The best VPN for business depends on what you're protecting. NordLayer and Proton VPN suit small teams that want simple, managed business VPNs, Tailscale suits teams connecting devices and servers privately, Cloudflare Zero Trust and Twingate suit businesses moving to zero trust access, OpenVPN suits businesses that want a well-known open protocol they can host, and Cisco Secure Client and FortiClient suit businesses already using Cisco or Fortinet firewalls.
Once your team works from home, cafes and client offices, your business data travels over networks you don't control. A business VPN or secure access tool protects that connection and controls who can reach your internal systems, from shared drives to admin panels.
The tools below are well known and widely used. Some are classic VPNs and others take a newer zero trust approach, where every user and device is checked before it can reach each app. I've focused on what each one is known for, so treat this as a shortlist and roll one out to a small group first.
What should you look for in a VPN for business?
- Central management. An admin dashboard to add and remove people quickly matters more than any other feature.
- Single sign-on. Linking to Google Workspace or Microsoft accounts means one login to manage.
- Access controls. Decide which people and devices can reach which systems.
- Dedicated IP addresses. Useful when you need to allow-list your team on a server or tool.
- Device support. Check it covers every laptop and phone your team uses.
- Logging and privacy. Understand what the provider records and where it's based.
Business VPNs compared
| Tool | Best for | Stand-out feature |
|---|---|---|
| NordLayer | Small and growing teams | Managed business VPN |
| Proton VPN | Privacy-focused businesses | Swiss privacy and the Proton suite |
| Tailscale | Connecting devices and servers | Mesh network built on WireGuard |
| Cloudflare Zero Trust | Zero trust access to apps | Runs on Cloudflare's network |
| Twingate | Replacing a traditional VPN | Zero trust network access |
| OpenVPN | Self-hosted or cloud VPN | Widely used open protocol |
| Cisco Secure Client | Cisco networks | Formerly AnyConnect |
| FortiClient | Fortinet networks | Pairs with FortiGate firewalls |
Plans and features change often, so check each vendor's current plans before you commit.
The best VPNs for business
1. NordLayer
NordLayer is the business network security service from Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN. It offers a managed VPN, dedicated servers and IP addresses, access controls and an admin panel for adding and removing team members.
Who it suits: small and growing businesses that want a simple, managed business VPN.
What stands out: ease of rollout. You can get a team protected without building your own network.
Watch out for: check how it fits with any firewall or network setup you already have.
2. Proton VPN
Proton VPN comes from Proton, the Swiss company behind Proton Mail. Its business plans add dedicated servers and IP addresses and central user management to its privacy-focused VPN.
Who it suits: privacy-conscious businesses, especially those already using Proton Mail or Proton Drive.
What stands out: privacy. Proton is built around strong encryption and a no-logs approach.
Watch out for: its business admin tools are simpler than some dedicated business security platforms.
3. Tailscale
Tailscale creates a private mesh network between your devices and servers, built on the WireGuard protocol. Devices connect directly to each other, and you sign in with accounts such as Google or Microsoft.
Who it suits: teams that need private access to servers, office machines or development environments.
What stands out: simplicity. It takes minutes to connect devices that would normally need complex network setup.
Watch out for: it's not a tool for hiding your location on the internet, so it solves a different problem from a consumer VPN.
4. Cloudflare Zero Trust
Cloudflare Zero Trust, which uses the Cloudflare WARP app on devices, lets businesses control access to internal apps and filter internet traffic. It runs on Cloudflare's global network.
Who it suits: businesses moving from a traditional VPN to zero trust access.
What stands out: scale. It runs on the same network that protects a large share of the web.
Watch out for: there are a lot of settings, so start with one app or one policy and build up.
5. Twingate
Twingate is a zero trust network access tool designed to replace traditional VPNs. People get access only to the specific resources they need, rather than the whole network.
Who it suits: growing businesses that want tighter access control without a complex network project.
What stands out: least-privilege access. People only reach what their role needs.
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Watch out for: it's an access tool, so pair it with other security basics such as two-factor sign-in.
6. OpenVPN
OpenVPN is one of the most widely used VPN protocols. The company behind it offers Access Server, which you host yourself, and CloudConnexa, a cloud-delivered service.
Who it suits: businesses with some technical help that want a well-known, open VPN standard.
What stands out: flexibility. You can run it your way and it works with a huge range of devices.
Watch out for: the self-hosted option needs someone to set it up, update it and keep it secure.
7. Cisco Secure Client
Cisco Secure Client, formerly known as AnyConnect, is the remote access VPN used by many organisations with Cisco firewalls and networks.
Who it suits: businesses that already run Cisco network equipment.
What stands out: integration. It fits neatly with Cisco firewalls and security tools.
Watch out for: it's designed for businesses with Cisco infrastructure and usually someone to manage it.
8. FortiClient
FortiClient is Fortinet's endpoint app, which includes VPN access to networks protected by FortiGate firewalls.
Who it suits: businesses that use Fortinet firewalls in their office.
What stands out: the Fortinet connection. VPN access and firewall policies are managed together.
Watch out for: like Cisco, it makes most sense when you already have Fortinet equipment.
How to choose the right VPN for business
Start with what you need to protect. If your team mostly uses cloud apps such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, a managed VPN such as NordLayer or Proton VPN protects connections on public Wi-Fi. If you need to reach private servers or office machines, Tailscale, Twingate or Cloudflare Zero Trust are built for that.
If you already have a Cisco or Fortinet firewall, use the client that comes with it. And whichever you choose, remember a VPN is one layer. Two-factor sign-in, a password manager and quick removal of access when people leave matter just as much.
If you're new to this, start with my explainer on what a VPN is and how it works. My post on enhancing business network security with a VPN goes deeper, and my guide to the best password managers for small business covers the next layer.
Building a tool in this space? Here's how tools get considered for my roundups.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best VPN for business?
NordLayer and Proton VPN suit small teams that want a managed business VPN. Tailscale, Twingate and Cloudflare Zero Trust suit secure access to private systems, and Cisco or Fortinet clients suit businesses with those firewalls.
What's the difference between a business VPN and a personal VPN?
A business VPN adds central management, so an admin can add and remove people, control access and often assign dedicated IP addresses.
What is zero trust network access?
It's an approach where every user and device is checked before reaching each app, instead of being trusted once they're on the network.
Does a small business need a VPN?
If your team works on public Wi-Fi or needs to reach private systems remotely, a business VPN or secure access tool is a sensible layer of protection.
