One of many prime challenges going through enterprise homeowners is making certain safe distant connections to firm networks and assets to remain protected from knowledge breaches. Contemplating {that a} latest IBM report estimated that the typical price of a knowledge breach in 2022 was $4.35 million, it isn’t a shock that deploying enterprise-level digital non-public community options has turn out to be a prime precedence for a lot of companies.
Enterprise VPN options present a safe gateway for companies to attach their staff to their company networks. Security measures resembling multi-factor authentication, disabling cut up tunneling, implementing a most connection-time window after which staff should re-authenticate and mandating complicated, rotating passwords are a number of examples of how enterprise VPNs enhance and bolster safety.
Given the wide selection of VPNs in the marketplace, here’s a roundup of the highest enterprise VPN options in 2023.
Bounce to:
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.
High enterprise VPN software program for your corporation
Here’s a breakdown of the highest enterprise VPN software program for enterprise with their options, professionals and cons.
Cisco AnyConnect: Greatest for straightforward arrange
Cisco AnyConnect 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.
AnyConnect affords many safety choices. It performs a system examine on authentication to find out whether or not the 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. AnyConnect can block entry to untrusted servers, show safety merchandise put in and run diagnostics to collect info for evaluation and troubleshooting. It disables cut up tunneling, that means when a consumer is related to the VPN, they’ll solely entry company assets and nothing on an area dwelling community or the web.
Why we selected Cisco AnyConnect
We picked Cisco AnyConnect for its user-friendly set up course of and intuitive interface. We additionally preferred its quite a few safety features, resembling system examine and server blocking, that make it a powerful choice amongst different enterprise VPN options with restricted options.
Pricing
Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
Permits entry to the enterprise community, from any gadget, at any time, in any location.
Offers visibility and perception into endpoint habits.
Presents multi-factor authentication.
Presents always-on assist.
Professionals
It’s straightforward to obtain and set up.
It may be used on a number of gadgets.
Offers nice buyer assist.
Cons
There isn’t a free trial.
Lacks kill swap functionality.
Checkpoint Safe Distant Entry: Greatest for web-based consumer assist
The Checkpoint Safe Distant Entry VPN permits for creating customized 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 onerous tokens or mushy tokens, which function as an app on cell gadgets).
Like AnyConnect, cut up tunneling is disabled and for hackers to get to the web shoppers, they must configure the corporate proxy server settings, which solely allow entry to public-facing web websites for enterprise use (social media websites had been blocked, as an example). Group memberships decide who can join the place. Checkpoint firewalls function the administration interface for each the VPN and the firewall settings.
Checkpoint Website-to-Website VPNs can hyperlink two distant areas collectively so site visitors can attain networks on both aspect.
Why we selected Checkpoint Safe Distant Entry
We selected Checkpoint Safe Distant Entry VPN 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 staff and employers will discover helpful, particularly these working in a hybrid setup. It additionally makes workflows extra environment friendly, on condition that staff can entry necessary assets with out having to put in a full-fledged VPN consumer on their gadgets.
Pricing
Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
The VPN affords a central administration platform.
IPsec and SSL VPN assist.
Safe hotspot registration.
It affords VPN auto-connect.
Multi-factor authentication assist.
Professionals
SSL assist gives web-based entry with out the necessity to set up a VPN consumer.
Compliance scanning assist.
Runs on a number of gadgets, together with Home windows, Mac and Mobiles.
Presents risk prevention functionality.
Cons
It doesn’t assist risk prevention on iOS, Android and Linux customers.
Incident evaluation is just obtainable for Home windows customers.
SonicWall International VPN Consumer: Greatest light-weight enterprise VPN
SonicWall affords a quick and environment friendly product that gives RADIUS/certificates/Sensible Card/USB authentication. It comes with each 168-bit key 3DES (Knowledge Encryption Normal) and AES (Superior Encryption) encryption requirements and VPN session reliability that redirects shoppers to different VPN gateways if issues happen. As well as, 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 we selected SonicWall International VPN Consumer:
We like SonicWall International VPN for its pace and reliability. It has a superb mixture of robust safety features resembling AES encryption, an simply configurable interface and a fast and dependable consumer expertise. SonicWall additionally has a superb status for offering high quality buyer assist.
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.
Presents straightforward setup and configuration.
Detailed logs and reporting for community directors.
Professionals
Presents robust encryption and authentication to guard towards cyber threats.
It’s straightforward to obtain and configure.
Suitable with a variety of platforms and gadgets.
Presents logs and reporting options to watch VPN utilization.
Cons
There isn’t a free trial or demo.
No web-based model.
Fortinet FortiClient: Greatest for providing wider VPN safety choices
Fortinet FortiClient depends on certificates for integration and deployment and affords entry to internet filtering and its firewall. Endpoint safety safety, which makes use of automated habits evaluation, is included. A “single pane of glass” strategy much like Checkpoint gives one-stop-shopping to handle configuration, deployment and administration in addition to examine consumer standing and interact in vulnerability scanning and patching.
The answer additionally affords two various kinds of VPN options—IPSec and SSL—and could be built-in into a company’s general endpoint safety technique. This gives a dependable VPN safety choice for firms which have staff working remotely.
Why we selected Fortinet FortiClient
Fortinet FortiClient’s intensive protocol suite makes it a good selection when safety is a prime precedence; their a number of tunneling protocols are customizable primarily based on safety wants. We additionally like that Fortinet permits potential customers to trial FortiClient to see if it suits their enterprise wants.
Pricing
Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
Fortinet helps multi-factor authentication.
Helps SSL or IPSec tunneling protocols.
Presents malware safety and anti-exploit assist.
Presents a number of tunneling protocols, together with Level-to-Level, Layer 2 and Safe Socket tunneling protocols.
Professionals
There’s a free trial choice.
Totally customizable authentication settings.
Cons
Integration with anti-virus and threat-detection instruments makes it a little bit bit clunky.
Palo Alto GlobalProtect: Greatest for implementing safety insurance policies
Palo Alto GlobalProtect affords comparable options to prior merchandise listed, resembling multi-factor authentication, excessive safety (cookie or certificate-based authentication are two robust options), internet filtering and risk safety. It depends on Zero Belief ideas.
GlobalProtect shows important functionality in figuring out 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 could be blocked totally). It will possibly 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 knowledge is being backed up by a product.
Why we selected Palo Alto GlobalProtect
We selected Palo Alto GlobalProtect for its trustworthiness and reliability in upholding its safety insurance policies and have guarantees to its shoppers. Belief and credibility are necessary tenets in high quality safety software program, and GlobalProtect has continued to keep up a superb status for safeguarding company and consumer knowledge. Its software of zero belief safety ideas can be a bonus towards comparable opponents.
Pricing
Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
Offers least-privilege entry assist for distant staff.
Helps multi-factor authentication.
The software program helps risk prevention.
Presents full visibility throughout all functions, ports and protocols.
Professionals
There’s a demo choice to take a look at the product.
Presents analytics and visibility for community site visitors,
There may be an always-on, safe connection assist.
Cons
Deployment could also be troublesome for first-time customers.
ZScaler Personal Entry: Greatest for zero belief community entry
ZScaler Personal Entry is a special product from the earlier choices on this article. Reasonably than being a conventional end-user VPN consumer, it’s a cloud service that gives entry to functions in cloud environments or on-premises programs by way of a distributed structure. The twist right here is that the functions connect with approved customers by way of safe encryption quite than vice versa, so customers by no means really entry the distant networks concerned.
It makes use of commonplace policy-based entry relying on customers and functions. ZScaler permits mergers and acquisitions to be facilitated simply because of the diminished infrastructure setup instances and lack of want for extra networking gear.
Why we selected ZScaler Personal Entry
ZScaler Personal Entry’ zero belief strategy can present organizations peace-of-mind in an more and more hybrid workforce. Whereas it isn’t a VPN per se, its cloud service adopts most safety in defending company knowledge and provides an extra layer of safety towards potential knowledge breaches.
Pricing
Contact the seller for pricing particulars.
Options
A number of gadget assist.
Offers multi-factor authentication.
AI-powered community segmentation.
Helps various kinds of segmentations, together with user-to-app, user-to-device and workload-to-workload segmentation.
Professionals
There may be an choice for a demo.
Applies the ideas of least privilege to present customers a safe connection.
There may be safety compliance assist.
Cons
Key options of enterprise VPN options
Enterprise VPNs have key options that separate them from the normal 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 assist a number of safe protocols, resembling OpenVPN, IPSec and SSL/TLS, to supply quite a lot of choices for connecting to the community securely. The usage of safe VPN protocols assist defend delicate info from interception, eavesdropping and different kinds of cyber threats.
DNS Leak Safety assist
Should-read safety protection
DNS leaks can compromise the safety of enterprise networks by exposing staff’ on-line actions and doubtlessly permitting unauthorized entry to delicate firm knowledge. 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 assist
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 also can implement insurance policies — resembling entry controls and knowledge retention insurance policies, throughout your complete VPN community — making certain that every one customers adjust to firm safety insurance policies and business rules.
Excessive availability
Excessive availability is one other important characteristic of enterprise VPNs. Having an enterprise VPN constantly and repeatedly function correctly is a vital characteristic to be careful for. Any downtime on 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 the perfect VPN resolution for my enterprise?
Earlier than choosing any VPN software program for your corporation, it is best to do the next:
Think about your corporation safety wants
First, think about your safety wants and examine in case your potential VPN resolution can meet these wants. For example, in case your safety want is past only a safe VPN connection to incorporate, let’s say, compliance assist, it is best to go for a VPN resolution that gives each. Equally, you must also think about the way you need to deploy your VPN software program. Would you like an answer providing solely a cloud-based or downloaded consumer? Your reply will let you decide the perfect VPN software program for your corporation.
Think about safety capabilities
Whereas all VPN options provide comparable safety capabilities, some have extra security-focused options than others. Do not forget that safety ought to be the highest precedence when selecting an enterprise VPN resolution. It is best to go for options that present robust encryption, safe authentication and different safety features to guard towards cyber threats.
Examine for compatibility
Compatibility is one other issue to think about earlier than choosing any enterprise VPN resolution. The VPN resolution ought to be suitable with a variety of platforms and gadgets, together with desktops, laptops, cell gadgets and completely different working programs. This ensures that your staff’ gadgets can simply connect with the VPN with out spending cash on further gadgets.
Think about price
Think about the price of the VPN resolution, together with any {hardware} or software program licenses, upkeep and assist charges and another bills related to implementation and administration.
Methodology
Whereas there are a number of VPN companies on the market, not all provide options at an enterprise degree. To reach at our listing of the perfect enterprise VPNs, we primarily based our choice on the next parameters: robust safety features, secure connection, multi-device and working system functionality and buyer assist. Other than utilizing a few of the options, we additionally checked out critiques on Gartner to collect third-party opinions and consumer testimonials on a few of the VPN options.
From these features, we 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 comprises further info and updates by Luis Millares.