When is VPN (*not VPS*) useful?

I've been reading up on Virtual Private Networks (VPN), and am wondering how they are different from simple Internet access that's encrypted. (https)

Let's say you have 100 computers located in different geographical areas that need to connect to a central server (and perhaps each other as well) from across the Internet, using a regular web browser (let's say the connections would need to be secured). What is the advantage to using a VPN over simply encrypting all communication between the web browsers and servers? Or is the latter actually what a VPN is?

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

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