One of many high challenges dealing with enterprise house owners is guaranteeing safe distant connections to firm networks and sources to remain protected from knowledge breaches. In a latest IBM report, the common price of an information breach in 2024 was estimated at $4.88 million — which IBM says is the best complete ever recorded. With this, it isn’t a shock that deploying enterprise-level digital non-public community options has change into a high precedence for a lot of companies.
Enterprise VPN options present a safe gateway for companies to attach their staff to their company networks. Safety features reminiscent of multi-factor authentication, disabling break up tunneling, implementing a most connection-time window after which staff 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 beneath highlights among the key options of enterprise VPN options and the way they examine with each other.
Cisco AnyConnect: Greatest general
Cisco AnyConnect is my greatest general choose 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 examine 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 techniques 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 assemble info for evaluation and troubleshooting. It disables break up tunneling, that means when a consumer is related to the VPN, they’ll solely entry company sources and nothing on an area 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 safety features, reminiscent of system examine and server blocking, that make it a powerful possibility amongst different enterprise VPN options with extra restricted capabilities. Per my analysis, it additionally will get glowing critiques from customers by way of its stability and general reliability.
Pricing
- Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
- Permits entry to the enterprise community, from any machine, at any time, in any location.
- Supplies visibility and perception into endpoint conduct.
- Affords multi-factor authentication.
- Affords always-on help.
Professionals and cons
| Professionals | 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. |
| Supplies nice buyer help. |
Checkpoint Safe Distant Entry: Greatest for web-based shopper help
For high quality net shopper help, I like to recommend Checkpoint Safe Distant Entry VPN. It could actually create {custom} set up packages pre-configured with the goal IP deal with(es) for purchasers to authenticate to. Like AnyConnect, it’s secured by multi-factor authentication (on this case, both onerous tokens or comfortable tokens, which function as an app on cell units).
SEE: How A lot Does a VPN Price? + Financial savings Ideas (TechRepublic)
I personally like how break up tunneling is disabled in Checkpoint Safe Distant Entry, identical to Cisco AnyConnect. This implies, for hackers to get to the purchasers, they must configure the corporate proxy server settings, which solely allow entry to public-facing web websites for enterprise use (social media websites have 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 facet.
Why I selected Checkpoint Safe Distant Entry
I’ve Checkpoint Safe Distant Entry VPN on this checklist for its spectacular SSL VPN portal that permits community entry by an internet browser. Having safe entry to a company community is a significant value-add that many staff and employers will discover helpful, particularly these working in a hybrid setup. I additionally really feel it makes workflows extra environment friendly, since staff can entry essential sources with out having to put in a full-fledged VPN shopper 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.
Professionals and cons
| Professionals | Cons |
|---|---|
| SSL help gives web-based entry with out the necessity to set up a VPN shopper. | It doesn’t help menace prevention on iOS, Android, and Linux customers. |
| Compliance scanning help. | Incident evaluation is simply out there for Home windows customers. |
| Runs on a number of units, together with Home windows, Mac, and mobiles. | |
| Affords menace 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 staff and defend firm sources on the similar 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 intensive suite of safety features with out sacrificing ease of use. A few of its options embrace sensible distant entry, At all times On VPN, Customized DNS, and DNS filtering by class. One huge 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 characteristic that’s excellent for potential enterprise VPN customers.
Why I selected NordLayer
I selected NordLayer for its sturdy emphasis on ease of deployment, set up, and scalability — which is good for companies that need to begin utilizing an enterprise VPN. This enables 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 velocity and safety.
Pricing
NordLayer has a month-to-month and a yearly possibility for its 4 subscription tiers. Beneath is a fast rundown of its annual pricing.
- Lite: $8 per consumer, monthly; 5 customers minimal; important web entry safety with fundamental web menace prevention.
- Core: $11 per consumer, monthly; 5 customers minimal; superior entry safety, and fundamental community entry management.
- Premium: $14 per consumer, monthly; 5 customers minimal; community entry management options with granular community segmentation.
- Enterprise: $7 per consumer, monthly; 50 customers minimal; custom-fit community safety.
Options
- Machine posture safety.
- MFA and SSO.
- At all times On VPN.
- Exercise monitoring reviews.
Professionals and cons
| Professionals | Cons |
|---|---|
| Subscription tiers that cater to varied enterprise sizes. | Pretty new to enterprise VPN area. |
| Extremely scalable. | |
| Publicly out there pricing. |
SonicWall World VPN Consumer: Greatest light-weight enterprise VPN
For companies on the lookout for a light-weight possibility, I counsel SonicWall World VPN. It affords a quick and environment friendly product that gives RADIUS/certificates/Good Card/USB authentication. It comes with each 168-bit key 3DES (Information Encryption Commonplace) and AES (Superior Encryption) encryption requirements and VPN session reliability that redirects purchasers to different VPN gateways if issues happen. I notably respect how SonicWall comes with particular subnet entry and command-line choices for set up, making it straightforward to deploy by automated software program mechanisms.
Why I selected SonicWall World VPN Consumer:
I chosen SonicWall World VPN to be on this checklist for its velocity and reliability. It has a great mixture of sturdy safety features, reminiscent of AES encryption, an simply configurable interface, and a fast and dependable consumer expertise. SonicWall additionally has a great 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.
- Affords straightforward setup and configuration.
- Detailed logs and reporting for community directors.
Professionals and cons
| Professionals | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affords sturdy 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. |
| Appropriate with a variety of platforms and units. | |
| Affords logs and reporting options to watch VPN utilization. |
Fortinet FortiClient: Greatest for providing wider VPN safety choices
For companies seeking to have flexibility by way of 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 conduct evaluation, is included. Fortinet makes use of a “single pane of glass” strategy that gives one-stop-shopping to handle configuration, deployment, and administration, in addition to examine shopper standing and have interaction in vulnerability scanning and patching.
I respect how Fortinet affords two various kinds of VPN options — IPSec and SSL — and could be built-in into a company’s general endpoint safety technique. This gives a dependable VPN safety possibility for corporations which have staff working remotely.
Why I selected Fortinet FortiClient
I selected Fortinet FortiClient for its in depth protocol suite, making it a good selection when safety is a high precedence. It additionally stood out for me on account of its large number of tunneling protocols which might be 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.
- Affords malware safety and anti-exploit help.
- Affords a number of tunneling protocols, together with Level-to-Level, Layer 2, and Safe Socket tunneling protocols.
Professionals and cons
| Professionals | Cons |
|---|---|
| There’s a free trial possibility. | Integration with anti-virus and threat-detection instruments makes it a bit bit clunky. |
| Totally customizable authentication settings. |
Palo Alto GlobalProtect: Greatest for implementing safety insurance policies
For enterprises that need a VPN with dependable safety coverage capabilities, I counsel wanting into Palo Alto GlobalProtect. It affords related options to prior merchandise listed, reminiscent of multi-factor authentication, excessive safety (cookie or certificate-based authentication are two sturdy options), net filtering and menace safety. As well as, GlobalProtect depends on Zero Belief rules.
Personally, I commend GlobalProtect’s spectacular means 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 could be blocked solely). It could actually additionally decide certificates current on units, working system and patch ranges, anti-malware variations and standing, operating 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 on account of its trustworthiness and reliability in upholding its safety insurance policies and have guarantees to its purchasers. Belief and credibility are essential tenets in high quality safety software program, and GlobalProtect has continued to take care of a great fame for safeguarding company and consumer knowledge. I additionally discover its sturdy software of zero belief safety rules as a significant benefit in opposition to related rivals.
Pricing
- Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
- Supplies least-privilege entry help for distant staff.
- Helps multi-factor authentication.
- The software program helps menace prevention.
- Affords full visibility throughout all purposes, ports, and protocols.
Professionals and cons
| Professionals | Cons |
|---|---|
| There’s a demo possibility to take a look at the product. | Deployment could also be tough for first-time customers. |
| Affords analytics and visibility for community site visitors, | |
| There may be an always-on, safe connection help. |
ZScaler Non-public Entry: Greatest for zero belief community entry
Should you’re on the lookout for a ZTNA resolution, I like to recommend ZScaler Non-public Entry. As a disclaimer, Zscaler is a special product from the earlier choices on this article. Fairly than being a standard end-user VPN shopper, it’s a cloud service that gives entry to purposes in cloud environments or on-premises techniques by way of a distributed structure. The twist right here is that the purposes connect with approved customers by way of safe encryption fairly than vice versa, so customers by no means really entry the distant networks concerned.
It makes use of normal policy-based entry, relying on customers and purposes. For me, I like how ZScaler allows mergers and acquisitions to be facilitated simply as a result of diminished infrastructure setup occasions and lack of want for added networking gear.
Why I selected ZScaler Non-public Entry
I’ve ZScaler Non-public Entry on this checklist for its zero belief strategy 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 attainable knowledge breaches.
Pricing
- Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
- A number of machine help.
- Supplies multi-factor authentication.
- AI-powered community segmentation.
- Helps various kinds of segmentations, together with user-to-app, user-to-device, and workload-to-workload segmentation.
Professionals and cons
| Professionals | Cons |
|---|---|
| There may be an possibility for a demo. | It’s only cloud-based. |
| Applies the rules of least privilege to provide 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. Beneath are among the differentiating elements.
Help for Safe VPN Protocol
Help for safe VPN protocols is an important characteristic 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 sometimes help a number of safe protocols, reminiscent of OpenVPN, IPSec, and SSL/TLS, to offer a wide range of choices for connecting to the community securely. Using safe VPN protocols assist defend delicate info from interception, eavesdropping, and different forms 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 staff’ on-line actions and probably permitting unauthorized entry to delicate firm knowledge. Enterprise VPN options want strong, built-in DNS leak safety mechanisms to make sure that all DNS queries are routed by 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 also implement insurance policies — reminiscent of entry controls and knowledge retention insurance policies, throughout your complete VPN community — guaranteeing that every one customers adjust to firm safety insurance policies and business laws.
Excessive availability
Excessive availability is one other crucial characteristic of enterprise VPNs. Having an enterprise VPN constantly and constantly function correctly is an important characteristic to be careful for. Any downtime in an enterprise VPN’s efficiency can disrupt enterprise operations, stopping distant employees from accessing company sources and probably inflicting income losses.
How do I select the most effective VPN resolution for my enterprise?
Earlier than choosing any VPN software program for your corporation, I like to recommend you’re taking time to think about the next:
Take into account your corporation safety wants
First, contemplate your safety wants and examine 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, you must go for a VPN resolution that gives 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 shopper? Your reply will can help you choose the most effective VPN software program for your corporation.
Take into account safety capabilities
Whereas all VPN options supply related 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 need to go for options that present sturdy encryption, safe authentication, and different safety features to guard in opposition to cyber threats.
Examine 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, cell units, and totally different working techniques. This ensures that your staff’ units can simply connect with the VPN with out spending cash on extra units.
Take into account price
Take into account the price of the VPN resolution, together with any {hardware} or software program licenses, upkeep and help charges, and another bills related to implementation and administration.
Methodology
Whereas there are a number of VPN companies on the market, not all supply options at an enterprise degree. To reach at this checklist of the most effective enterprise VPNs, I based mostly our choice on the next parameters: sturdy safety features, 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 assemble third-party opinions and consumer testimonials on among the VPN options.
From these features, I highlighted the principle differentiating characteristic 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 accommodates extra info and updates by Luis Millares.
