# Best Enterprise Business VPN Software *By [Brandon Summers-Miller](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/brandon-summers-miller)* Products classified in the overall Business VPN category are similar in many regards and help companies of all sizes solve their business problems. However, enterprise business features, pricing, setup, and installation differ from businesses of other sizes, which is why we match buyers to the right Enterprise Business Business VPN to fit their needs. Compare product ratings based on reviews from enterprise users or connect with one of G2's buying advisors to find the right solutions within the Enterprise Business Business VPN category. In addition to qualifying for inclusion in the Business VPN Software category, to qualify for inclusion in the Enterprise Business Business VPN Software category, a product must have at least 10 reviews left by a reviewer from an enterprise business. ## Category Overview **Total Products under this Category:** 151 ## Trust & Credibility Stats **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 3,000+ Authentic Reviews - 151+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. --- **Sponsored** ### ExpressVPN for Teams ExpressVPN for Teams is a powerful, scalable VPN solution that connects and protects teams from office networks to remote environments. Users enjoy fast, reliable connections backed by industry-leading encryption. Admins get a centralized management dashboard. And organizations enjoy global access to local market intelligence. [Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=875&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=875&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=page_category&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=875&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=1590166&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=875&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fbusiness-vpn&secure%5Btoken%5D=20a0d5c5f8ac30e2ffdbebcf8073054c397473d96626cd6ec63e5ec7bff6161e&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expressvpn.com%2Fteams%3Futm_source%3Dg2&secure%5Burl_type%5D=custom_url&secure%5Bvisitor_segment%5D=180) --- ## Top-Rated Products (Ranked by G2 Score) ### 1. [Zscaler Private Access](https://www.g2.com/products/zscaler-private-access/reviews) Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) is a cloud-based zero trust solution that securely connects users to private applications hosted in public clouds, data centers, or on-premises environments without relying on traditional VPNs or exposing them to the internet. Built on the principles of zero trust, ZPA ensures that users are authenticated and authorized before granting access, providing application-specific access rather than exposing the network. With AI-powered segmentation and identity-based policies, ZPA minimizes the attack surface, makes applications invisible to the internet, and prevents lateral movement. By simplifying access, reducing IT complexity, and improving user experience, ZPA supports modern hybrid work while delivering unmatched scalability and performance. Key Features and Benefits: • Minimize the Attack Surface: Private applications are hidden behind the Zero Trust Exchange, making them invisible and unreachable. Users connect to apps, not the network. • Eliminate Lateral Movement: Least-privileged access allows one-to-one user-to-application connections, avoiding network-wide exposure. • Deliver Exceptional User Experience & Boost Hybrid Workforce Productivity: Fast, direct access to apps via 160+ global points of presence ensures low latency and no backhauling, boosting productivity. • Accelerate Zero Trust Journey with AI-powered User-to-app Segmentation: AI/ML generates custom app segmentation recommendations, simplifying user-to-app segmentation. • Prevent Compromised Users, Insider Threats & Advanced Attackers: Comprehensive protection for private apps with OWASP Top 10 prevention, inline inspection, advanced threat protection, and data loss prevention. • Extend Zero Trust to All Applications: Enable secure remote access for legacy network connected applications such as VOIP and server-to-client applications, and extranet applications hosted in business partner or vendor networks. • Ensure Business Continuity and High Availability: ZPA Private Service Edge caches policies for zero trust access during internet outages, allowing for secure connectivity and business continuity. • Reduce Cost & Operational Complexity: Replaces legacy VPNs, simplifying management and cutting hardware and operational costs. Accelerate M&A time-to-value without having to integrate networks. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 132 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Multi-Device Usage:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Zscaler](https://www.g2.com/sellers/zscaler) - **Company Website:** https://www.zscaler.com/ - **Year Founded:** 2008 - **HQ Location:** San Jose, California - **Twitter:** @zscaler (17,513 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/234625/ (9,540 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 44% Enterprise, 29% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Security (64 reviews) - Ease of Use (53 reviews) - Secure Access (49 reviews) - VPN Efficiency (30 reviews) - Reliability (25 reviews) **Cons:** - Connection Issues (24 reviews) - Error Handling (21 reviews) - Slow Loading (20 reviews) - Expensive (18 reviews) - Slow Internet (16 reviews) ### 2. [Cisco Secure Client](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-secure-client/reviews) Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client is a comprehensive endpoint security solution that provides secure and seamless remote access to corporate networks for users across various devices and platforms. By integrating advanced VPN capabilities with robust security features, AnyConnect ensures that employees can connect to enterprise resources from anywhere, maintaining productivity without compromising security. Key Features and Functionality: - Secure VPN Access: Supports SSL and IPsec IKEv2 protocols, offering encrypted connections for remote users to access corporate resources securely. - Broad Platform Support: Compatible with multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS, facilitating diverse device connectivity. - Always-On Intelligent VPN: Automatically selects the optimal network access point and adapts tunneling protocols to ensure continuous and efficient connectivity. - Endpoint Compliance and Posture Enforcement: Integrates with Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) to assess device compliance and enforce security policies across wired, wireless, and VPN environments. - Network Visibility Module (NVM): Provides detailed insights into endpoint application usage and network behavior, aiding in the detection of anomalies and potential threats. - Web Security Integration: Offers built-in modules for web security, either through on-premise Cisco Web Security Appliance or cloud-based Cisco Cloud Web Security, protecting users from web-based threats. - Per-App VPN: Allows administrators to specify which applications can access the VPN, enhancing security by limiting exposure to corporate resources. Primary Value and User Solutions: Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client addresses the critical need for secure, reliable, and user-friendly remote access in today's mobile and diverse work environments. By providing a unified security solution that encompasses VPN access, endpoint compliance, and network visibility, AnyConnect enables organizations to: - Enhance Security Posture: Implement consistent security policies and compliance checks across all devices and connection types, reducing the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access. - Improve User Productivity: Offer seamless and uninterrupted access to corporate resources, allowing employees to work efficiently from any location without technical hindrances. - Simplify IT Management: Utilize a single client to manage multiple security services, streamlining deployment, monitoring, and maintenance processes for IT administrators. In summary, Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client delivers a robust and integrated approach to secure remote access, ensuring that organizations can maintain operational continuity while safeguarding their digital assets. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 336 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Cisco](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cisco) - **Year Founded:** 1984 - **HQ Location:** San Jose, CA - **Twitter:** @Cisco (721,495 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/cisco/ (95,742 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NASDAQ:CSCO **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 56% Enterprise, 35% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (4 reviews) - Security (4 reviews) - Reliability (3 reviews) - Remote Access (3 reviews) - Features (2 reviews) **Cons:** - Authentication Issues (4 reviews) - Slow Performance (3 reviews) - Delays (1 reviews) - Lack of Customization (1 reviews) - Patching Issues (1 reviews) ### 3. [OpenVPN Access Server](https://www.g2.com/products/openvpn-access-server/reviews) OpenVPN Access Server is a full-featured SSL self-hosted VPN software solution that integrates OpenVPN server capabilities, enterprise management capabilities, simplified OpenVPN Connect UI, and OpenVPN Client software packages that accommodate Windows, MAC, and Linux, mobile OS (Android and iOS) environments. OpenVPN Access Server supports a wide range of configurations, including secure and granular remote access to internal network and/ or private cloud network resources and applications with fine-grained access control. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 326 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Multi-Device Usage:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Live Customer Support:** 7.6/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Protocol Choices:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [OpenVPN](https://www.g2.com/sellers/openvpn) - **Company Website:** https://www.openvpn.net - **Year Founded:** 2002 - **HQ Location:** Pleasanton, CA - **Twitter:** @OpenVPN (20,228 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/15353748/ (178 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** IT Manager, CTO - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 47% Mid-Market, 45% Small-Business #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (38 reviews) - Easy Setup (31 reviews) - Security (28 reviews) - Easy Installation (23 reviews) - VPN Services (20 reviews) **Cons:** - Complex Configuration (16 reviews) - Expensive (15 reviews) - Lack of Features (9 reviews) - VPN Issues (6 reviews) - Learning Curve (5 reviews) ### 4. [Check Point Remote Access VPN](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-remote-access-vpn/reviews) Check Point Remote Access VPN is an enterprise-grade solution that enables secure and seamless remote access to corporate networks and resources for employees working remotely or traveling. It ensures the privacy and integrity of sensitive information through multi-factor authentication, endpoint compliance scanning, and encryption of all transmitted data. Key Features and Functionality: - Secure Remote Access: Provides full IPsec VPN connectivity, ensuring strong authentication, data integrity, and confidentiality. - Multi-Factor Authentication Support: Offers comprehensive authentication options, including username/password, SecurID, RADIUS Challenge/Response, CAPI software and hardware tokens, and P12 certificates. - Endpoint Compliance Scanning: Verifies that client devices comply with the organization's security policies, blocking non-compliant connections to the network. - Seamless User Experience: Features VPN Auto-Connect and logoff when corporate resources are needed and upon network roaming, ensuring a hassle-free experience for users. - Integrated Management: Allows configuration of policies and viewing of VPN events from a single console, streamlining administration. Primary Value and User Solutions: Check Point Remote Access VPN addresses the critical need for secure remote connectivity, enabling employees to access corporate resources safely from any location. By implementing robust security measures such as multi-factor authentication and endpoint compliance scanning, it mitigates risks associated with remote work, including data breaches and unauthorized access. The solution's seamless integration and user-friendly experience enhance productivity while maintaining stringent security standards, making it an essential tool for organizations with remote or traveling employees. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 98 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Multi-Device Usage:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Live Customer Support:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Protocol Choices:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Check Point Software Technologies](https://www.g2.com/sellers/check-point-software-technologies) - **Year Founded:** 1993 - **HQ Location:** Redwood City, CA - **Twitter:** @CheckPointSW (70,998 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/check-point-software-technologies/ (8,356 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NASDAQ:CHKP **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security - **Company Size:** 66% Mid-Market, 27% Enterprise #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Secure Access (26 reviews) - Security (24 reviews) - Encryption (21 reviews) - Ease of Use (20 reviews) - Security Focus (15 reviews) **Cons:** - Complex Configuration (19 reviews) - Complex Setup (10 reviews) - Expensive (7 reviews) - Learning Curve (6 reviews) - Troubleshooting Issues (6 reviews) ### 5. [Absolute Secure Access](https://www.g2.com/products/absolute-secure-access/reviews) Absolute Secure Access (formerly NetMotion by Absolute) is one of the company’s core product lines, which was added through the acquisition of NetMotion in July 2021. The product portfolio provides resilient network connectivity for users to securely access critical resources in the public cloud, private data centers, and on-premises. These products allow users to transition from traditional VPN to a resilient Zero Trust approach, without impairing productivity or admin controls. Absolute Secure Access encompasses three products: • Absolute VPN provides security and confidentiality for data in motion by means of encryption and access controls. It also offers benefits to the end user, such as making tunnel and network sessions resilient and optimizing streaming video and audio. • Absolute ZTNA provides a software-defined perimeter via Zero Trust Network Access, creating a context-based, logical access boundary around an application or set of applications – wherever they're hosted. It shields applications from the Internet, making them invisible to unauthorized users. Access policies are enforced at the endpoint, avoiding latency and any data transgression. • Absolute Insights™ for Network offers diagnostic and experience monitoring capabilities across endpoints and network, allowing organizations to proactively monitor, investigate, and remediate end user performance issues quickly and at scale, even on networks that are not company-owned or managed **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 224 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Multi-Device Usage:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Live Customer Support:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Protocol Choices:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Absolute Security](https://www.g2.com/sellers/absolute-security) - **Company Website:** https://www.absolute.com - **Year Founded:** 1993 - **HQ Location:** British Columbia, Canada - **Twitter:** @absolutecorp (3,908 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/14388/ (1,248 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** IT Director, System Administrator - **Top Industries:** Law Enforcement, Government Administration - **Company Size:** 62% Mid-Market, 25% Enterprise #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (10 reviews) - Connectivity Stability (7 reviews) - Secure Access (7 reviews) - VPN Efficiency (7 reviews) - Security (6 reviews) **Cons:** - Access Issues (3 reviews) - Complex Configuration (3 reviews) - Complex Implementation (3 reviews) - Expensive (3 reviews) - Integration Issues (3 reviews) ### 6. [Netgate pfSense](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews) pfSense® Plus software is the world’s most trusted firewall. The software has garnered the respect and adoration of users worldwide - installed well over three million times. Made possible by open source technology. Made into a robust, reliable, dependable product by Netgate. **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 317 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Multi-Device Usage:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Live Customer Support:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Protocol Choices:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Netgate](https://www.g2.com/sellers/netgate) - **Year Founded:** 2002 - **HQ Location:** Austin, US - **Twitter:** @NetgateUSA (8,702 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/netgate/ (121 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security - **Company Size:** 68% Small-Business, 26% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (4 reviews) - Customizability (3 reviews) - Customization (2 reviews) - Easy Setup (2 reviews) - Features (2 reviews) **Cons:** - Difficult Learning Curve (3 reviews) - Complex Configuration (2 reviews) - Expertise Required (2 reviews) - Learning Curve (2 reviews) - High Resource Usage (1 reviews) ### 7. [Check Point SASE](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-sase/reviews) The internet is the new corporate network, leading organizations to transition to their network security to Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). However, current solutions break the user experience with slow connections and complex management. Check Point SASE is a game-changing solution that delivers 10x faster internet security, SaaS Security, and full mesh Zero Trust Access and optimized SD-WAN performance—all with an emphasis on streamlined management. Combining innovative on-device and cloud-delivered network protections, Check Point SASE offers a local browsing experience with tighter security and privacy, and an identity-centric zero trust access policy that accommodates everyone: employees, BYOD and third parties. Its SD-WAN solution unifies industry-leading threat prevention with optimized connectivity, automated steering for over 10,000 applications and seamless link failover for uninterrupted web conferencing. Using Check Point SASE, business can build a secure corporate network over a private global backbone in less than an hour. The service is managed from a unified console and is backed by an award-winning global support team that has you covered 24/7. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 210 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Multi-Device Usage:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Live Customer Support:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Protocol Choices:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Check Point Software Technologies](https://www.g2.com/sellers/check-point-software-technologies) - **Company Website:** https://www.checkpoint.com/ - **Year Founded:** 1993 - **HQ Location:** Redwood City, CA - **Twitter:** @CheckPointSW (70,998 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/check-point-software-technologies/ (8,356 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer & Network Security - **Company Size:** 46% Mid-Market, 36% Small-Business #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Security (46 reviews) - Ease of Use (39 reviews) - Secure Access (34 reviews) - Protection (26 reviews) - Reliability (25 reviews) **Cons:** - Complex Implementation (28 reviews) - Complex Configuration (24 reviews) - Complex Setup (22 reviews) - Expensive (17 reviews) - Learning Curve (17 reviews) ### 8. [NordLayer](https://www.g2.com/products/nordlayer/reviews) NordLayer is a toggle-ready network security platform that helps businesses connect, protect, detect, and respond to cyber threats. Built on NordVPN standards, it ensures a secure and reliable connection to the internet and private company resources. NordLayer is designed for modern businesses of all sizes, offering cutting-edge business VPN, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), advanced threat protection, and threat intelligence. It helps companies meet regulatory compliance requirements and enhance cyber resilience while remaining hardware-free, scalable, and adaptable to any work model. With user-centered security and intuitive deployment, NordLayer integrates easily into any existing infrastructure, ensuring best-in-the-market protection for remote, hybrid, and on-premises teams. -- Looking for a partnership? The NordLayer Partner Program helps MSPs, resellers, and agents grow their businesses with high profit margins, dedicated training, 24/7 technical support, and no upfront investment. Learn more: nordlayer.com/partner-program **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 126 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Multi-Device Usage:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Live Customer Support:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Protocol Choices:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Nord Security](https://www.g2.com/sellers/nord-security) - **Company Website:** https://nordsecurity.com/ - **Year Founded:** 2012 - **HQ Location:** Global - **Twitter:** @NordPass (9,506 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/nordsecurity/ (1,883 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** CTO - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 56% Small-Business, 35% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (6 reviews) - Setup Ease (4 reviews) - Easy Access (3 reviews) - Easy Management (3 reviews) - Easy Setup (3 reviews) **Cons:** - Performance Issues (5 reviews) - Limited Features (4 reviews) - Connection Issues (3 reviews) - Complex Configuration (2 reviews) - Complex Setup (2 reviews) ### 9. [Windscribe](https://www.g2.com/products/windscribe/reviews) Windscribe is much more than a VPN. It's a desktop application and browser extension that work in conjunction to protect your online privacy, unblock websites, and remove ads and trackers from your everyday browsing. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 64 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Multi-Device Usage:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Live Customer Support:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Protocol Choices:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Windscribe](https://www.g2.com/sellers/windscribe) - **Year Founded:** 2016 - **HQ Location:** Toronto, CA - **Twitter:** @windscribecom (207,321 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/windscribe/ (41 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 56% Small-Business, 28% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Privacy Protection (2 reviews) - Server Variety (2 reviews) - VPN Services (2 reviews) - Cross-Platform Compatibility (1 reviews) - Device Connectivity (1 reviews) **Cons:** - Connectivity Issues (1 reviews) - Limited Free Access (1 reviews) - Limited Location Options (1 reviews) - Slow Connection (1 reviews) - Slow Speed (1 reviews) ### 10. [SaferVPN](https://www.g2.com/products/safervpn/reviews) SaferVPN is a Virtual Private Network provider offering online freedom, security and anonymity to business clients. **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 60 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Multi-Device Usage:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10) - **Live Customer Support:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Protocol Choices:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [NetProtect](https://www.g2.com/sellers/netprotect) - **Year Founded:** 2010 - **HQ Location:** Seattle, WA - **Twitter:** @NetProtect (2 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/netprotect/about (28 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 53% Small-Business, 30% Mid-Market ## Parent Category [Network Security Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/network-security) ## Related Categories - [Zero Trust Networking Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/zero-trust-networking) - [Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/software-defined-perimeter-sdp) --- ## Buyer Guide ### What You Should Know About Virtual Private Network (VPN) Software ### What is Virtual Private Network (VPN) Software? Virtual private network (VPN) software connects users and devices to private networks using encryption and security mechanisms. It ensures that only credentialed users have access to private networks and sensitive data, and protects data in transit, using encryption. Users of VPN software employ these tools to restrict access to corporate networks to credentialed users, [protect the information they send over the internet](https://www.g2.com/categories/virtual-private-network-vpn#what-you-should-know-about-virtual-private-network-vpn-software) from being accessed by third parties like hackers attempting to view confidential information, mask their IP address and location, and access geo-specific website content. VPN software has both corporate and personal use cases. Companies seeking to increase their security or restrict user access to sensitive corporate data can utilize VPNs to set up gated, internal networks. Individuals often use personal VPN software to secure their connection and encrypt their traffic when using an unsecured or public Wi-Fi network that may be vulnerable to attacks, such as those found at homes, airports, hotels, or coffee shops. VPN software works by creating a secure, encrypted connection over a less secure network, like public internet. VPN software uses VPN tunneling protocols to achieve this and encrypts incoming and outgoing data traffic. These tools also encrypt IP addresses, mask locations, and can bridge connections between devices. These products often contain firewalls to prevent viruses, hacks, and other threats.  **What Does VPN Stand For?** VPN stands for virtual private network. VPNs are virtual because they connect users to other computers virtually. They are private because of their ability to hide a user’s IP address and encrypt their traffic data. The word network in VPN refers to the network of VPN servers accessible to the user with their VPN provider. #### What Types of Virtual Private Network (VPN) Software Exist? [**Corporate or enterprise VPN**](https://www.g2.com/categories/virtual-private-network-vpn/f/corporate-vpn) **:** Corporate or enterprise VPN software securely connects remote employees to corporate networks and cloud services. These tools encrypt company data traffic end to end and prevent unauthorized access to company networks. This VPN connection enables a company’s mobile workforce to access corporate email, chat, file sharing, intranet sites, and other corporate and cloud applications when working remotely. - **Remote access VPN:** This type of VPN lets users connect to private corporate networks. This is best for organizations with a highly mobile workforce. It allows them to work as if they were in the office. - **Site-to-site VPNs** : This VPN connects branch offices to corporate office networks. Intranet-based VPNs connect offices of the same company. Extranet-based VPNs connect to offices of an external company. [**Personal VPN**](https://www.g2.com/categories/virtual-private-network-vpn/f/personal-vpn) **:** Personal VPNs help users access the internet when they are connected to an unsecured network to privately browse the internet. It also allows them to change their IP address to access geo-restricted websites and content.  ### What are the Common Features of Virtual Private Network (VPN) Software? The following are some core features within VPN software: **Strength of VPN protocol:** Each VPN protocol has strengths and weaknesses related to speed, encryption, stability, streaming, and downloading. The most secure and mobile-friendly VPN connection protocols are OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols. **Strength of encryption:** The most common encryption types are AES-128 encryption or AES-256 encryption, known as military-grade encryption. **Double VPN:** Some VPN service providers send internet traffic through two servers, encrypting it twice. **Kill switch:** A kill switch automatically shuts off a user’s internet access when the encrypted connection is lost, preventing data breach. **Logging data:** Some companies and IT administrators want to monitor VPN usage. Some VPN providers record and store user logs. **No log or zero log policy:** In some instances, VPN users value privacy and opt to have no user logs recorded. Some VPN service providers offer a no log or zero log policy. The VPN provider does not collect or keep any data transmitted on the VPN. Depending on the jurisdiction, there may be legal issues with no log policies. **GDPR compliance:** If a VPN provider keeps data logs on European Union (EU) citizens, the provider is required to comply with GDPR regulation. **Desktop clients:** Many VPN providers work with operating systems such as Windows, macOS, or Linux. **Mobile clients:** For mobile and secure VPN access, many VPN providers support Android and iOS mobile device connections. **Browser extension:** Some VPN providers offer browser extensions as a quick, easy way to connect to a VPN server using browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. **Multidevice limitations:** VPN providers may limit the number of devices, users, or businesses that can access the VPN. Most free VPNs allow up to five or six devices before they require users to switch to a paid version. **High-speed connectivity and reliability:** Speed, bandwidth, and reliability are important when considering which VPN provider to select. VPN providers may highlight the geo-location and the number of server switches they have, as user speeds improve when more servers are available. **Malware protection:** Some VPN providers offer auto installation of patches to prevent malware attacks. **Zero-trust secure access:** This ensures only authenticated users with compliant devices can access network applications. **DNS leak prevention:** This encrypts DNS queries, preventing leakages due to security flaws in DNS requests that may be revealed to ISP DNS servers. **Ease of administration:** People use VPN software because accessibility is important. Choosing a solution with an intuitive, user-friendly interface can help users log on to the VPN more easily. **Customer service:** Many free VPN providers offer no customer support while enterprise VPN providers offer dedicated customer support to help troubleshoot problems. ### What are the Benefits of Virtual Private Network (VPN) Software? With VPN software, remote employees can securely log on to their corporate networks and access the same corporate applications, folders, messaging, intranet sites, and corporate email as their colleagues at the corporate office. For an increasingly remote workforce, traveling employees and people who work from home, VPN software is a major consideration for companies to make. Benefits of using VPN software include: **Remote workforce support:** VPN software enables remote employees to connect to corporate networks. **Secure access:** VPN software restricts access to corporate networks to credentialed users and secures data sharing between offices with end-to-end encryption. **Privacy:** For those using VPNs for personal use, the most common reason is to mask the user’s true IP address. This helps when using public internet for privacy purposes, to access geo-restricted content, and to ensure a secure connection. ### Who Uses Virtual Private Network (VPN) Software? The two main constituencies of VPN software are businesses that want to protect sensitive company data by restricting access to their company data and individuals who want to mask their IP address while browsing the internet, whether for work or for personal reasons. **IT administrators:** IT administrators generally manage VPN software. Companies that want to ensure their information is safeguarded and control who has access to their networks use VPN software. Companies primarily use VPN software to connect regional office networks to their headquarters and to authorize users, such as their remote employees or partners, with access to their corporate network. **Remote or mobile employees:** With an increasingly mobile workforce, secure access to business applications is critical to accomplish work. Employees use VPN software when they are out of the office to get secure, seamless access to corporate networks and applications, such as corporate email, messaging, and file sharing. **Individuals:** When not using VPN software to access corporate networks, individuals commonly use VPN software for secure personal internet browsing. This is typically to evade snooping from hackers while using unsecured Wi-Fi or to mask an IP address and location when visiting websites that track visitors. Individuals use VPNs to change their IP address’s country of origin to access geo-blocked websites. For example, if a person traveling for work in Singapore tries to access a website or service based in the United States, they might find that it is geo-restricted content per the Singaporean Media Development Authority. The traveler could utilize VPN software to use an IP address located in a different country, such as the United States, to bypass the Singaporean restrictions and view the content. #### Software Related to Virtual Private Network (VPN) Software VPN solutions provide access to networks, like corporate networks for credentialed users; VPNs do not validate the user’s identity or provide access management functions. To get user-specific session information, adding identity and access-related tools to VPN deployment can be helpful. [**Identity and access management (IAM) software**](https://www.g2.com/categories/identity-and-access-management-iam) **:** IAM software helps companies protect their systems from unauthorized access or misuse by only allowing authenticated, authorized users (typically employees, based on job roles) to access specific, protected company systems and data. [**Privileged access management (PAM) software:**](https://www.g2.com/categories/privileged-access-management-pam) PAM software helps companies protect the keys to their IT domain by ensuring the credentials of their privileged accounts, such as admin accounts on critical company assets, are only accessed by those with proper permissions to do so. PAM software helps prevent external hacking or internal misuse of important company assets by employing the least privilege access policies, wherein users receive the absolute minimum access needed to perform their duties. [**Software-defined perimeter (SDP) software**](https://www.g2.com/categories/software-defined-perimeter-sdp) **:** SDP products are a specific type of network security solution that focuses on network segmentation and user authentication. SDP itself is an architecture designed to allow access on a need-to-know basis, meaning every device and user must be verified before accessing either the network as a whole or specific systems and applications within a network. [**Remote desktop software**](https://www.g2.com/categories/remote-desktop) **:** For companies seeking a lighter weight software solution to view desktops remotely--often used for technical support use cases--remote desktop software may be an option. Remote desktop software allows a user to seamlessly connect to and interact with a computer in another location via an internal network or the internet. Remote desktop software enables the user to see and control a connected PC or laptop as though they were sitting directly in front of it.  ### Challenges with Virtual Private Network (VPN) Software **Legality** : Some countries ban the use of VPN software. For example, in the United States, it is perfectly legal to use VPNs. In Russia, Venezuela, Turkey, and several other countries, it is illegal to use a VPN in some instances. This includes changing an IP address’s country of origin to access blocked websites. List of countries where VPNs are illegal, as of May, 2019: - Turkey - Iraq - Russia - Belarus - North Korea - Turkmenistan List of countries where only government-approved VPNs are legal, as of May, 2019: - China - United Arab Emirates - Iran - Oman (Source: [Comparitech](https://www.comparitech.com/vpn/where-are-vpns-legal-banned/)) **Legality of no log or zero log policies:** Depending on where the VPN provider’s servers are located, local legislation dictates what recordkeeping is required of VPN providers. Information VPN providers may be legally required to hand over to local authorities include user activity, IP address, connection timestamps, and devices used. This means that in some cases, no log or zero log policies may not be available. **Free VPNs may track and sell user data:** Some free VPNs sell user data, which usually defeats the purpose of using a VPN in the first place. Hence, it is important to read the terms and conditions of the VPN provider carefully. ### Which Companies Should Buy Virtual Private Network (VPN) Software? Businesses of all sizes can benefit from VPNs, in particular those supporting a remote workforce. **Remote workforce:** VPNs allow a remote workforce to securely access the corporate network. **Employees who travel:** For employees who travel frequently and use insecure internet connections, VPNs can ensure traffic is secured. **Global companies:** For companies looking to connect their branch offices to the headquarters’ corporate networks, site-to-site VPNs may be an option. ### How to Buy Virtual Private Network (VPN) Software #### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Virtual Private Network (VPN) Software VPN software can meet a variety of business needs depending on a business’s specific requirements. When developing the list of requirements and priorities for selecting a VPN software solution, companies should be mindful of the following: **End-user use cases** : Companies should determine the use cases of the software by asking the following questions:  - Who are we trying to allow network access with the VPN solution, employees or contractors?  - Are we trying to create a private connection for an individual user?  - Do we just need a site-to-site VPN to connect remote offices to a company’s headquarters?   **Strength of protocol** : Businesses should determine which protocol they require based on the speed, encryption strength, stability, streaming, and downloading capabilities. A VPN protocol is the instruction a VPN uses to communicate with the VPN client and the VPN server. The protocol is comprised of transmission protocols and encryption standards. There are several types of VPN protocols with differing speed, encryption, stability, streaming, and downloading abilities. The most secure and mobile-friendly VPN protocols are OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols, while PPTP and L2TP/IPsec are less secure protocols. - **PPTP: Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol** Pros: speed, stability, streaming, downloading Cons: poor encryption - **L2TP/IP Sec: Layer Two Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) and Internet Protocol Security (IPsec)** Pros: speed, streaming, downloading Cons: fair encryption, fair stability - **OpenVPN: Open-source VPN** Pros: encryption, stability Cons: fair speed, poor streaming, poor downloading - **SSTP: Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol** Pros: encryption, downloading Cons: fair speed, fair stability, fair streaming - **IKEv2: Internet Key Exchange version 2** Pros: speed, encryption, stability Cons: fair streaming, fair downloading **Encryption standard:** Companies must determine which encryption standard meets their security requirements. The most common encryption standards include: - **Advanced Encryption Standard (AES-128 encryption):** AES-128 encryption, is an industry-standard encryption cipher. AES-128 encryption is very secure and nominally faster than AES-256. - **Advanced Encryption Standard (AES-256 encryption):** AES-256 encryption, also known as military-grade encryption is the first publicly accessible cipher approved by the National Security Agency. It is nominally slower than AES-128. **Business segment or region-specific solution** : When looking for software tailored to the small businesses segment versus mid-market or enterprise segments, companies should be clear in their RFP about this. Similarly, if there is a need for a tool that works well in a specific geographical region or language, that should be included in the RFP. **Integrations:** Companies must ascertain which integrations are important. **Licenses needed** : Companies should decide how many licenses they need for end users and if there are different license types based on user type. **Number of servers and geographic locations:** The number of servers and their geographic location is important when selecting a VPN solution, in particular for individual VPN use cases. **Timeline:** How quickly a company needs to implement a solution is also a factor in the buying process. **Level of support:** Companies should know if they require high-quality support or if they are able to implement this in house? #### Compare Virtual Private Network (VPN) Software Products **Create a long list** Upon finding some products through research on [G2.com](https://www.g2.com/), selections can be saved in “My List”, so buyers can easily reference these software solutions. From meeting the business functionality needs to implementation, vendor evaluations are an essential part of the software buying process. For ease of comparison after all demos are complete, it helps to prepare a consistent list of questions regarding specific needs and concerns to ask each vendor. **Create a short list** To determine the best VPN solution from the long list of products, buyers should read through product user reviews, view ratings on the [G2 Grid® report](https://research.g2.com/market-reports) for the Virtual Private Network (VPN) software category, read usability ratings, and cull the long list of vendors in the G2 “My List” down to a handful. **Conduct demos** In the next step, buyers can contact the shortlisted vendors for demos using the G2 “Get a Quote” button. During the demo of each solution, buyers should ask the same questions, get clarifications on the same use cases to best evaluate like for like, and see how each vendor stacks up against the competition.  #### Selection of Virtual Private Network (VPN) Software  **Choose a selection team** The software selection team should consist of members of the organization who have the right interest, skills, and time to participate in this process. A good starting point is to aim for three to five people who fill roles such as the main decision maker, project manager, process owner, system owner, or staffing subject matter expert, as well as a technical lead, IT administrator, or security administrator, in addition to an end user. It is important to include an end user on the selection team because after all, for VPN software to work, end-user adoption is critical. **Negotiation** Pricing often depends on the number of licenses bought and the length of time. The more licenses bought and for a longer term, usually helps in getting a discounted deal. Negotiates may be possible for free or reduced implementation services or ongoing support, as well. **Final decision** After this stage, and before going all in, it is recommended to roll out a test run or pilot program to test adoption with a small sample size of users. If the tool is well used and well received, the buyer can be confident that the selection was correct. If not, it might be time to go back to the drawing board.