The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed more businesses online and has changed the world of remote working. Although a company’s cybersecurity has always been important, it is now imperative that businesses around the world have adequate protection for their business networks. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the best way to do this.
Business VPNs don’t just protect your network, but they enable workers to gain remote access to files on the company network. As more of us work from home, it’s essential that we can get secure access to important company data, and a VPN helps to do this.
So, what exactly is a business VPN, and how does it work? A business VPN takes your company’s network data and tunnels it through a layer of encryption to a VPN server. All data sent and received is protected, which means that third parties such as hackers won’t be able to see it. Even if a hacker manages to get through the security, it would be challenging to decrypt the data.
Compared to consumer VPNs, which are created for personal use, business VPNs offer a higher level of security and are intended to protect confidential information and secure your work network. Moreover, business VPNs are more customizable, meaning that you can scale them up, manage permissions, and view employee activity on your network.
Unlike personal VPNs, a business VPN usually provides your company with a dedicated IP address and dedicated server. This means that you and your employees will all have access to the same IP address and server and won’t have to share these with other individual users on a shared server.
Many business VPNs employ cloud-based software, making it a lot easier to set up and manage the VPN. Moreover, many companies provide dedicated business VPN support and account managers who can assist you with any issues that you may have.
There are many reasons why you should get a business VPN, even if you have a small business or are a sole trader. Here are a few of the main reasons why you should use a VPN.
If you have important data on your local network, such as customer details, you must use VPN encryption to protect it. Security breaches on business networks have multiplied in the past decade, with even big companies with advanced security suffering from attacks.
Make sure that you choose a VPN with a high level of encryption, as this will make it harder for third parties to attack and access your network and any confidential information you have stored there.
2020 changed how people work. Now, most company employees are remote workers and are accessing company files and documents from various locations and devices. To ensure that all of your employees can securely connect to your local network, a VPN is essential. A VPN connection guarantees that your team can continue to work in a remote but safe way, accessing data without exposing it.
The majority of business VPNs come with a dedicated client that an account manager has control of this. This allows them to add users and grant new permissions or create teams. It also lets you see what activity on your network consumes the most bandwidth and lets you see what your employees are doing on the internet.
If your business operates overseas, then you may need to access foreign websites for market research. Using a VPN, you can connect to a server in your country of choice, change your IP address, and access different sites. This is a great tool for companies that need to research foreign markets. It also comes in useful for employees who travel abroad for work and may need to access content in their home country while working.
There are many different business VPNs available, with several of the most reputable VPN providers offering dedicated business VPNs. We’ve looked at many different business VPN providers to compile a list of those which work best for sole traders, small businesses, and growing companies.
NordLayer provides an extremely reliable VPN service to businesses that want strong security on their networks.
Nord is a titan in the world of consumer VPNs and extends its fantastic services to businesses. First and foremost, it is one of the best business VPNs, thanks to the incredible level of security it provides networks. Nord employs military-grade encryption and the strongest tunneling protocols to ensure users have a secure connection at all times that will protect them from hackers. Nord also has a strict zero-logs policy, which extends to NordLayer customers.
With Nord’s business VPN, you get a dedicated internal server, and every account gets its own dedicated IP address. You can choose from over 22 server locations across 33 countries. A control panel allows for easier management of users, meaning that you can add and remove employees with just a few clicks and control your network permissions.
Since NordLayer is a cloud VPN, you can easily protect all of your sensitive cloud data while giving your employees secure remote access to cloud documents. Even if users are connected to public wi-fi networks in coffee shops and airports, NordLayer will ensure that they can work securely and still enjoy advanced encryption.
NordLayer offers extra security features to ensure that your data is always protected. The automatic kill switch will kick in whenever your VPN connection goes down to ensure you don’t browse unprotected, and there is an auto-connect feature that will start whenever you are on a new network. There is also third-party authentication, which means you can connect to the platform using existing credentials from other platforms.
NordLayer has dedicated apps for many devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, which means you can get secure access to the internal network on pretty much any device you use.
Nord has dedicated 24/7 support for business VPN customers, promising to get back to customers within 3 hours of contact. There are several communication channels that customers can take advantage of to get support. Pricing depends on the number of individual users you have and other factors. Fortunately, there is a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you time to test out the VPN service to ensure the best fit for your company and its needs.
This cloud-based VPN offers advanced encryption and security to ensure your company data is always secured.
Although Perimeter 81 may offer a small server network with just over 700 VPN servers, it provides the best VPN services for businesses. Firstly, it has a zero-trust network and application access, ensuring that each session and network traffic are monitored to prevent attacks. Moreover, it deploys gateways in different areas to ensure employees can get remote access to the network with fast speeds and prevents data loss.
Perimeter 81 also offers a software-defined perimeter (SDP), allowing you to better control network access, authenticating users and devices. SDP helps you to create secure gateways easily.
With Perimeter 81, there is also two-factor authentication for extra security, and the provider uses the most secure protocols, including OpenVPN and WireGuard, to create a secure encrypted internet connection. While you can see network activity, Perimeter 81 won’t store or share any confidential data relating to your company and its internet use.
With every Perimeter 81 business VPN account, a management portal allows you to add new users to it and scale up the VPN using the cloud software if you wish to do so. You can also see where your employees are connecting from, making it the perfect option for remote working.
Perimeter 81 has dedicated apps for the most popular operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. You can employ its services on all of your devices, which is great if you’re out of the office. There is automatic wi-fi protection, essential for when you’re connecting to public wi-fi networks to access the network.
Business VPN customers get round-the-clock access to 24/7 live chat customer support, and depending on the business plan they purchase, they can get email and phone support too. There are three different plans, and pricing depends per user. Each plan is commitment-free and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, acting as a free trial of sorts.
Not only does VyprVPN offer two business plans, but it manages its own VPN server network for extra security.
VyprVPN performs exceptionally well, offering fast speeds on its servers and giving you access to a global network to help you access foreign content and business tools that may be blocked in your region.
Depending on the VPN plan you pick, you’ll have access to different features. The VyprVPN for Business includes a dedicated account manager and allows for multiple user management, enabling control permissions.
On the VyprVPN for Business Cloud, you get more control of your network. This cloud VPN is simple to set up and can be scaled up or down more easily, making it perfect for small businesses that are growing. It also provides remote workers with secure access to the local network.
There is unlimited bandwidth with VyprVPN, which is extremely important for businesses that consume a lot of data. Security is first-rate since VyprVPN employs military-grade encryption and has extra features in place, such as a kill switch. It also owns and manages its own servers, ensuring that all activity carried out on your network is secured.
With the cloud VPN plan, you can get a dedicated server and IP address whilst still enjoying the 700+ servers that VyprVPN offers its customers. Vypr has easy-to-use apps that are compatible with all of the most popular operating systems, ensuring that all employees can securely access the company network from many devices.
There is 24/7 customer support, and pricing starts from $299 per year but will go up depending on the plan you choose and the number of users you have.
One of the best VPN solutions for your company’s security and privacy is Encrypt.me, a small yet powerful VPN service.
Encrypt.me for Teams is an excellent business VPN that gives you and your employees secure network access, even remotely. This is thanks to the private endpoint functionality, which allows you to set your office network as an endpoint, giving your employees access to the network.
Security is first-class with Encrypt.me. Aside from employing advanced encryption, there is DNS protection, an auto-secure feature, and content filtering, which allows you to manage and block certain content on your local network.
Unlike many other providers, there is no limit to the number of devices on one plan, which means you can secure all of your devices with VPN protection. Encrypt.me has dedicated apps for the most popular operating systems, making remote work easier than ever before.
Encrypt.me offers lightning-fast speeds on its global server network and has a ‘fastest available’ server feature to help users connect to an optimal server. There are no bandwidth limits, which means you can carry out your day-to-day business activity under the protection of the VPN.
Central account management allows you to add all employees onto one account and control billing all at once. To sign up for an Encrypt.me Teams VPN, there is a minimum requirement of 2 users per plan, and the price you’ll pay depends on the number of users you have. There is a 14-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
TorGuard offers three business VPN plans and is one of the best VPN providers if you’re looking for a larger server network.
TorGuard is a fantastic option if you need a business VPN that operates servers across the world. TorGuard has servers in more than 50 countries, making it a great choice for small businesses that have a global audience.
TorGuard offers an excellent service in terms of security, employing AES-256 encryption and a choice of secure protocols, including OpenVPN, L2TP, and IPSec. In terms of connection speed, TorGuard is decent and has no caps on data consumption.
There is a management portal that allows you to better control and customize the service. There are apps for various devices, meaning that employees can enjoy a secure internet connection even when working in a remote location.
One of the best aspects of TorGuard is its StealthVPN feature, which enables you to unblock all apps and navigate the internet under the guise of regular internet traffic. This feature can even get past deep packet inspection.
With a business plan, customers get support in the form of a 24/7 dedicated account manager who can help with any issues. The subscription plans offer various features, with the number of dedicated IPs and email accounts you can have changing depending on your plan type.
Yes, a VPN is good for business since it protects all employees' data, hides private information on corporate networks, and means you can protect your websites, confidential documents, and more from cybercriminals.
Business VPNs can vary in price depending on the provider you choose and what services you use. For example, the number of employees and additional add-ons can affect the cost of your VPN subscription.
With VPN services such as NordLayer, setting up a VPN for a small business is extremely easy. Many business VPNs like NordLayer come with user-friendly control panels that make it easy to set up a VPN on your entire business network and on all of your employees' devices.
I’m Madeleine, and I'm a writer that specializes in cybersecurity, tech products, and all things related to the internet.
I have a keen interest in VPNs and believe that everyone deserves internet freedom and security. I wr...
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