9 Best Enterprise VPN Solutions and Vendors

More businesses are turning to enterprise VPNs (virtual private networks) because of the many benefits they provide, such as increased security, better connectivity and improved productivity. In particular, enterprise VPNs are becoming increasingly popular due to the current trends like workations which show that remote work will become even bigger in future. Enterprise VPNs allow employees to securely connect to their company's network from anywhere they want to work from, which is essential for businesses that have employees working remotely. A VPN improves productivity by reducing network latency and providing employees with access to all the resources they need while working from outside the corporate offices. With all these benefits, it's no wonder that enterprise VPNs are becoming increasingly popular.

Fortunately there are quite a couple of options in the market. But with options comes the headache of determining the best choice for your business. An expert guide becomes handy in such circumstances, and that is exactly what we'll do here.

But first, how about understanding what an enterprise VPN is all about?

What is an enterprise VPN?

An enterprise VPN is a type of VPN that is typically used by businesses or organizations, rather than individuals. Enterprise VPNs usually offer more features and are more flexible than other types of VPNs, such as consumer VPNs. Enterprise VPNs allow businesses to connect their employees to their corporate network from anywhere in the world, provide additional security features, and allow businesses to manage their VPNs more easily. 

You can use an enterprise VPN to connect your employees to your company’s internal network, connect a branch office to the corporate network, or allow telecommuters to connect to the corporate network from home. These types of VPNs can also be used to connect multiple offices or branches together, allowing businesses to share resources more easily. 

Many enterprise VPNs also offer the ability to connect to public Wi-Fi hotspots securely and by encrypting all data that is sent over the connection.

How does an enterprise VPN function?

An enterprise VPN works by simply creating a secure connection between devices and the company's network. This connection is made possible by an encrypted tunnel that's created between the two points.

The connection is made through an intermediary server, which routes traffic between the two points. This server acts as a «tunnel» that encrypts and decrypts data passing through it.  And once the tunnel is established, employees can access the company's network as if they were sitting right in the office.

Also read: how to remediate cyber threats

The best enterprise VPN solutions and vendors

To help you make the best decision, we've analyzed the various enterprise VPNs on the market and compiled a list of the top ones. Here they are:

1. Perimeter 81

Perimeter 81 is a comprehensive and secure VPN that can be used by businesses of all sizes. It's one of the best enterprise VPNs on the market right now with unparalleled ease of use. All you have to do is choose the desired plan as per the needs of your organization, download the VPN, create an account, and connect to one of Perimeter 81's servers.

The VPN comes with a wide range of features, including unlimited data, a fast and reliable connection, and 24/7 customer support.

This enterprise VPN works by encrypting all of your traffic and routing it through Perimeter 81's secure servers. This means that no one can see what you're doing online, not even your ISP.

Key features of Perimeter 81 include:

Multi-tenant cloud

This feature helps to segment or rather divide, if you like, the network, into multiple sections based on your network security policy. In other words your policy should guide you on how to segment the network. This kind of segregation protects network resources. 

Unified network platform

This is basically a cloud platform that manages access, monitors the granting of permissions, and other critical requirements.

Multi-device use

Perimeter 81 supports use from multiple devices, including PC and Mac desktops across the web and mobile. Multi-factor authentication is supported across all devices.

2. NordLayer

NordLayer is a top-rated VPN service that offers robust security features, fast speeds, and a user-friendly interface. It's perfect for businesses of all sizes and can be easily scaled to meet the needs of any organization.

Employees can use NordLayer on their computer, phone, or tablet—whatever device they’re using, NordLayer will work seamlessly. It’s superbly reliable and has a 99.9% uptime guarantee, so you can rest assured that your data will always be safe. Here are the standout features:

Single-Sign-On (SSO)

One of NordLayer's coolest features is its Single-Sign-On (SSO) capability. It means you need not bother with more and more business credentials. Some of the major services covered by the SSO integration include Gsuite, Azure, as well as Okta.

You simply sign in once and you're good to go. You can access all of your applications from a single login, which makes your workday a lot more efficient. It's really cool when employees are able to log in to all of their work  applications with a single click.

Secure remote access

This is essentially the essence of a VPN, and NordLayer delivers 100% when it comes to secure remote access. Whether you want to have as many dedicated IP addresses as your business needs demand, NordLayer is upto the task.

Team permissions

One of the great things about NordLayer and most of the other top VPNs is that you can easily manage team permissions. So, for example, if you want your team to have access to a certain area of the network but you don't want them to be able to make changes, that's no problem. You can simply set permissions so that they can only view the information they need to see.

This makes it easy to keep track of what everyone is doing and helps ensure that your data is always safe and secure. Plus, it's great for collaboration—everyone can work together seamlessly and know exactly what they're allowed to do.

What's even better is the fact that you do all this management from one central control panel. This permission management feature also comes with a centralized billing system. What this means is that there'll never be a need to worry about payment details whenever you add a new user.

Dedicated servers

NordLayer has an advanced plan that contains dedicated servers. The beauty of this is that you get to buy the servers on demand and you have the freedom to choose the location you want the servers to be, worldwide.

3. Cisco AnyConnect

Cisco, the company, is no stranger in the IT space. The tech giant is a deeply entrenched market leader in matters of security, and Cisco AnyConnect signifies the company's longstanding name as a vendor of some of the most iconic security solutions. 

The AnyConnect policy-driven VPN tool from Cisco is designed to secure remote workers' network access across wired, wireless and virtual private networks. The solution provides complete visibility as to who has accessed an organization's confidential information through a single management agent that can be installed on any device anywhere with internet service capability — even when offline!

AnyConnect’s use of IKEv2 and SSL protocols ensure that the connection is highly secure, with multi-factor authentication being used to confirm each user's identity before they are granted access.

You can protect your employees' mobile devices with complete visibility across the extended enterprise. This is especially useful for companies that want full control of who has access to what on company networks — whether they're working from home or out in field conditions.

Admins have all summary information at hand so there's no need go back-and forth between different platforms to find out who is accessing the network, from which device and from where. This helps cut down time spent troubleshooting employee issues when something goes wrong because you'll always know how it happened right away. 

The updates on AnyConnect are automatic, meaning you don't have to keep checking when it’s time for new updates. Simply focus on ensuring your employees are doing their work, and whenever an update is due, the VPN will update automatically. In other words it automatically downloads updates to make sure you're protected from the latest threats, no matter how often they come out with new software or what type of device it's being used on!

4. Twingate

Founded in 2014, TwinGate is a fast growing remote-first cybersecurity company that specializes in providing secure access to online services. The company is dedicated to empowering distributed workforces with secure remote access to corporate resources without disturbing their expected productivity.  Their eponymous cloud-based VPN makes it easy for IT professionals to set up a protected VPN perimeter that includes centrally managed user permissions for both on prem or cloud based applications.

Twingate works on the principle of  zero trust, meaning all devices are treated as strangers to the network before being granted access. Even after a device has been granted access, it’s still not trusted and this is where constant monitoring plays a role.  With TwinGate, you'll get all the features and functionality you need to keep your business running smoothly, including support for multiple users, high-speed connections, and robust security features. TwinGate is also easy to set up and use, so you'll be up and running in no time. And because it's been specifically designed for businesses, you can be confident that it will scale seamlessly as your business grows.

Scalability is a huge part of TwinGate’s offering, and in fact they market their enterprise VPN as the best solution for fast-growing teams. Even when your network is separated by subnets or firewalls, TwinGate is good to go.  

Below is a quick highlight of TwinGate’s main features:

Friendly resource mapping

If you have ever tried to map a complex network, then you know how frustrating it can get if the mapping interferes with the infrastructure. Fortunately, TwinGate’s resource mapping does not interfere with your infrastructure. Whether you are dealing with docker or AWS AMI and everything in-between, TwinGate will map it all out with zero changes. The connectors are extremely lightweight, making the deployment an extremely easy process. 

Resource assignment based on user approvals

For every request received for accessing a resource on a company’s network, TwinGate verifies that indeed the device requesting access is allowed to access the requested resource. TwinGate also takes context into account, meaning a device or user, if you like, may not necessarily be allowed to access the same resource all the time. This means you can grant access to certain devices based on what exactly the user wants to do and if that user is allowed to be performing that specific task at that particular time when the resource is being requested. 

Controlled connection from any device

Strict device control tools mean that there is constant monitoring of all devices on the network. This is the surest way to guarantee the security of sensitive data.

If the user is not verified or the context is mischievous, the request will not even leave the device. The in-built logging system allows administrators to rewind time so that they can have a perfect picture of all requests.

5. TorGuard

TorGuard Business VPN is a comprehensive solution that provides businesses with the tools they need to keep their data safe and secure..

TorGuard Business VPN encrypts all traffic so that your data is safe from prying eyes, whether you're working from home or on the go. It also protects you from malicious websites and hackers, keeping your confidential information out of reach.

Plus, TorGuard Business VPN allows you to access blocked content and region-locked websites, so you can stay productive no matter where you are. And with unlimited bandwidth, you can work uninterrupted for as long as you need to. TorGuard uses the 256-AES encryption, a military grade protocol. 

Some of the features to expect from TorGuard enterprise VPN include:

Windows, Mac and Mobile apps

The suite of  Windows, Mac, and mobile VPN apps allow employees to access the company's resources from anywhere in the world, with the peace of mind that comes from knowing their data is safe and secure.

App unlocking

More and more companies now rely on online apps to help them run their operations. However, many of these apps are blocked in certain countries. It means that popular apps might be blocked in certain countries and regions, yet your employees in these areas must access them to do their work. A stealth VPN comes in handy here, and TorGuard does not disappoint. 

With TorGuard's Stealth VPN, your traffic is disguised as regular HTTPS traffic, so it can bypass even the most stringent internet censorship. This allows your employees to do away with all restrictions, unblock all blocked apps and gain permanent access from any location in the world.

Dedicated account managers

This is perhaps the most compelling strength of TorGuard. There is a dedicated account manager for each TorGuard business VPN account. The manager answers all questions regarding the account and assists with troubleshooting whenever issues arise. 

White label

Ever wanted to label your VPN with your company’s label? Well, TorGuard allows this. All you  need to do is upload your company’s logo to the management panel and give the entire VPN platform a professional look that employees will certainly like. The white label solution comes at a monthly cost of $19. 

6. VyprVPN

Golden Frog has cut out is name as a top cybersecurity company, providing cutting edge security solutions for businesses that want the very best in the market.

It's important to note that the founding of Golden Frog was inspired by the infamous Room 641a. The NSA was using this room to carry out surveillance on the networks of AT&T. According to Golden Frog, the founders brought this issue to the attention of the FCC by filing papers with the body. They were ignored, and this provided the trigger to found Golden Frog with the aim of protecting Internet users. The rest is history and with this strong foundation, it's no wonder that VyprVPN by Golden Frog is now one of the best business VPNs.

These are the standout features of VyprVPN:

Split Tunneling

The Split Tunneling feature makes it possible to split the internet traffic. This gives your users the ability to stream content from many parts of the world, without compromising the normal internet connection.

No-Logging 

VyprVPN does not store any data in their systems that would give attackers an opportunity to intrude on your network. In other words VyprVPN  is a No-Log VPN.

Kill Switch

The purpose of a kill switch is to block any form of traffic when the VPN is disabled or not connected. It does not matter whether the traffic is on your network or over the internet. So immediately the VyprVPN disconnects or is diabled, all traffic is blocked automatically. This is the best way to ensure that no malicious traffic takes advantage of even the slightest failure of the VPN in terms of connectivity.

7. Surfshark

Surfshark is one of the most prominent names in cybersecurity, just like the rest of the vendors that we have in this list. The Surfshak enterprise VPN is most suitable for small businesses with flexible teams.

This VPN contains robust features such as No logs and Kill Switch, which as we have seen, play the role of total protection of the user data and killing off any connection whenever the VPN is not active for one reason or the other.

8. Remote Access VPN

As the name suggests, the Remote Access VPN is strong on remote access and offers users military grade protection when accessing corporate networks from remote locations or even when in the corporate offices but need to access some resources via VPN. 

Remote Access VPN offers a very simple user experience for any device that your employees might be using. This includes the ability to view all VPN events from one console.

9. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is perhaps the most praised VPN around. And although it’s popular as a consumer VPN, it also has a business plan that is particularly suitable for small businesses. So if you are a small business that is already getting scared by all these giant corporate VPN solutions, then you have an ally in ExpressVPN. 

The same seamless connection that ExpressVPN offers individual users is the very same smooth connection you will enjoy as a business, or even better.

ExpressVPN's network of servers covers locations in most parts of the world, including countries with some of the worst censorship. So if some of your employees are based in some of these countries or happen to visit, you can always rest assured that they will be able to work via ExpressVPN.

What is the difference between VPN and zero trust?

As you  know, A VPN  creates a secure, encrypted connection between a user’s computer and a server. This allows the user to access resources anonymously and securely, without fear of snooping or hacking. In other words, VPNs work by creating some sort of perimeter around assets or activities within a network. Users who have permission to access the VPN are the only ones who can access any resource in the perimeter. This limited access is what essentially secures the network. The VPN model therefore assumes that whatever is allowed to pass through the boundaries of the perimeter can be trusted, since it has permission to access the VPN. This can be risky.

The zero trust model throws out the perimeter and instead works by verifying each user trying to access any resource within the network. By doing so, it protects the entire network. In other words it's no longer about trusting anyone who is inside the network, which is what traditional VPNs do. Zero trust grants access based on identity, and this is done continuously. So a user can be granted access today but be denied tomorrow. This model also goes further to define what a user can do and in what context.

The zero trust approach is becoming increasingly popular. In fact, many trusted VPN companies are already transforming their VPN solutions into zero trust platforms. Some are incorporating zero trust features into their existing solutions.

The zero trust model started gaining momentum after the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the time when remote working blossomed and it was clear that VPNs would struggle to keep up with the emerging work trends.

Conclusion

Although VPNs have evolved over the years, they are still a powerful and popular tool for businesses. If you are a business with lots of users that need remote access to various resources, you just have to deploy some enterprise VPN solution.

Make sure that the VPN solution you choose is compatible with your company's existing infrastructure. You also need to consider the security requirements of your business and whether you want a cloud-based or on-premise VPN solution. Be sure to consult a cyber security firm if it's your first time to implement a VPN solution.