One of many high challenges going through enterprise house owners is making certain safe distant connections to firm networks and assets to remain secure from information breaches. In a current IBM report, the common price of an information breach in 2024 was estimated at $4.88 million — which IBM says is the very best complete ever recorded. With this, it isn’t a shock that deploying enterprise-level digital non-public community options has turn out to be a high 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 corresponding to multi-factor authentication, disabling cut 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.
ESET PROTECT Superior
Workers per Firm Measurement
Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Giant (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+)
Any Firm Measurement
Any Firm Measurement
Options
Superior Menace Protection, Full Disk Encryption , Fashionable Endpoint Safety, and extra
ManageEngine Log360
Workers per Firm Measurement
Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Giant (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+)
Micro (0-49 Workers), Medium (250-999 Workers), Enterprise (5,000+ Workers), Giant (1,000-4,999 Workers), Small (50-249 Workers)
Micro, Medium, Enterprise, Giant, Small
Options
Exercise Monitoring, Blacklisting, Dashboard, and extra
Graylog
Workers per Firm Measurement
Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Giant (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+)
Medium (250-999 Workers), Enterprise (5,000+ Workers), Giant (1,000-4,999 Workers)
Medium, Enterprise, Giant
Options
Exercise Monitoring, Dashboard, Notifications
High enterprise VPN options comparability
The desk beneath highlights a few of the key options of enterprise VPN options and the way they examine with each other.
Cisco AnyConnect: Finest general
Cisco AnyConnect is my finest general 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 test 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 assemble data for evaluation and troubleshooting. It disables cut up tunneling, that means when a consumer is linked to the VPN, they will solely entry company assets 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, corresponding to system test and server blocking, that make it a robust choice amongst different enterprise VPN options with extra restricted capabilities. Per my analysis, it additionally will get glowing evaluations 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.
- Gives visibility and perception into endpoint conduct.
- Provides multi-factor authentication.
- Provides always-on help.
Professionals and cons
| Professionals | Cons |
|---|---|
| It’s straightforward to obtain and set up. | There isn’t any free trial. |
| It may be used on a number of gadgets. | Lacks kill change functionality. |
| Gives nice buyer help. |
Checkpoint Safe Distant Entry: Finest for web-based shopper help
For high quality net shopper help, I like to recommend Checkpoint Safe Distant Entry VPN. It might probably create {custom} set up packages pre-configured with the goal IP deal with(es) for shoppers to authenticate to. Like AnyConnect, it’s secured by multi-factor authentication (on this case, both arduous tokens or smooth tokens, which function as an app on cellular gadgets).
SEE: How A lot Does a VPN Value? + Financial savings Suggestions (TechRepublic)
I personally like how cut 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 have been blocked, as an illustration). 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 succeed in 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 permits community entry by means of an internet 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 shopper on their gadgets.
Pricing
- Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
- The VPN gives a central administration platform.
- IPsec and SSL VPN help.
- Safe hotspot registration.
- It gives VPN auto-connect.
- Multi-factor authentication help.
Professionals and cons
| Professionals | Cons |
|---|---|
| SSL help supplies 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 just out there for Home windows customers. |
| Runs on a number of gadgets, together with Home windows, Mac, and mobiles. | |
| Provides menace prevention functionality. |
NordLayer: Finest for brand new enterprise VPN customers
For companies transitioning to an enterprise VPN answer, I like to recommend NordLayer. It’s a robust distant entry answer that permits companies to safe their distant workers and defend firm assets 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 gives an in depth suite of safety features with out sacrificing ease of use. A few of its options embrace good distant entry, All the time 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 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 permits NordLayer to accommodate most, if not all, enterprise sizes with out a lot headache. I additionally like that it gives its personal proprietary NordLynx protocol, primarily based on WireGuard, that’s constructed for each pace and safety.
Pricing
NordLayer has a month-to-month and a yearly choice for its 4 subscription tiers. Beneath is a fast rundown of its annual pricing.
- Lite: $8 per consumer, per 30 days; 5 customers minimal; important web entry safety with primary web menace prevention.
- Core: $11 per consumer, per 30 days; 5 customers minimal; superior entry safety, and primary community entry management.
- Premium: $14 per consumer, per 30 days; 5 customers minimal; community entry management options with granular community segmentation.
- Enterprise: $7 per consumer, per 30 days; 50 customers minimal; custom-fit community safety.
Options
- Machine posture safety.
- MFA and SSO.
- All the time On VPN.
- Exercise monitoring stories.
Professionals and cons
| Professionals | Cons |
|---|---|
| Subscription tiers that cater to numerous enterprise sizes. | Pretty new to enterprise VPN area. |
| Extremely scalable. | |
| Publicly out there pricing. |
SonicWall World VPN Shopper: Finest light-weight enterprise VPN
For companies on the lookout for a light-weight choice, I recommend SonicWall World VPN. It gives a quick and environment friendly product that gives RADIUS/certificates/Sensible Card/USB authentication. It comes with each 168-bit key 3DES (Information Encryption Normal) and AES (Superior Encryption) encryption requirements and VPN session reliability that redirects shoppers to different VPN gateways if issues happen. I significantly admire how SonicWall comes with particular subnet entry and command-line choices for set up, making it straightforward to deploy by means 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 mixture of sturdy safety features, corresponding to AES encryption, an simply configurable interface, and a fast and dependable consumer expertise. SonicWall additionally has status 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.
- Provides straightforward setup and configuration.
- Detailed logs and reporting for community directors.
Professionals and cons
| Professionals | Cons |
|---|---|
| Provides sturdy encryption and authentication to guard towards cyber threats. | There isn’t any free trial or demo. |
| It’s straightforward to obtain and configure. | No web-based model. |
| Appropriate with a variety of platforms and gadgets. | |
| Provides logs and reporting options to watch VPN utilization. |
Fortinet FortiClient: Finest for providing wider VPN safety choices
For companies trying to have flexibility by way of VPN safety choices, I like to recommend Fortinet FortiClient. It depends on certificates for integration and deployment and gives 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 test shopper standing and have interaction in vulnerability scanning and patching.
I admire how Fortinet gives two several types of VPN options — IPSec and SSL — and may be built-in into a corporation’s general endpoint safety technique. This supplies a dependable VPN safety choice for corporations which have workers working remotely.
Why I selected Fortinet FortiClient
I selected Fortinet FortiClient for its in depth protocol suite, making it a sensible choice when safety is a high precedence. It additionally stood out for me as a result of its extensive number of tunneling protocols which can be customizable primarily based 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.
- Provides malware safety and anti-exploit help.
- Provides 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 choice. | Integration with anti-virus and threat-detection instruments makes it somewhat bit clunky. |
| Absolutely customizable authentication settings. |
Palo Alto GlobalProtect: Finest for implementing safety insurance policies
For enterprises that desire a VPN with dependable safety coverage capabilities, I recommend wanting into Palo Alto GlobalProtect. It gives related options to prior merchandise listed, corresponding to 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 capability to determine what gadgets are connecting to the VPN and whether or not they’re managed (company-owned or operated) or unmanaged (employee-owned), and offering entry accordingly (gadgets deemed suspicious or unauthorized may be blocked totally). It might probably additionally decide certificates current on gadgets, working system and patch ranges, anti-malware variations and standing, working software program, and whether or not disks are encrypted and information is being backed up by a product.
Why I selected Palo Alto GlobalProtect
I opted for Palo Alto GlobalProtect as a result 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 status for shielding company and consumer information. I additionally discover its sturdy software of zero belief safety rules as a significant benefit towards related opponents.
Pricing
- Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
- Gives least-privilege entry help for distant workers.
- Helps multi-factor authentication.
- The software program helps menace prevention.
- Provides full visibility throughout all purposes, ports, and protocols.
Professionals and cons
| Professionals | Cons |
|---|---|
| There’s a demo choice to take a look at the product. | Deployment could also be tough for first-time customers. |
| Provides analytics and visibility for community site visitors, | |
| There may be an always-on, safe connection help. |
ZScaler Non-public Entry: Finest for zero belief community entry
In case you’re on the lookout for a ZTNA answer, I like to recommend ZScaler Non-public Entry. As a disclaimer, Zscaler is a distinct product from the earlier choices on this article. Fairly than being a conventional end-user VPN shopper, 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 fairly than vice versa, so customers by no means truly entry the distant networks concerned.
It makes use of customary 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 diminished infrastructure setup occasions and lack of want for added networking tools.
Why I selected ZScaler Non-public Entry
I’ve ZScaler Non-public Entry on this record 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 information and provides a further layer of safety towards doable information breaches.
Pricing
- Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
- A number of machine help.
- Gives 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.
Professionals and cons
| Professionals | Cons |
|---|---|
| There may be an choice 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 standard client VPNs. Beneath are a few of the differentiating elements.
Help for Safe VPN Protocol
Help for safe VPN protocols is a vital 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 usually help a number of safe protocols, corresponding to OpenVPN, IPSec, and SSL/TLS, to offer quite a lot of choices for connecting to the community securely. Using safe VPN protocols assist defend delicate data from interception, eavesdropping, and different sorts of cyber threats.
SEE: Methods 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 information. Enterprise VPN options want sturdy, built-in DNS leak safety mechanisms to make sure that all DNS queries are routed by means of the encrypted VPN tunnel and never leaked outdoors.
Centralized administration help
A centralized administration system permits directors to rapidly and simply configure VPN settings and insurance policies, monitor VPN site visitors and utilization, and troubleshoot community points. With a centralized administration community, admins can even implement insurance policies — corresponding to entry controls and information retention insurance policies, throughout the whole VPN community — making certain that every one customers adjust to firm safety insurance policies and trade rules.
Excessive availability
Excessive availability is one other important characteristic of enterprise VPNs. Having an enterprise VPN persistently and repeatedly function correctly is a vital characteristic 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 one of the best VPN answer for my enterprise?
Earlier than choosing any VPN software program for your enterprise, I like to recommend you’re taking time to contemplate the next:
Think about your enterprise safety wants
First, take into account your safety wants and test in case your potential VPN answer 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 need to go for a VPN answer that gives each. Equally, you also needs to take into account 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 decide one of the best VPN software program for your enterprise.
Think about safety capabilities
Whereas all VPN options provide 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 answer. You must go for options that present sturdy encryption, safe authentication, and different safety features to guard towards cyber threats.
Test for compatibility
Compatibility is one other issue to contemplate earlier than choosing any enterprise VPN answer. The VPN answer must be appropriate with a variety of platforms and gadgets, together with desktops, laptops, cellular gadgets, and totally different working programs. This ensures that your workers’ gadgets can simply hook up with the VPN with out spending cash on further gadgets.
Think about price
Think about the price of the VPN answer, together with any {hardware} or software program licenses, upkeep and help charges, and some 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 degree. To reach at this record of one of the best enterprise VPNs, I primarily based our choice on the next parameters: sturdy safety features, steady connection, multi-device and working system functionality, and buyer help. Other than utilizing a few of the options, I additionally checked out evaluations on Gartner to assemble third-party opinions and consumer testimonials on a few of the VPN options.
From these elements, I highlighted the primary differentiating characteristic that makes every particular enterprise VPN value trying out.
This text was initially written by Scott Matteson and up to date by Franklin Okeke. The present model accommodates further data and updates by Luis Millares.