Pentingnya Kesadaran Keamanan Siber Melalui Pemanfaatan Teknologi VPN dan Pemahaman Enkripsi untuk Perlindungan Data

Abstract

Transformasi digital yang pesat menuntut peningkatan literasi keamanan siber, khususnya di lingkungan akademik. Program pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini dilaksanakan untuk menjawab tantangan rendahnya kesadaran dan keterampilan Civitas Akademika Universitas XYZ dalam menggunakan teknologi jaringan yang aman. Melalui pelatihan intensif yang mencakup pengenalan dasar keamanan jaringan, jenis-jenis Virtual Private Network (VPN) seperti L2TP, IPsec, dan WireGuard, serta praktik konfigurasi, program ini berhasil meningkatkan pemahaman dan keterampilan peserta. Evaluasi pre-test dan post-test menunjukkan peningkatan skor sebesar 31,35%, dan lebih dari 75% peserta mampu mengaplikasikan VPN dalam aktivitas harian. Pelatihan ini membuktikan bahwa pendekatan edukatif berbasis praktik mampu meningkatkan kesadaran siber dan memberikan dampak nyata terhadap keamanan digital di lingkungan akademik.

The rapid digital transformation necessitates an increase in cybersecurity literacy, particularly in academic environments. This community service program was conducted to address the challenge of a lack of awareness and skills among the academic community of Universitas Muhammadiyah Ahmad Dahlan Cirebon in using secure network technology. This problem was identified through initial observations, which found that despite the widespread use of the internet and digital devices, an in-depth understanding of network security concepts and VPNs was still limited. Through intensive training that included an introduction to network security fundamentals, different types of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) such as L2TP, IPsec, and WireGuard, and configuration practices, the program successfully improved participants' understanding and skills. The evaluation of pre-tests and post-tests showed a score increase of 31.35%. Additionally, more than 75% of participants were able to apply VPNs in their daily activities. This training proves that a practice-based educational approach can increase cyber awareness and provide a tangible impact on digital security in the academic environment.