In Could 2024, the Inside Income Service urged entrepreneurs and small companies within the U.S. to be cautious of cybercriminals and implement measures towards cyberattacks. Phishing was a spotlight concern, particularly as risk actors get higher at social engineering scams to steal firm knowledge.
With this, one simple method to strengthen your small business’ safety is thru using a digital personal community. VPNs are in a position to masks IP addresses and make accessing inner sources safer and protected.
On this article, we check out six small enterprise VPNs for you and your small business.
High small enterprise VPN software program comparability
As a disclaimer, this checklist merges each enterprise and client VPNs. Since small companies can differ in each dimension and construction, we wished to supply options that may accommodate all varieties of SMBs.
| Our ranking (out of 5) | Beginning value | Encryption | Server places | Standout options | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordLayer | N/A | $8 per consumer per 30 days | AES-256 and ChaCha20 | 30+ nations (gateway places) | Scalability because the enterprise grows |
| Surfshark VPN | 4.6 | $3.99 per per 30 days (Surfshark One) | AES-256 | 100 nations | Limitless simultaneous system connections |
| Mullvad VPN | 3.7 | $5.46 per 30 days | AES-256 | 45 nations | Nameless accounts and fee strategies |
| Windscribe VPN | 3.5 | $5.75 per 30 days | AES-256 | 69 nations | Centralized billing through ScribeForce |
| Proton VPN | 4.0 | $4.99 per 30 days | AES-256 and ChaCha20 | 100 nations | Free model with limitless knowledge |
| Perimeter 81 | 3.9 | $8 per consumer per 30 days | AES-256 | 33 nations (gateways) | Zero belief community entry |
NordLayer: Greatest total small enterprise VPN
NordLayer is my advice as the most effective total small enterprise VPN. It permits small companies to simply arrange safe entry to their firm community with out compromising productiveness or safety from threats.
SEE: Easy methods to Run a Cybersecurity Danger Evaluation in 5 Steps (TechRepublic Premium)
As cyberattacks proceed to evolve, I discover NordLayer’s emphasis on the safety service edge framework to be vital. This affords a holistic method in defending a small enterprise’ IT infrastructure. Except for this, NordLayer contains safety capabilities similar to cut up tunneling, an always-on VPN, lively monitoring studies and site-to-site connections.
Why I selected NordLayer
I picked NordLayer for the highest spot for its scalability as a enterprise VPN. As small companies develop, shrink or evolve, NordLayer is ready to regulate to the corporate’s wants and guarantee continued safety. I particularly like how SMBs can go for its NordLayer Lite subscription and transfer as much as its extra premium plans when the necessity arises.
Pricing
NordLayer has 4 subscription tiers that cater to totally different enterprise sizes, particularly NordLayer Lite, Core Premium and Enterprise. All 4 tiers have a month-to-month and a yearly subscription choice.
Beneath is an summary of every tier’s annual pricing and their corresponding function inclusions:
- Lite: $8 per consumer per 30 days; 5 customers minimal, web entry safety and fundamental risk prevention.
- Core: $11 per consumer per 30 days; 5 customers minimal, superior web entry safety and fundamental community entry management.
- Premium: $14 per consumer per 30 days; 5 customers minimal, community entry management plus granular community segmentation.
- Enterprise: $7 per consumer per 30 days; 50 customers minimal, custom-fit community safety with versatile and curated pricing.
Options
- Exercise monitoring.
- Website-to-site or multi-site connections.
- Community entry management.
- Break up tunneling and AES 256 visitors encryption.
Execs and cons
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In the mean time, we’ve but to offer NordLayer a full, particular person overview. Nonetheless, I’ll you’ll want to replace this text as soon as we give it a full star ranking.
Surfshark VPN: Greatest for small groups
Surfshark VPN is my selection for SMBs with small groups. Whereas it’s a client VPN, I strongly really feel that Surfshark is a good decide for budget-conscious companies that need most worth out of a VPN service. It is because Surfshark VPN supplies top-tier speeds and safety, with help for limitless gadgets. With one Surfshark subscription, a small crew can join a number of gadgets on the similar time.
SEE: AVG Safe VPN vs Surfshark (2024): Which VPN Is Higher? (TechRepublic)
That is alongside its giant 100-country server community, safe AES-256 encryption and independently audited no-logs coverage.
Why I selected Surfshark VPN
I picked Surfshark VPN for its limitless simultaneous system connections, which I really feel may be particularly helpful to smaller groups. With Surfshark’s limitless connections, small companies made up of 5–20 members gained’t have to purchase an extra subscription to attach a number of gadgets on the similar time.
Pricing
Surfshark has three subscription tiers, every with a month-to-month, an annual and a two-year subscription choice. Plans are divided into Starter, Surfshark One and Surfshark One+.
To me, the most effective worth comes with Surfshark One, because it contains the principle VPN service with extra safety capabilities like e mail breach alerts and private knowledge safety studies.
Beneath is the pricing for Surfshark’s One subscription tier:
- Surfshark One 1 month: $15.95 per 30 days.
- Surfshark One 1 12 months: $3.99 per 30 days.
- Surfshark One 2 years: $2.69 per 30 days.
Options
- Limitless system connections.
- RAM-only servers.
- WireGuard, IKEv2 and OpenVPN protocols.
- 3,200 servers in 100 nations.
Execs and cons
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If you wish to study extra, take a look at our full Surfshark VPN overview.
Mullvad VPN: Greatest for privacy-focused customers
A favourite amongst privateness lovers, I like to recommend Mullvad VPN for people who prioritize anonymity above all different options. It brings two key privateness options: a random account numbering system and nameless fee strategies. In comparison with different VPNs that require customers to create a username or present an e mail tackle, Mullvad VPN routinely generates a random account quantity that helps preserve your on-line identification confidential.
SEE: The 5 Greatest VPNs With Free Trials in 2024 (TechRepublic)
Potential Mullvad VPN customers may pay for a subscription through nameless fee strategies like money, cryptocurrencies and purchasable vouchers — providing an extra layer of privateness to their VPN expertise. That is on high of providing industry-standard AES-256 encryption, an inexpensive month-to-month subscription and constant third-party audits of its VPN.
Why I selected Mullvad VPN
I picked Mullvad VPN for its concrete measures in upholding its clients’ anonymity. With its random account numbering system, choices for money and crypto funds and constant unbiased testing, it walks the discuss on the subject of prioritizing consumer privateness.
Pricing
Mullvad VPN affords a single value for all its contract choices, which I respect because it simplifies the shopping for course of. Whereas this offers particular person customers an inexpensive month-to-month plan, I do want they provided a decrease month-to-month value for longer contracts sooner or later.
- 1 month: $5.46 per 30 days.
- 1 12 months: $5.46 per 30 days.
- 1 decade: $5.46 per 30 days.
Options
- Nameless account numbers.
- Lockdown mode.
- DNS content material blockers.
- OpenVPN and WireGuard VPN protocols.
Execs and cons
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If you wish to study extra, take a look at our full Mullvad VPN overview.
Windscribe VPN: Greatest for centralized billing
One other stable small enterprise VPN is Windscribe VPN. Windscribe VPN affords a devoted free model with free 10GB of month-to-month knowledge, limitless simultaneous system connections and a singular Construct-A-Plan subscription that lets companies choose which particular server places they need of their plan. It has VPN apps for Home windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android and equal purposes for Chrome, Firefox and Edge browsers.
SEE: 4 Greatest Free VPNs for 2024 (TechRepublic)
Personally, I believe its most noteworthy function is its ScribeForce subscription. ScribeForce is Windscribe VPN’s personal model of crew accounts, permitting for centralized billing and crew administration capabilities in a single subscription. That is splendid for small companies that need a simple method to handle consumer accounts with out having to cope with advanced procedures typically present in technical enterprise VPNs.
Why I selected Windscribe VPN
I selected Windscribe VPN for its ScribeForce crew accounts that enable for centralized billing and crew administration in a single subscription. This makes Windscribe a wise choice for small companies that desire a user-friendly VPN and the flexibility to handle a crew from a single, centralized management panel.
Pricing
Windscribe VPN has 4 plan choices: a month-to-month, yearly, customizable and Group accounts plan. Beneath is pricing for every:
- Month-to-month: $9.00 per 30 days.
- 1 12 months: $5.75 per 30 days.
- Customizable Construct A Plan: $1.00 per location per 30 days.
- ScribeForce: $3.00 per seat per 30 days.
Options
- OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard VPN protocols.
- Advert, tracker and malware blocker.
- Has a free model.
- Centralized billing and crew administration.
Execs and cons
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If you wish to study extra, take a look at our full Windscribe VPN overview.
Proton VPN: Greatest free VPN choice
For my finest free VPN decide, I select Proton VPN. It is a VPN answer that has gained reputation for its Swiss-based operations and give attention to high quality safety. It’s an independently audited answer that has the additional benefit of being primarily based in Switzerland, a rustic with a few of the strongest privateness legal guidelines on the planet. With this, I discover Proton VPN a good selection for small companies and particular person customers who’re particularly cautious of presidency surveillance.
SEE: ProtonVPN vs AtlasVPN (2024): Which VPN Ought to You Use? (TechRepublic)
Nonetheless, my favourite half about Proton VPN is its free model. Proton VPN free supplies zero knowledge limits for its free service — a pleasant change in comparison with different free variations that implement a month-to-month knowledge cap for his or her free plans. To me, this makes Proton VPN one of many extra viable free VPN companies that may truly be used long run.
Why I selected Proton VPN
I chosen Proton VPN for its beneficiant free model that offers customers entry to VPN servers in 5 nations with no knowledge cap or bandwidth restrictions. This may be helpful for small companies that merely desire a cost-effective method to change their IP tackle each from time to time with out worrying about exceeding a month-to-month knowledge restrict.
Pricing
Proton VPN has two paid subscription tiers: Proton VPN Plus and Limitless. It additionally has a devoted free model known as Proton VPN Free.
Having a look at its paid plans, Proton VPN’s Plus subscription contains its full VPN server suite and its quickest pace, whereas Limitless bundles all Plus options with different Proton encrypted companies. For me, Proton VPN Plus is the higher worth of the 2.
Beneath is a abstract of pricing for Proton VPN’s Plus subscription tier:
- Plus Month-to-month: $9.99 per 30 days.
- Plus 1-year: $4.99 per 30 days.
- Plus 2 years: $4.49 per 30 days.
Options
- OpenVPN, WireGuard and Stealth VPN protocols.
- 6,400+ servers in 100 nations.
- 10 simultaneous system connections.
- Helps Home windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android and iOS.
Execs and cons
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If you wish to study extra, take a look at our full Proton VPN overview.
Perimeter 81: Greatest for unified safety suite
Whereas it stands extra as an enterprise-facing choice, I really feel Perimeter 81 can nonetheless be a viable small enterprise VPN choice — particularly for SMBs which are bigger. It affords an intensive safe entry service edge answer that brings zero belief community entry, safe internet gateways and safe consumer administration to companies.
SEE: Free VPN vs Paid VPN: Which One Is Proper for You? (TechRepublic)
On high of its always-on VPN that helps preserve workers on the safe community, Perimeter 81 additionally has cloud firewall coverage capabilities, cut up tunneling and a cloud-based administration platform. Whereas not all SMBs may have such instruments, Perimeter 81 affords varied subscriptions that cater to totally different wants and necessities.
Why I selected Perimeter 81
I’ve Perimeter 81 on this checklist as a major choice for bigger SMBs which will desire a complete safety answer that covers extra bases. I like the way it’s particularly designed for hybrid workforces, accommodating distant employees with out skimping on community safety and effectivity.
Pricing
Perimeter 81 has 4 subscription tiers: Necessities, Premium, Premium Plus and Enterprise. All plans embrace a nifty 30-day money-back assure that lets companies refund their buy in the event that they discover it isn’t the suitable match.
Beneath is a abstract of pricing and options for every subscription:
- Necessities: $8 per consumer per 30 days; 10 customers minimal, fundamental safe community entry and administration.
- Premium: $12 per consumer per 30 days; 10 customers minimal, superior community safety administration and always-on VPN.
- Premium Plus: $16 per consumer, per 30 days; 20 customers minimal, layered safety and community capabilities for big organizations.
- Enterprise: Contact gross sales for pricing; 50 customers minimal, enterprise-features like limitless consumer configuration profiles and SIEM integration.
Options
- At all times-on VPN.
- Internet and DNS filtering.
- WireGuard VPN protocol.
- Malware safety.
Execs and cons
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If you wish to study extra, take a look at our full Perimeter 81 overview.
How do I select the most effective VPN for my small enterprise?
When selecting the most effective small enterprise VPN, it’s vital to consider your small business dimension, deliberate workflow with the VPN and first safety necessities.
For small companies that solely actually need a VPN for content material unblocking and further safety, client VPNs like Surfshark VPN, Proton VPN or Windscribe VPN could also be higher choices. I envision these VPNs to be completely fitted to small companies with small groups or people operating their very own small enterprise.
On the flip aspect, small companies which are bigger or have stricter safety necessities might wish to have a look at enterprise or enterprise VPN options like NordLayer or Perimeter 81. These VPNs are particularly designed to maintain entry to firm sources safe and are in a position to scale up or down, relying on your small business’ wants.
Happily, there are a number of VPN suppliers out there that may accommodate several types of small companies and safety calls for.
Ideally, a top quality VPN must also provide mixture of security measures, VPN efficiency and price. This entails issues like having top-tier encryption algorithms, rigorous third-party testing and affordable subscription charges.
Methodology
My rundown of the most effective small enterprise VPNs concerned an in depth evaluation of in style VPN options catering to SMBs and their explicit wants. In my analysis, I seemed into every supplier’s official product documentation, function inclusions and marketed use circumstances.
My suggestions additionally thought of how effectively every small enterprise VPN balanced core VPN options like VPN protocols, encryption, server networks and value, amongst others. I additionally took into consideration actual consumer suggestions and our crew’s hands-on testing of the talked about VPNs to spherical out my remaining evaluation.
Lastly, I additionally thought of which small companies would profit finest from every explicit VPN. My objective right here is to offer the very best VPN for every sort of SMB or enterprise proprietor.
