for a new-age attack. I became especially relieved when I looked at the IoT hacking statistics for 2025. There were around 820,000 IoT hack attempts per day, reflecting a 46% increase from 2024.
Understanding the extent of cybercrime in 2026, I am grateful for cybersecurity tools that keep pace with new threats.
My Responsibilities Have Grown
In addition to the fast evolution of cybercrime, the number of accounts and credentials I became responsible for increased. I was becoming a more attractive target for cybercriminals than I had been just two years earlier.
The fact that I have yet to experience a security breach is something I credit, at least in part, to the tools I’ve put in place. Cybersecurity isn’t always obvious in the moment.
Tools such as VPNs work silently in the background, which makes attack attempts feel uneventful. But now, after two years, I can appreciate the cumulative value of my cybersecurity measures.
Features That Accumulated Value
So, what is the value of NordVPN? The tool is surprisingly multifunctional and provides security in areas I didn’t think it could.
First off, it surpasses expectations in creating an encrypted tunnel for my internet traffic. NordVPN operates a server network of thousands of VPN servers covering 224+ locations, giving me consistent performance and routing flexibility wherever I connect from.
As someone who occasionally travels for work purposes, the infrastructure provides me with the reliable access I need.
Much to my surprise, NordVPN also doubles up as an effective protection tool. NordVPN’s next-gen tool blocks trackers, malicious sites, and intrusive ads at the network level — covering use cases that would otherwise require a separate ad blocker or anti-malware tool.
I regularly have to download firmware packages, vendor utilities, SDKs, development tools, and general documentation.
NordVPN’s next-gen antivirus scans these files before I download them to check for known malware or viruses.
Additionally, I’ve found myself increasingly reliant on the Meshnet feature. It allows me to remotely test devices, systems, and environments without exposing vital company data to public Wi-Fi.
Specific Catches and Saves
NordVPN’s Dark Web Monitor continuously scans breach databases for exposed credentials linked to user accounts.
Recent headlines portray the magnitude of the problem. In June 2026, researchers found a dataset containing 124 million passwords and 56 million email addresses.
In the past two years, NordVPN has sent me alerts on four separate occasions. These alerts informed me that breach-related datasets contained credentials tied to accounts I was responsible for.
None of the four incidents resulted in a major compromise. However, so as not to take any risks, I changed relevant passwords and reviewed account security.
If NordVPN had not alerted me, any one of these situations could have gone unnoticed for months. A hacker could have picked up these credentials and used them in a credential-stuffing attack. The early warning allowed me to take action before a hacker could.
The Decision Math at Year 2
NordVPN grows in value over time.
On top of continuous encryption, it has safeguarded me against cybercriminals through its various additional features.
I like to think of it as a collection of services rather than just a VPN.
What I’d pay for threat protection, dark web monitoring, and a meshnet individually would far exceed the price of NordVPN.
NordVPN reduces both the cost and the management burden of cybersecurity.
Would I Keep Paying?
Yes, I would keep paying for NordVPN. In the coming years, hackers are only going to become more sophisticated.
To prepare, I want a tool that is continuously on the lookout for threats. I also want a tool that adapts as new threats emerge.
Over the last two years, NordVPN has provided the service I downloaded it for. It has also safeguarded me from everything from malicious links to credential-stuffing attacks.
Overall, the tool has maintained its original value while also increasing in usefulness as time has gone on.
