In Might 2024, the Inner 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 menace actors get higher at social engineering scams to steal firm knowledge.
With this, one simple solution to strengthen your small business’ safety is thru using a digital non-public community. VPNs are capable of masks IP addresses and make accessing inner assets 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 shopper VPNs. Since small companies can range in each measurement and construction, we wished to supply options that may accommodate all forms of SMBs.
| Our score (out of 5) | Beginning worth | Encryption | Server places | Standout options | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordLayer | N/A | $8 per person per thirty days | AES-256 and ChaCha20 | 30+ international locations (gateway places) | Scalability because the enterprise grows |
| Surfshark VPN | 4.6 | $3.99 per per thirty days (Surfshark One) | AES-256 | 100 international locations | Limitless simultaneous system connections |
| Mullvad VPN | 3.7 | $5.46 per thirty days | AES-256 | 45 international locations | Nameless accounts and fee strategies |
| Windscribe VPN | 3.5 | $5.75 per thirty days | AES-256 | 69 international locations | Centralized billing through ScribeForce |
| Proton VPN | 4.0 | $4.99 per thirty days | AES-256 and ChaCha20 | 100 international locations | Free model with limitless knowledge |
| Perimeter 81 | 3.9 | $8 per person per thirty days | AES-256 | 33 international locations (gateways) | Zero belief community entry |
NordLayer: Greatest total small enterprise VPN
NordLayer is my suggestion as one of the best total small enterprise VPN. It allows small companies to simply arrange safe entry to their firm community with out compromising productiveness or safety from threats.
SEE: The right way to Run a Cybersecurity Threat Evaluation in 5 Steps (TechRepublic Premium)
As cyberattacks proceed to evolve, I discover NordLayer’s emphasis on the safety service edge framework to be essential. This provides a holistic strategy in defending a small enterprise’ IT infrastructure. Except for this, NordLayer consists of safety capabilities comparable to cut up tunneling, an always-on VPN, energetic monitoring stories 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 alter 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, specifically NordLayer Lite, Core Premium and Enterprise. All 4 tiers have a month-to-month and a yearly subscription possibility.
Beneath is an summary of every tier’s annual pricing and their corresponding characteristic inclusions:
- Lite: $8 per person per thirty days; 5 customers minimal, web entry safety and fundamental menace prevention.
- Core: $11 per person per thirty days; 5 customers minimal, superior web entry safety and fundamental community entry management.
- Premium: $14 per person per thirty days; 5 customers minimal, community entry management plus granular community segmentation.
- Enterprise: $7 per person per thirty days; 50 customers minimal, custom-fit community safety with versatile and curated pricing.
Options
- Exercise monitoring.
- Web site-to-site or multi-site connections.
- Community entry management.
- Cut up tunneling and AES 256 visitors encryption.
Execs and cons
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In the intervening time, we’ve but to present NordLayer a full, particular person assessment. Nonetheless, I’ll you’ll want to replace this text as soon as we give it a full star score.
Surfshark VPN: Greatest for small groups
Surfshark VPN is my alternative for SMBs with small groups. Whereas it’s a shopper VPN, I strongly really feel that Surfshark is a superb decide for budget-conscious companies that need most worth out of a VPN service. It is because Surfshark VPN gives top-tier speeds and safety, with assist for limitless units. With one Surfshark subscription, a small staff can join a number of units on the identical 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 will be particularly helpful to smaller groups. With Surfshark’s limitless connections, small companies made up of 5–20 members received’t have to purchase a further subscription to attach a number of units on the identical time.
Pricing
Surfshark has three subscription tiers, every with a month-to-month, an annual and a two-year subscription possibility. Plans are divided into Starter, Surfshark One and Surfshark One+.
To me, one of the best worth comes with Surfshark One, because it consists of the principle VPN service with extra safety capabilities like e mail breach alerts and private knowledge safety stories.
Beneath is the pricing for Surfshark’s One subscription tier:
- Surfshark One 1 month: $15.95 per thirty days.
- Surfshark One 1 yr: $3.99 per thirty days.
- Surfshark One 2 years: $2.69 per thirty days.
Options
- Limitless system connections.
- RAM-only servers.
- WireGuard, IKEv2 and OpenVPN protocols.
- 3,200 servers in 100 international locations.
Execs and cons
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If you wish to study extra, try our full Surfshark VPN assessment.
Mullvad VPN: Greatest for privacy-focused customers
A favourite amongst privateness fanatics, 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 handle, Mullvad VPN mechanically generates a random account quantity that helps maintain your on-line id 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 a further layer of privateness to their VPN expertise. That is on prime of providing industry-standard AES-256 encryption, an reasonably priced 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 prospects’ anonymity. With its random account numbering system, choices for money and crypto funds and constant unbiased testing, it walks the discuss in the case of prioritizing person privateness.
Pricing
Mullvad VPN provides a single worth for all its contract choices, which I respect because it simplifies the shopping for course of. Whereas this provides particular person customers an reasonably priced month-to-month plan, I do want they provided a decrease month-to-month worth for longer contracts sooner or later.
- 1 month: $5.46 per thirty days.
- 1 yr: $5.46 per thirty days.
- 1 decade: $5.46 per thirty 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, try our full Mullvad VPN assessment.
Windscribe VPN: Greatest for centralized billing
One other strong small enterprise VPN is Windscribe VPN. Windscribe VPN provides a devoted free model with free 10GB of month-to-month knowledge, limitless simultaneous system connections and a novel 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 functions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge browsers.
SEE: 4 Greatest Free VPNs for 2024 (TechRepublic)
Personally, I believe its most noteworthy characteristic is its ScribeForce subscription. ScribeForce is Windscribe VPN’s personal model of staff accounts, permitting for centralized billing and staff administration capabilities in a single subscription. That is superb for small companies that need a straightforward solution to handle person accounts with out having to take care of advanced procedures typically present in technical enterprise VPNs.
Why I selected Windscribe VPN
I selected Windscribe VPN for its ScribeForce staff accounts that enable for centralized billing and staff administration in a single subscription. This makes Windscribe a wise possibility for small companies that desire a user-friendly VPN and the power to handle a staff from a single, centralized management panel.
Pricing
Windscribe VPN has 4 plan choices: a month-to-month, yearly, customizable and Crew accounts plan. Beneath is pricing for every:
- Month-to-month: $9.00 per thirty days.
- 1 yr: $5.75 per thirty days.
- Customizable Construct A Plan: $1.00 per location per thirty days.
- ScribeForce: $3.00 per seat per thirty days.
Options
- OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard VPN protocols.
- Advert, tracker and malware blocker.
- Has a free model.
- Centralized billing and staff administration.
Execs and cons
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If you wish to study extra, try our full Windscribe VPN assessment.
Proton VPN: Greatest free VPN possibility
For my finest free VPN decide, I select Proton VPN. It is a VPN resolution that has gained recognition for its Swiss-based operations and give attention to high quality safety. It’s an independently audited resolution that has the additional advantage of being based mostly in Switzerland, a rustic with a number of the strongest privateness legal guidelines on the earth. 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 gives 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 international locations with no knowledge cap or bandwidth restrictions. This may be helpful for small companies that merely desire a cost-effective solution to change their IP handle each occasionally 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 consists of its full VPN server suite and its quickest velocity, 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 thirty days.
- Plus 1-year: $4.99 per thirty days.
- Plus 2 years: $4.49 per thirty days.
Options
- OpenVPN, WireGuard and Stealth VPN protocols.
- 6,400+ servers in 100 international locations.
- 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, try our full Proton VPN assessment.
Perimeter 81: Greatest for unified safety suite
Whereas it stands extra as an enterprise-facing possibility, I really feel Perimeter 81 can nonetheless be a viable small enterprise VPN possibility — particularly for SMBs which might be bigger. It provides an intensive safe entry service edge resolution that brings zero belief community entry, safe internet gateways and safe person administration to companies.
SEE: Free VPN vs Paid VPN: Which One Is Proper for You? (TechRepublic)
On prime of its always-on VPN that helps maintain 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 might have such instruments, Perimeter 81 provides varied subscriptions that cater to totally different wants and necessities.
Why I selected Perimeter 81
I’ve Perimeter 81 on this checklist as a main possibility for bigger SMBs which will desire a complete safety resolution that covers extra bases. I like the way it’s particularly designed for hybrid workforces, accommodating distant staff with out skimping on community safety and effectivity.
Pricing
Perimeter 81 has 4 subscription tiers: Necessities, Premium, Premium Plus and Enterprise. All plans embody a nifty 30-day money-back assure that lets companies refund their buy in the event that they discover it isn’t the appropriate match.
Beneath is a abstract of pricing and options for every subscription:
- Necessities: $8 per person per thirty days; 10 customers minimal, fundamental safe community entry and administration.
- Premium: $12 per person per thirty days; 10 customers minimal, superior community safety administration and always-on VPN.
- Premium Plus: $16 per person, per thirty 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 person configuration profiles and SIEM integration.
Options
- All the time-on VPN.
- Net and DNS filtering.
- WireGuard VPN protocol.
- Malware safety.
Execs and cons
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If you wish to study extra, try our full Perimeter 81 assessment.
How do I select one of the best VPN for my small enterprise?
When selecting one of the best small enterprise VPN, it’s vital to have in mind your small business measurement, deliberate workflow with the VPN and first safety necessities.
For small companies that solely really want a VPN for content material unblocking and further safety, shopper VPNs like Surfshark VPN, Proton VPN or Windscribe VPN could also be higher choices. I envision these VPNs to be completely suited to small companies with small groups or people working their very own small enterprise.
On the flip aspect, small companies which might be bigger or have stricter safety necessities could wish to take a look at enterprise or enterprise VPN options like NordLayer or Perimeter 81. These VPNs are particularly designed to maintain entry to firm assets safe and are capable of scale up or down, relying on your small business’ wants.
Thankfully, there are a number of VPN suppliers accessible that may accommodate various kinds of small companies and safety calls for.
Ideally, a top quality VPN must also supply an excellent mixture of safety features, VPN efficiency and price. This includes issues like having top-tier encryption algorithms, rigorous third-party testing and cheap subscription charges.
Methodology
My rundown of one of the best small enterprise VPNs concerned an in depth evaluation of common VPN options catering to SMBs and their explicit wants. In my analysis, I appeared into every supplier’s official product documentation, characteristic 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 worth, amongst others. I additionally took into consideration actual person suggestions and our staff’s hands-on testing of the talked about VPNs to spherical out my remaining evaluation.
Lastly, I additionally considered which small companies would profit finest from every explicit VPN. My purpose right here is to offer the very best VPN for every kind of SMB or enterprise proprietor.