When your VPN disconnects during video calls, it usually means the secure connection between your device and your company's network is dropping. This interruption can happen because video calls use a lot of internet bandwidth and require stable, continuous data flow, which can strain or conflict with the VPN's encryption process. Simply put, your VPN may not be able to keep up with the demands of a high-quality video call, causing it to disconnect unexpectedly.
Why this matters for Australian SMBs
For small and mid-sized businesses in Australia, these VPN dropouts can disrupt workflows, reduce staff productivity, and increase frustration. If employees lose connection during client meetings or internal collaboration sessions, it can delay decisions and harm customer trust. Additionally, if your VPN disconnects, your data may temporarily travel over an unsecured network, increasing cyber risk and potentially exposing sensitive business or customer information.
A common scenario
Consider a 50-person accounting firm in Melbourne. Staff regularly use video conferencing tools to meet clients and collaborate internally while connected to the company VPN for secure access to financial systems. When multiple employees join video calls simultaneously, the VPN connection becomes unstable and drops, interrupting meetings and forcing staff to reconnect repeatedly. The firm's IT partner investigates and finds the VPN server is overloaded and the network bandwidth is insufficient to handle simultaneous encrypted video streams. They recommend upgrading the VPN infrastructure and adjusting settings to prioritise video traffic, which stabilises connections and improves overall user experience.
Checklist: What you can do now
- Ask your IT provider: How is our VPN configured to handle high-bandwidth activities like video calls? Can the VPN support multiple simultaneous users without dropping?
- Check your internet bandwidth: Is your current internet plan sufficient for your business's combined VPN and video call usage?
- Review VPN server capacity: Is the VPN server overloaded or outdated? Can it be upgraded or load-balanced?
- Evaluate VPN protocol: Some VPN protocols handle video traffic better than others. Ask if your provider can optimise or switch protocols.
- Test split tunnelling: This allows non-sensitive traffic (like video calls) to bypass the VPN, reducing load and improving stability.
- Monitor network performance: Use simple tools or ask your IT partner to track VPN uptime and bandwidth during peak video call times.
- Ensure up-to-date software: Keep VPN clients and video conferencing apps updated to avoid compatibility issues.
VPN disconnections during video calls are a common challenge but can be managed effectively with the right network setup and ongoing monitoring. If your business experiences this issue, it's worthwhile to discuss your current VPN and network configuration with a trusted managed IT provider. They can assess your infrastructure, recommend improvements, and help maintain a secure and reliable connection that supports your team's productivity and your clients' expectations.