How to choose the right VPN solution for your business

Your employees’ devices are working overtime. So are the hackers.

With BYOD and remote work accelerating, every login from a personal device could open a backdoor you never authorized. At the same time, 43% of IT leaders already feel overwhelmed by the expanding attack surface. The real question is not if threats will get in. It is how quickly you can close the gaps before they strike.

A strong Virtual Private Network (VPN) shields your data, your people, and your business. Let's break down how to choose the right VPN solution for a business.

What is a VPN?

For businesses, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is more than encrypted internet traffic. It’s a critical layer of defense that extends the corporate network securely across public and private infrastructure.

A VPN establishes secure connections between business endpoints which lead to server infrastructure. The secure connection established through VPN ensures the complete anonymity of credentials along with emails and business applications from interception and tampering attempts and surveillance activities.

Today’s enterprise VPNs support features like vpn tunneling, full tunnel or split tunnel routing, policy-based access control, integration with identity providers, and Zero-Trust enforcement. Without a business-grade VPN, every remote connection becomes a potential point of breach.

Why Businesses Need VPN Solutions

Businesses today deal with mounting pressure to protect sensitive data, secure remote access, and maintain compliance, without slowing down operations. As cyber threats continue to escalate, securing business networks has never been more critical. A striking 93% of organizations leverage VPNs as a core component of their security strategy. A VPN is fast becoming a must-have for companies that value data security and operational agility.

• Prevent unauthorized access to confidential business data
• Secure remote work connections across locations and devices
• Comply with data privacy regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, or SOX
• Control who gets access to sensitive systems and information
• Scale secure access as your teams grow and go mobile
• Protect sensitive data from interception on public or unstable networks
• Defend against cyberattacks targeting unsecured connections
• Bypass geographic restrictions for content or compliance purposes
• Stabilize access across untrusted or inconsistent network environments

If your business isn’t using a VPN yet, it’s worth asking: How long can you afford to operate without this essential layer of security?

Benefits of a Business VPN

1. Remote Access: The Backbone of Distributed Workforces

A report from PCMatic reveals that nearly 40% of remote workers actively use a VPN. As businesses expand globally and adopt hybrid work models, the need for secure and reliable remote access becomes paramount.

VPNs provide the vital link that enables employees to securely access internal networks, no matter where they work.

2. Zero Trust Access: Verifying Every Connection

Acts of trusting all devices or users without verification present dangerous risks. Every system along with users and devices should be treated with distrust by default in the framework of Zero Trust security. Network security professionals use this system as their preferred method for protecting their networks. A VPN works as an essential Zero Trust enabler through its continuous process to check and verify every connection attempt.

Modern VPN solutions safeguard connection encryption while implementing thorough policies to verify devices, authenticate users along with connection status tests. Network entry grants occur only after devices pass through all necessary checks which verifies their security authorization status. The security measures implement an extra defense which protects against unauthorized access to endpoints that lack proper security.

3. Protection Against Cyber-attacks: The Shield Your Business Needs

Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting businesses that operate without robust security measures. Without a strong VPN solution, your organization’s data is exposed to interception, especially on unsecured networks like public Wi-Fi. The absence of encryption makes your sensitive business information a prime target for hackers.

VPNs act as a powerful shield by encrypting all data transmitted across the network. Even if cybercriminals manage to intercept the data, it remains unreadable without the decryption key. Business VPN solutions provide an added layer of security, offering advanced encryption and endpoint management to ensure critical business information. Whether financial records, client data, or intellectual property, it remains secure, even in the face of sophisticated cyberattacks.

4. Cost Savings: Security Without the High Price Tag

Traditional private networks, like leased lines, have been the standard for securing business data. However, these networks are not only costly but also complex and slow to deploy. VPNs provide the same level of security without the heavy infrastructure, allowing businesses to protect their networks at a fraction of the cost.

For instance, a mid-sized healthcare provider switched from costly leased lines to a VPN-based secure access model and was able to save 35% on IT security costs. The scalability, lower maintenance needs, and ease of deployment make VPNs an attractive option for businesses looking to improve security without breaking the bank.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a VPN Solution

1. Prioritizing Security

Your VPN must use strong encryption standards. AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and multi-factor authentication are non-negotiable.

Security checklist:

• AES-256 encryption to guard against brute-force attacks.
• Kill switch to block data leaks during connection drops.
• DNS/IPv6 leak protection to prevent exposure.
• Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of identity verification.

2. Device and Platform Compatibility

Your employees use a mix of devices—Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. Your VPN solution should support all these platforms natively. Avoid solutions that require complex setups. Opt for one that provides simple, unified visibility, an intuitive user interface, and seamless integration with your MDM platform.

3. Server Locations

The position of VPN servers plays a crucial role in VPN performance. The connection speed and system performance improve as server locations are near where you are located. The speed and reliability of VPN services increase dramatically when they provide many server locations because users can locate servers near their location. Your VPN performance improves when you select a server located in your country, but choosing a nearby one will give you both quicker speeds and better response times.

4. User-Friendly Interface and Customer Support

Business VPNs must present straightforward interfaces which enable workers to establish connections without technical abilities. Users need a seamless interface to easily browse websites. The reliability of technical support represents an essential feature to resolve any problems that occur with these solutions. Users need to access the infrastructure securely using a single click function.

5. Scalability

Your business is dynamic. Your VPN should scale without friction.

Look for a solution that supports easy user onboarding, flexible licensing, and quick provisioning. Integrating identity providers like Azure AD, Okta, or Google Workspace can simplify user management.

Tip: If you’re onboarding new contractors, your VPN should allow provisioning in minutes, not hours.

6. Performance & Speed

A VPN that slows down employees leads to frustration and workarounds. Speed matters.

VPN solutions for business leverage advanced protocols like WireGuard or enhanced OpenVPN settings to offer both security and speed. Look for VPNs offering global server networks and intelligent routing.

Tip: Always test the VPN’s performance under different conditions—mobile networks, public Wi-Fi, and home broadband.

7. Secure Access for Distributed Teams

Distributed teams need more than just basic connection security. They need intelligent access management.

Your VPN should:

• Offer role-based access control (RBAC).
• Monitor user activity for unusual behavior.
• Support compliance reporting for standards like HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR.

In sectors like healthcare or finance, this level of access control is imperative.