Security team monitoring computer screens representing IoT security operations

Private APN for IoT devices

What is a private APN?

A private APN (Access Point Name) is a dedicated gateway between the mobile network and your own systems. Instead of reaching the public internet, your IoT devices connect through a closed network that only your organisation uses, so their traffic stays isolated and under your control.

How Com4’s private APN works

With Com4’s private APN, your IoT devices connect to an isolated, private network instead of the open internet. From there they reach exactly the resources you choose: the internet, your corporate network, data centres or cloud environments.

Only authorised devices and networks can communicate, which protects your data from unauthorised access. VPN tunnels add encryption on top, so data stays protected all the way from the device to your backend systems.

Data can travel through encrypted VPN tunnels or dedicated connections, and flexible VPN configurations support multiple access points, so the setup can follow how your own network is built.

Talk to an IoT expert

Devices that must stay off the internet

Smart meters, alarm panels, payment terminals and industrial controllers should not be reachable from the public internet.

Direct access to your own systems

Send device data straight to your servers, data centre or cloud platform without it passing over the public internet.

Central control over traffic

Decide which networks and services your devices may talk to, and keep that policy the same for every SIM.

Discover the Power of IoT with Com4’s Exclusive Free Test Kit

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Ready to revolutionize your Internet of Things journey? Com4 invites you to experience the future with our Free IoT Test Kit – a gateway to seamless connectivity and unparalleled possibilities.

The Free IoT Test Kit includes:

Up to 5 SIM cards per applicant
100 MB of data per SIM per month, usable within the EU
A 60-day validity period
Possibility to include eSIM form factor
Support for multiple technologies, including 2G/3G/4G/5G, LTE-M, and NB-IoT, all within a single SIM

Order a Free Test Kit

Private APN Access

Provides a secure, isolated network for your IoT devices, allowing safe communication and access to essential resources.

VPN Security

Enhances your IoT security with encrypted VPN tunnels, safeguarding data from cyber threats and unauthorized access.

IPsec

Whether you're managing thousands of sensors or deploying mission-critical industrial systems, IPsec secure communication ensures confidentiality, integrity, and trusted network access.

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A private APN is a dedicated access point that connects IoT devices on the mobile network to a closed, private network instead of the public internet. Only your organisation’s devices and systems use it, so traffic stays isolated and easier to secure.

A public APN sends device traffic to the open internet, on a network shared with many other users. A private APN sends it into a network reserved for your organisation, where you decide which systems devices can reach.

Usually, yes. The private APN keeps traffic separate from the internet, and a VPN, for example with IPsec, encrypts it on the way between the mobile network and your own systems. Most deployments use both.

Devices that handle sensitive data or control equipment, such as smart meters, alarm panels, payment terminals, industrial controllers and connected medical devices.

Yes. A private APN can route device traffic to your data centre or to cloud environments. See Cloud Connect for direct connections to cloud platforms.

Talk to us about a private APN

Every private APN setup depends on where your data needs to go and how your network is built. Tell us about your devices and systems, and our IoT experts will help you design the right setup together with Com4’s global IoT SIM cards.

Want the wider picture? Read more about IoT security at Com4.

Talk to an IoT expert

Private APN for IoT devices

What is a private APN?

A private APN (Access Point Name) is a dedicated gateway between the mobile network and your own systems. Instead of reaching the public internet, your IoT devices connect through a closed network that only your organisation uses, so their traffic stays isolated and under your control.

How Com4’s private APN works

When do you need a private APN?

Devices that must stay off the internet

Direct access to your own systems

Central control over traffic

Discover the Power of IoT with Com4’s Exclusive Free Test Kit

The Free IoT Test Kit includes:

Private APN with VPN and IPsec

Private APN Access

VPN Security

IPsec

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Private APN FAQ

What is a private APN?

What is the difference between a private APN and a public APN?

Do I need a VPN with a private APN?

Which IoT devices benefit most from a private APN?

Can a private APN connect to cloud platforms?

Talk to us about a private APN