One of many prime challenges going through enterprise house owners is guaranteeing safe distant connections to firm networks and assets to remain protected from knowledge breaches. In a latest IBM report, the common value of a knowledge breach in 2024 was estimated at $4.88 million — which IBM says is the best whole ever recorded. With this, it isn’t a shock that deploying enterprise-level digital personal community options has grow to be a prime precedence for a lot of companies.
Enterprise VPN options present a safe gateway for companies to attach their workers to their company networks. Security measures comparable to multi-factor authentication, disabling break up tunneling, implementing a most connection-time window after which workers should re-authenticate, and mandating complicated, rotating passwords are a number of examples of how enterprise VPNs enhance and bolster safety.
Given the big selection of VPNs in the marketplace, here’s a roundup of the highest enterprise VPN options.
High enterprise VPN options comparability
The desk under highlights among the key options of enterprise VPN options and the way they examine with each other.
Cisco AnyConnect: Greatest total
Cisco AnyConnect is my finest total decide for its big selection of safety capabilities, high quality buyer help, and user-friendly expertise. It makes use of multi-factor authentication and establishes a 24-hour utilization window, after which a consumer’s connection drops and they’re required to log in once more.
SEE: Can a VPN Be Hacked? (TechRepublic)
A spotlight for me is the way it performs a system verify on authentication to find out whether or not a workstation meets sure necessities, like anti-malware software program or company area membership, earlier than it permits entry to the corporate community. This ensures solely company-managed programs are allowed on the VPN. I additionally like how AnyConnect can block entry to untrusted servers, show safety merchandise put in, and run diagnostics to collect data for evaluation and troubleshooting. It disables break up tunneling, that means when a consumer is linked to the VPN, they will solely entry company assets and nothing on a neighborhood house community or the web.
Why I selected Cisco AnyConnect
I picked Cisco AnyConnect for its user-friendly set up course of and intuitive interface. I additionally discover nice worth in its suite of security measures, comparable to system verify and server blocking, that make it a robust possibility amongst different enterprise VPN options with extra restricted capabilities. Per my analysis, it additionally will get glowing critiques from customers when it comes to its stability and total reliability.
Pricing
- Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
- Permits entry to the enterprise community, from any system, at any time, in any location.
- Offers visibility and perception into endpoint habits.
- Presents multi-factor authentication.
- Presents always-on help.
Execs and cons
| Execs | Cons |
|---|---|
| It’s straightforward to obtain and set up. | There is no such thing as a free trial. |
| It may be used on a number of units. | Lacks kill change functionality. |
| Offers nice buyer help. |
Checkpoint Safe Distant Entry: Greatest for web-based consumer help
For high quality net consumer help, I like to recommend Checkpoint Safe Distant Entry VPN. It will possibly create {custom} set up packages pre-configured with the goal IP tackle(es) for shoppers to authenticate to. Like AnyConnect, it’s secured by multi-factor authentication (on this case, both onerous tokens or tender tokens, which function as an app on cellular units).
SEE: How A lot Does a VPN Value? + Financial savings Ideas (TechRepublic)
I personally like how break up tunneling is disabled in Checkpoint Safe Distant Entry, similar to Cisco AnyConnect. This implies, for hackers to get to the shoppers, they must configure the corporate proxy server settings, which solely allow entry to public-facing web websites for enterprise use (social media websites had been blocked, for example). Group memberships decide who can join the place. Checkpoint firewalls function the administration interface for each the VPN and the firewall settings.
I additionally need to point out that Checkpoint Web site-to-Web site VPNs are capable of hyperlink two distant areas collectively — permitting site visitors to achieve networks on both aspect.
Why I selected Checkpoint Safe Distant Entry
I’ve Checkpoint Safe Distant Entry VPN on this record for its spectacular SSL VPN portal that enables community entry by way of an online browser. Having safe entry to a company community is a significant value-add that many workers and employers will discover helpful, particularly these working in a hybrid setup. I additionally really feel it makes workflows extra environment friendly, since workers can entry essential assets with out having to put in a full-fledged VPN consumer on their units.
Pricing
- Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
- The VPN affords a central administration platform.
- IPsec and SSL VPN help.
- Safe hotspot registration.
- It affords VPN auto-connect.
- Multi-factor authentication help.
Execs and cons
| Execs | Cons |
|---|---|
| SSL help gives web-based entry with out the necessity to set up a VPN consumer. | It doesn’t help risk prevention on iOS, Android, and Linux customers. |
| Compliance scanning help. | Incident evaluation is barely out there for Home windows customers. |
| Runs on a number of units, together with Home windows, Mac, and mobiles. | |
| Presents risk prevention functionality. |
NordLayer: Greatest for brand new enterprise VPN customers
For companies transitioning to an enterprise VPN resolution, I like to recommend NordLayer. It’s a strong distant entry resolution that allows companies to safe their distant workers and defend firm assets on the identical time. If it sounds acquainted, it’s as a result of it’s from the identical firm that created the favored client VPN — NordVPN.
Like NordVPN, I like how NordLayer affords an in depth suite of security measures with out sacrificing ease of use. A few of its options embody sensible distant entry, At all times On VPN, Customized DNS, and DNS filtering by class. One massive benefit I discovered with NordLayer is its transparency with pricing, offering estimated costs relying in your wants or subscription of selection. To me, that is an underrated function that’s good for potential enterprise VPN customers.
Why I selected NordLayer
I selected NordLayer for its robust emphasis on ease of deployment, set up, and scalability — which is right for companies that need to begin utilizing an enterprise VPN. This permits NordLayer to accommodate most, if not all, enterprise sizes with out a lot headache. I additionally like that it affords its personal proprietary NordLynx protocol, based mostly on WireGuard, that’s constructed for each pace and safety.
Pricing
NordLayer has a month-to-month and a yearly possibility for its 4 subscription tiers. Under is a fast rundown of its annual pricing.
- Lite: $8 per consumer, per thirty days; 5 customers minimal; important web entry safety with fundamental web risk prevention.
- Core: $11 per consumer, per thirty days; 5 customers minimal; superior entry safety, and fundamental community entry management.
- Premium: $14 per consumer, per thirty days; 5 customers minimal; community entry management options with granular community segmentation.
- Enterprise: $7 per consumer, per thirty days; 50 customers minimal; custom-fit community safety.
Options
- Machine posture safety.
- MFA and SSO.
- At all times On VPN.
- Exercise monitoring studies.
Execs and cons
| Execs | Cons |
|---|---|
| Subscription tiers that cater to varied enterprise sizes. | Pretty new to enterprise VPN area. |
| Extremely scalable. | |
| Publicly out there pricing. |
SonicWall World VPN Shopper: Greatest light-weight enterprise VPN
For companies in search of a light-weight possibility, I counsel SonicWall World VPN. It affords a quick and environment friendly product that gives RADIUS/certificates/Sensible Card/USB authentication. It comes with each 168-bit key 3DES (Knowledge Encryption Commonplace) and AES (Superior Encryption) encryption requirements and VPN session reliability that redirects shoppers to different VPN gateways if issues happen. I significantly respect how SonicWall comes with particular subnet entry and command-line choices for set up, making it straightforward to deploy by way of automated software program mechanisms.
Why I selected SonicWall World VPN Shopper:
I chosen SonicWall World VPN to be on this record for its pace and reliability. It has a superb mixture of robust security measures, comparable to AES encryption, an simply configurable interface, and a fast and dependable consumer expertise. SonicWall additionally has a superb fame for offering high quality buyer help.
Pricing
- Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
- It may be configured both as an IPsec or SSL end-point agent.
- Helps a number of platforms, together with Home windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Presents straightforward setup and configuration.
- Detailed logs and reporting for community directors.
Execs and cons
| Execs | Cons |
|---|---|
| Presents robust encryption and authentication to guard in opposition to cyber threats. | There is no such thing as a free trial or demo. |
| It’s straightforward to obtain and configure. | No web-based model. |
| Suitable with a variety of platforms and units. | |
| Presents logs and reporting options to watch VPN utilization. |
Fortinet FortiClient: Greatest for providing wider VPN safety choices
For companies trying to have flexibility when it comes to VPN safety choices, I like to recommend Fortinet FortiClient. It depends on certificates for integration and deployment and affords entry to net filtering and a firewall. I additionally like how its Endpoint safety safety capabilities, which makes use of automated habits evaluation, is included. Fortinet makes use of a “single pane of glass” method that gives one-stop-shopping to handle configuration, deployment, and administration, in addition to verify consumer standing and have interaction in vulnerability scanning and patching.
I respect how Fortinet affords two several types of VPN options — IPSec and SSL — and will be built-in into a corporation’s total endpoint safety technique. This gives a dependable VPN safety possibility for corporations which have workers working remotely.
Why I selected Fortinet FortiClient
I selected Fortinet FortiClient for its intensive protocol suite, making it a sensible choice when safety is a prime precedence. It additionally stood out for me because of its extensive number of tunneling protocols which are customizable based mostly on safety wants. I additionally like that Fortinet permits potential customers to trial FortiClient to see if it matches their enterprise wants.
Pricing
- Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
- Fortinet helps multi-factor authentication.
- Helps SSL or IPSec tunneling protocols.
- Presents malware safety and anti-exploit help.
- Presents a number of tunneling protocols, together with Level-to-Level, Layer 2, and Safe Socket tunneling protocols.
Execs and cons
| Execs | Cons |
|---|---|
| There’s a free trial possibility. | Integration with anti-virus and threat-detection instruments makes it a bit of bit clunky. |
| Absolutely customizable authentication settings. |
Palo Alto GlobalProtect: Greatest for implementing safety insurance policies
For enterprises that desire a VPN with dependable safety coverage capabilities, I counsel wanting into Palo Alto GlobalProtect. It affords comparable options to prior merchandise listed, comparable to multi-factor authentication, excessive safety (cookie or certificate-based authentication are two robust options), net filtering and risk safety. As well as, GlobalProtect depends on Zero Belief rules.
Personally, I commend GlobalProtect’s spectacular skill to determine what units are connecting to the VPN and whether or not they’re managed (company-owned or operated) or unmanaged (employee-owned), and offering entry accordingly (units deemed suspicious or unauthorized will be blocked totally). It will possibly additionally decide certificates current on units, working system and patch ranges, anti-malware variations and standing, working software program, and whether or not disks are encrypted and knowledge is being backed up by a product.
Why I selected Palo Alto GlobalProtect
I opted for Palo Alto GlobalProtect because of its trustworthiness and reliability in upholding its safety insurance policies and have guarantees to its shoppers. Belief and credibility are essential tenets in high quality safety software program, and GlobalProtect has continued to take care of a superb fame for safeguarding company and consumer knowledge. I additionally discover its robust utility of zero belief safety rules as a significant benefit in opposition to comparable opponents.
Pricing
- Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
- Offers least-privilege entry help for distant workers.
- Helps multi-factor authentication.
- The software program helps risk prevention.
- Presents full visibility throughout all purposes, ports, and protocols.
Execs and cons
| Execs | Cons |
|---|---|
| There’s a demo possibility to take a look at the product. | Deployment could also be troublesome for first-time customers. |
| Presents analytics and visibility for community site visitors, | |
| There may be an always-on, safe connection help. |
ZScaler Personal Entry: Greatest for zero belief community entry
For those who’re in search of a ZTNA resolution, I like to recommend ZScaler Personal Entry. As a disclaimer, Zscaler is a distinct product from the earlier choices on this article. Moderately than being a conventional end-user VPN consumer, it’s a cloud service that gives entry to purposes in cloud environments or on-premises programs by way of a distributed structure. The twist right here is that the purposes hook up with licensed customers by way of safe encryption relatively than vice versa, so customers by no means truly entry the distant networks concerned.
It makes use of commonplace policy-based entry, relying on customers and purposes. For me, I like how ZScaler allows mergers and acquisitions to be facilitated simply because of the lowered infrastructure setup occasions and lack of want for extra networking tools.
Why I selected ZScaler Personal Entry
I’ve ZScaler Personal Entry on this record for its zero belief method that may present organizations peace-of-mind in an more and more hybrid workforce. Whereas it isn’t a VPN per se, I really feel its cloud service adopts most safety in defending company knowledge and provides an extra layer of safety in opposition to doable knowledge breaches.
Pricing
- Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
- A number of system help.
- Offers multi-factor authentication.
- AI-powered community segmentation.
- Helps several types of segmentations, together with user-to-app, user-to-device, and workload-to-workload segmentation.
Execs and cons
| Execs | Cons |
|---|---|
| There may be an possibility for a demo. | It is just cloud-based. |
| Applies the rules of least privilege to present customers a safe connection. | |
| There may be safety compliance help. |
Key options of enterprise VPN options
Enterprise VPNs have key options that separate them from the normal client VPNs. Under are among the differentiating components.
Assist for Safe VPN Protocol
Assist for safe VPN protocols is an important function of enterprise VPNs. These protocols are designed to make sure the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of knowledge transmitted between distant customers and the company community. Enterprise VPNs usually help a number of safe protocols, comparable to OpenVPN, IPSec, and SSL/TLS, to offer a wide range of choices for connecting to the community securely. The usage of safe VPN protocols assist defend delicate data from interception, eavesdropping, and different sorts of cyber threats.
SEE: Learn how to Run a Cybersecurity Threat Evaluation in 5 Steps (TechRepublic Premium)
DNS Leak Safety help
DNS leaks can compromise the safety of enterprise networks by exposing workers’ on-line actions and doubtlessly permitting unauthorized entry to delicate firm knowledge. Enterprise VPN options want sturdy, built-in DNS leak safety mechanisms to make sure that all DNS queries are routed by way of the encrypted VPN tunnel and never leaked outdoors.
Centralized administration help
A centralized administration system permits directors to shortly and simply configure VPN settings and insurance policies, monitor VPN site visitors and utilization, and troubleshoot community points. With a centralized administration community, admins may implement insurance policies — comparable to entry controls and knowledge retention insurance policies, throughout the complete VPN community — guaranteeing that every one customers adjust to firm safety insurance policies and business laws.
Excessive availability
Excessive availability is one other essential function of enterprise VPNs. Having an enterprise VPN constantly and constantly function correctly is an important function to be careful for. Any downtime in an enterprise VPN’s efficiency can disrupt enterprise operations, stopping distant staff from accessing company assets and doubtlessly inflicting income losses.
How do I select the most effective VPN resolution for my enterprise?
Earlier than choosing any VPN software program for what you are promoting, I like to recommend you are taking time to think about the next:
Take into account what you are promoting safety wants
First, contemplate your safety wants and verify in case your potential VPN resolution can meet these wants. For example, in case your safety want goes past only a safe VPN connection to incorporate, let’s say, compliance help, it’s best to go for a VPN resolution that provides each. Equally, you also needs to contemplate the way you need to deploy your VPN software program. Would you like an answer providing solely a cloud-based or downloaded consumer? Your reply will assist you to decide the most effective VPN software program for what you are promoting.
Take into account safety capabilities
Whereas all VPN options provide comparable safety capabilities, some have extra security-focused options than others. Do not forget that safety must be the highest precedence when selecting an enterprise VPN resolution. You must go for options that present robust encryption, safe authentication, and different security measures to guard in opposition to cyber threats.
Test for compatibility
Compatibility is one other issue to think about earlier than choosing any enterprise VPN resolution. The VPN resolution must be appropriate with a variety of platforms and units, together with desktops, laptops, cellular units, and completely different working programs. This ensures that your workers’ units can simply hook up with the VPN with out spending cash on further units.
Take into account value
Take into account the price of the VPN resolution, together with any {hardware} or software program licenses, upkeep and help charges, and every other bills related to implementation and administration.
Methodology
Whereas there are a number of VPN providers on the market, not all provide options at an enterprise stage. To reach at this record of the most effective enterprise VPNs, I based mostly our choice on the next parameters: robust security measures, steady connection, multi-device and working system functionality, and buyer help. Other than utilizing among the options, I additionally checked out critiques on Gartner to collect third-party opinions and consumer testimonials on among the VPN options.
From these facets, I highlighted the primary differentiating function that makes every particular enterprise VPN price testing.
This text was initially written by Scott Matteson and up to date by Franklin Okeke. The present model incorporates further data and updates by Luis Millares.