A business VPN is one of the most important items in most companies' toolboxes. As many of us still continue to work from home (we both love it and hate it), being able to access restricted company files and data is essential for keeping our now-disparate teams cohesive – as well as protecting sensitive information from prying eyes.
A business VPN does this by encrypting all of your internet traffic and data, meaning that even if it is intercepted, the hacker would be totally unable to read it. Plus, dedicated business VPNs usually offer static IPs, which allow you to restrict access to your data to just one IP address which only you and your staff can use.
However, a business VPN is an investment that you're likely to stick with for some time, so choosing the right one can be a difficult decision.
What makes the best business VPN?
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No two businesses are alike, and every company will have different requirements from its business VPN. However, there are a few features that will be useful to pretty much every business, and these are often very different to consumer VPNs.
Firstly and most importantly, you'll need to make sure that your business VPN has rock-solid encryption – if it doesn't, keep searching, because there are tons of great options that fulfil this basic function.
Unless you're a sole trader, you'll also likely want a dedicated static IP address on a personal server, rather using the shared IPs commonly found in consumer VPNs. As mentioned before, these are useful as you can monitor activity via a central software system and allow access to a private intranet or restricted company data.
Our top pick is Perimeter 81. More than just a VPN, Perimeter 81 is an all-encompassing business security solution, with a huge amount of features that will be useful for employees, developers, marketers and executives – and we think anyone needing a business VPN should definitely consider it. So, to find out more about Perimeter 81 and its rivals, just scroll down below.
The best business VPN today
Perimeter 81 is the best business VPN out there right now for small to medium sized businesses, especially if you're looking for an alternative to traditional hardware-based VPNs.
Perimeter 81 has a minimum of five team members, so if you're a sole trader, it might not be the best option for you. However, for larger teams, the network security service offers a cloud-based system, meaning you can scale to suit your needs without the need for exponentially increasing hardware costs.
All this is done using a excellent client which allows you to manage your network and team settings from one place, with compatibility for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Linux 64 and Chromebook.
Security is tight, with protocols including OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard, and you'll also get automatic Wi-Fi security and a zero-trust network. This increases your privacy and efficiency while mitigating against data loss as well as reducing total cost of ownership for IT security by offering a single connected platform.
Perimeter 81 offers a software-defined perimeter (SDP) to limit network access by offering manageable system control. By using its own SDP solution, you get easy cloud migration as well as secure environments like IaaS, PaaS and beyond.
We particularly appreciate the two-factor authentication which works well no matter where the person is working, including on a mobile device using a public Wi-Fi connection.
After signing up to Perimeter 81, you can expect great customer care and support throughout you plan – plus you're covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can make sure you'll be able to integrate the product seamlessly without risking your money.
In September 2021, NordVPN's business VPN offering got a full-on refresh, with the addition of some seriously useful features. Already well known as one of the most secure VPN services, NordLayer proves the brand isn't just resting on its laurels.
You'll get all the essentials – management control panel, centralized billing, a kill switch, and excellent encryption to keep your staff safe. However, there's more to it than that.
Each member of your team or company will have their own login, and this can be used to restrict what they access when it comes to business data. So, if you'd rather your advertising team didn't have access to your accounting documents, you can restrict that.
If and when a member leaves your team, licences are also transferrable, meaning you won't be out of pocket when setting your new hire up with NordLayer.
For smaller businesses you'll have the choice between basic and more comprehensive cover, including the option purchase of a static IP, but larger companies will want to go with the enterprise plan, which is pricing on a quote basis.
Sign up now on the NordLayer website
Encrypt.me is a dedicated business VPN service which offers the unusual but welcome feature of allowing unlimited devices on any single plan. That means you could have hundreds of devices and they'll all be protected under the same VPN service – something the competition falls down on.
Encrypt.me works across lots of platforms including iOS, Android, MacOS, Windows and Amazon. It's super simple to set up for each device, and security is strong with DNS leak protection, private endpoints to connect to the office network remotely and an auto-secure feature. There's also content filtering, allowing you to block content on your network connection for staff.
With prices starting at around $16 per month (there's a two-user minimum), Encrypt.me offers good value, especially when you consider you'll get unlimited connections. However, the Windows app is dated and there is some logging of user activity.
A two-week VPN free trial is on offer, though, so if you're not sure, it's definitely worth giving it a go to see how you get on with it.
Sign up now on the Encrypt.me website
ExpressVPN could be the best business VPN for individuals and sole traders that want protection on a limited number of devices. It doesn't offer a specific business plan, but with great server coverage, excellent speeds and super security, it has to make the list.
Thanks to its stable and intuitive apps, Express will work across plenty of devices. It offers iOS VPN and Android VPN apps, Mac, Windows, Linux, Kindle Fire, Chromebooks, Firefox, Chrome and even more – all with simple to use controls.
Encryption levels are high, there are dedicated DNS servers, split tunneling, and it all operates with a clear no-logging policy. Plus, you'll also get dedicated 24/7 live-chat support in case anything doesn't work as it should
ExpressVPN is a little more expensive than some other consumer VPNs, but it works out cheaper than plenty of business VPNs – and for that price you get our top-rated VPN on the market. If you can do without a static IP and centralized billing, Express could be an affordable way to protect you and your small business.
IPVanish is another great option for individuals or smaller businesses since it's primarily aimed at consumer level. However, with its new unlimited connections plan, you could feasibly cover every device in your company with one plan – but do be aware that one account is only meant to be shared within a single household.
The apps are powerful, configurable and work across iOS, Android, Mac, Windows and more, and the wide selection of servers means that no matter where you are in the world, you'll be able to get a nice quick connection.
You 'll also be able to ask IPVanish's 24/7 support about any issues you have with the service, which is great for saving time. However, larger companies with the need for more business-specific features will miss things like a static IP address and centralized billing for multiple accounts.
If you're after a private VPN that's stable and secure, IPVanish is a good option – but if you need the features more dedicated business VPNs offer, then it's worth spending a little more to get exactly what you need.
Sign up now on the IPVanish website
What features should a business VPN have?
What you need from your business VPN will, of course, depend on your business.
If you're a sole trader with little infrastructure set up, all you really need is quality personal VPN. We'd recommend ExpressVPN as it works all over the world, and is incredibly reliable and secure.
However, if your business is a little larger and has centralized data, a more dedicated business VPN will suit you. You'll want a static IP so all your staff can access your restricted data, plus you might want to be able monitor and restrict your staff's activity online.
Here, we'd strongly recommend Perimeter 81, as it delivers more than just a VPN, and provides exceptional protection for just about every aspect of your business.
Do I need a business VPN?
If you have any kind of data that you want kept secure, then yes, you need a VPN for your business. It will keep your information private and safe, and in some cases it'll allow you to control what your staff have access to. Also, if your VPN offers a dedicated or static IP, that will allow you to access your location-restricted data if you're out of the country
A VPN is an affordable way to enhance your business' security without the need to invest in lots of hardware and tech support. It's a future-focused way of staying secure now and in the years to come without costing you a fortune. Also, you'll usually be well supported by customer care, meaning you can enjoy that extra security, worry-free.
