What is the purpose of virtual private networking?
Virtual private networking allows you to securely communicate with and transfer data to and from another user or network.
Virtual Private Network (VPN) Solutions
Top Rated Virtual Private Network (VPN) Products
These products won a Top Rated award for having excellent customer satisfaction ratings. The list is based purely on reviews; there is no paid placement, and analyst opinions do not influence the rankings. Read more about the Top Rated criteria.
Virtual Private Network (VPN) Solutions Overview
What are Virtual Private Network (VPN) Solutions?
A virtual private network (VPN) is a service that securely connects an end user directly to a remote private network and its assets. The VPN hides the end user's IP address providing anonymity and privacy. Additionally, VPN connections are secured via encryption, preventing eavesdropping.
Virtual private networks provide several key benefits. The main benefit to organizations is the ability to securely send data from endpoint to endpoint since the encrypted data can only be decrypted by the recipient on the VPN. It also allows travelers to appear as if they are in their home region online. This helps them circumvent regional content locks and accessibility restrictions. It also allows businesses users to maintain privacy and confidentiality when not on their home or business network.
Virtual private networks can serve several purposes for organizations and their employees:
Secure remote connections to, or transfers of, data, communications, etc, such as remote workers using sensitive company data
Accessing region-restricted content, for employees who travel across different regulatory jurisdictions
Providing anonymity when visiting websites and using public networks/WiFi
Integrate with other security products for greater visibility into threats to your network and data
A subset of virtual private networks is the SSL VPN (Secure Sockets Layer Virtual Private Network). An SSL VPN provides a secure connection for remote users of applications and services via a web browser, without a need for additional desktop software. SSL VPN solutions can be deployed through appliances which may be used to deploy the VPN server. Standalone virtualized SSL VPN solutions are available, or SSL VPNs may be managed via a firewall.
Types of Virtual Private Networks
Virtual Private Network software’s core definition is a service that provides an encrypted tunnel between a main network and an “end user.” There are a variety of VPN setups and protocols, VPNs most commonly work in one of two ways:
Remote Access VPN- a remote access VPN is an encrypted tunnel between an individual using a device, such as a laptop, smartphone, or workstation, to connect to the corporate network. The individual’s device is referred to as the “endpoint” the VPN connects to the main network. This setup is most relevant for securing individual remote workers
Site-to-Site VPN- also referred to as “branch office VPN”, this encrypted connection is between a main corporate network or headquarters and remote branch office networks. The VPN tunnel is established between two VPN network devices, such as VPN routers. This setup is most relevant for organizations that need to securely connect entire office networks with each other.
Free VPNs
There are a number of theoretically “free” VPN products available. These are usually targeted towards small scale or personal use. However, these VPNs are able to sell the data that users send over the VPN. Free options will also offer less reliability and bandwidth, and they will likely have fewer global server options.
B2B users, especially businesses with more than a few employees, should leverage a paid product instead. Paid VPNs will offer much better privacy, security, and support options. They are also less likely to sell users’ data to third parties, although buyer should verify this with each vendor.
VPN Comparison
When comparing different virtual private networks, consider these factors:
Reliability: Consider how reliable each VPN is, especially at scale. For example, will the VPN impact your traffic or connectivity? VPNs, if not properly deployed/managed, can interfere with permissions set in other systems. Some may also restrict bandwidth or throttle traffic speeds given the lagtime to encrypt/decrypt traffic within a VPN and resourcing to send data across the network itself.
Data Privacy: Some vendors retain the right to sell user data to third parties. For sensitive or personal data transmission, ensure that each vendor does not sell users’ data.
Start a virtual private network comparison here
Pricing Information
VPN pricing can vary depending on whether vendors offer it as a standalone product or part of a broader security package, like a firewall product. Standalone pricing is usually per device per month, with a floor around $5-10 per device.
There are some free virtual private network products available for very small businesses. However, free VPNs are primarily designed for individual use. Free VPNs usually come with limitations on the number of devices that can be used and enforce data caps that many businesses will quickly scale out of.
Virtual Private Network (VPN) Products
(1-25 of 47) Sorted by Most Reviews
FortiGate
Customer Verified
FortiNet FortiGate is a firewall option with high integrability. It offers a variety of deployment options and next-gen firewall capabilities, including integration with IaaS cloud platforms and public cloud environments.
Key Features
- Firewall Management Console (36)95%9.5
- Policy-based Controls (36)92%9.2
- Reporting and Logging (36)90%9.0
Citrix Gateway (formerly NetScaler Unified Gateway) is an access gateway with SSL VPN solution, providing single sign-on (SSO) and authentication for remote end users of network assets.
Barracuda CloudGen Firewalls provides a wide range of security and connectivity features, including web filtering, NAC and SSL VPN and other features for remote access, as well as protection as edge devices and IoT security.
The Check Point Quantum Security Gateway Next Generation Firewall is a tiered firewall product. The base model includes the core firewall services, and can be upgraded to include anti-bot/virus/spam and sandboxing capabilities.
San Francisco-based Juniper Networks developed Secure Access SSL VPN originally. The product is now offered as Pulse Connect Secure (VPN), first by Pulse Secure (spun off in 2014), and now by Ivanti since their acquisition of Pulse Secure in December, 2020.
ExpressVPN headquartered in the British Virgin Islands offers privacy and security apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and routers.
GoodAccess is a cloud delivered SaaS that enables creating a resilient virtual network (Software Defined Perimeter) with identity-based access control in less than 10 minutes. The solution is designed to meet the needs of small and midsize businesses who want to securely interconnect…
VyprVPN is a secure VPN service providing encrypted connections to the Internet to protect user privacy and security.
Nowadays, Privacy is a Luxury! Whenever we pay our bills, manage our bank accounts, or log in to our favorite social networks, our credentials, account numbers, billing address, and other private data may end up in the crosshairs of identity thieves. Trust your security and privacy…
Speedify is a new kind of bonding VPN designed from the ground up for speed, security, and reliability. The vendor says Speedify's bonding protocol lets it do things no other VPN can: switching between Wi-Fi and Cellular without breaking sockets, and bonding connections together…
SonicWall Secure Mobile Access (SMA) appliances are secure access gateways which provide SSL VPN and remote access to any application or system via enforced secure granular access controls, context aware authorization, and advanced authentication.
NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses from Nord Security. The solution aims to help organizations of all sizes to fulfil scaling and integration challenges when building a modern secure remote access solution, within an ever-evolving SASE…
AppGate SDP (software-defined perimeter) from Cyxtera Technologies headquartered in Addison is a zero trust network security product.
Microsoft's Azure VPN Gateway connects on-premises networks to Azure through Site-to-Site VPNs in a similar way that you set up and connect to a remote branch office. The connectivity is secure and uses the industry-standard protocols Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) and Internet…
The SonicWall VPN Clients present a number of options for secure private access to enterprise network assets.
FatPipe MPVPN ffom FatPipe Networks in Salt Lake City aggregates two or more data lines of any type and in any combination to provide security, redundancy, and speed for VPNs. FatPipe MPVPN enables fault tolerance and reliability for VPN using technology to keep mission-critical…
VPN Lite is a VPN service which doesn’t require registration. No email address input is needed which means an absolute anonymity. It protects users data with IKEv2 protocol. VPN Lite ensures users leave no digital footprint get access to the content and browse the web safely. At…
Remote Access VPN allows an individual user to connect to a private network from a remote location using an internet-connected computer. Using encryption technologies, Fusion’s Remote Access VPN provides secure remote access and extranet capabilities for authorized users. Users connect…
ProtonVPN is presented as a high-speed Swiss VPN that safeguards privacy, from the makers of ProtonMail and CERN engineers of Swiss-based Proton Technologies.
Tencent Cloud VPN Connection is a network-based tunneling technology that enables data transfer between customer local IDCs and Tencent Cloud resources and establishment of an encrypted tunnel on the Internet. Boasting simple configuration with gateway availability of 99.95%, it…
Canadian-based Ultra Electronics offers AEP, presenting an SSL VPN solution.
Access Direct from Array Networks in Milpitas, California presents an SSL VPN solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a virtual private network work?
VPNs encrypt your data when transmitting to an external source, preventing other users or networks from viewing or interfering with your data.
Is SSL a VPN?
Yes. SSL, which stands for Secure Sockets Layer, is a form of VPN that creates a secure connection between an end user and a web browser, which then connects to an application or service.
What kinds of VPNs are there?
There are a variety of VPN types. The two most common are remote access VPNs, for individual use, and site-to-site VPNs, for securely connecting entire remote networks.
What are the disadvantages of using a VPN?
While not universally the case, some VPN providers can view and access your data sent via their service. Users may also experience slower internet speeds as using a VPN adds another step in the data transfer process.