As a cybersecurity expert with over a decade specializing in protecting cloud data, I‘ve seen firsthand how devastating cyber attacks can be for small businesses. 43% of cyber attacks target small businesses, and the average cost of a data breach for SMBs worldwide is a staggering $2.98 million. And with the rise of remote work, unsecured home and public WiFi networks create even more vulnerabilities.
One of the most cost-effective ways for small businesses to upgrade their cybersecurity is by using a virtual private network (VPN). A business VPN encrypts all of your company‘s internet traffic and remote connections, creating a secure tunnel that protects sensitive data from hackers and snoops.
But with so many VPNs on the market, how do you choose the best fit for your small business needs and budget? I thoroughly tested and analyzed the leading VPN services and consulted with other IT security pros to determine the top picks.
Key Features of the Best Small Business VPNs
When evaluating VPNs for your small business, look for:
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AES 256-bit encryption: The gold standard for securing data, used by militaries and banks worldwide. All my recommended VPNs use AES-256.
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No-logs policy: Ensures your VPN provider does not track or store any data about your company‘s online activities. Crucial for privacy.
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Kill switch: Automatically cuts off internet access if the VPN connection drops, preventing accidental data exposure. An essential safeguard.
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Large server network: The more global server locations your VPN offers, the better the speeds and reliability. Helps you find a fast, low-latency connection.
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Dedicated IP addresses: Getting a static IP address unique to your business enables more secure remote access to office files and networks. Some services offer at an additional cost.
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Split tunneling: Lets you choose which traffic goes through the encrypted VPN tunnel and which uses your regular ISP connection. Useful for optimizing speeds and bandwidth.
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Central management: A dedicated dashboard for easily adding and removing users, setting policies and permissions, and monitoring usage. Simplifies administration.
Best VPNs for Small Businesses
1. NordLayer
Best for premium security and advanced team management features.
NordLayer takes business VPN security to the next level with features like:
- AES 256-bit encryption and IKEv2/IPsec, OpenVPN, WireGuard protocols
- CyberSec malware and ad blocking
- Dedicated company servers and static IP addresses
- Two-factor authentication and single sign-on
- Centralized admin Control Panel for user and permission management
- 24/7 dedicated account manager and support
- Scales up to 500+ users
Prices start at $7/user/month with a 5-user minimum. Higher-tier plans add a dedicated server, priority support, and custom DNS and VPN gateways for connecting on-premises networks.
"NordLayer‘s enterprise-grade encryption and granular access controls help our small dev team collaborate securely and meet strict client security requirements. The responsive support is a huge plus." – Mary R., software startup founder
2. Perimeter 81
Best for easily securing cloud resources and remote access.
Perimeter 81‘s Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platform combines advanced VPN technology with other key security tools:
- AES 256-bit encryption and WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 protocols
- Zero Trust Network Access to company apps and resources
- Cloud VPN gateways for connecting on-premises networks
- Firewall as a Service and DNS Filtering
- Secure Web Gateway and SaaS security
- Unified management via cloud console
- Integrations with Azure AD, Okta, Google, etc.
Pricing starts at $8/user/month (minimum 5 users) which includes the Essentials plan with all the core SASE features. The Premium plan ($12/user/month) adds more tools like device posture check and security monitoring.
"With team members and clients all over, we needed an easy way to provide secure access no matter the device or location. Perimeter 81 let us set up conditional access policies and segmented cloud VPN gateways in minutes." – Javier M., business consulting firm partner
3. Surfshark for Teams
Best for affordable, scalable VPN protection for growing businesses.
Surfshark packs top-notch security into an affordable, user-friendly package:
- AES 256-bit encryption and WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 protocols
- CleanWeb malware, ad, and tracker blocking
- Whitelister split tunneling
- Customizable kill switch
- Central team management dashboard
- Unlimited devices and data per user
- 7-day free trial for business teams
Business plans start under $2/user/month and scale affordably as your team grows. Unlike other VPNs that force you into more expensive enterprise plans, Surfshark keeps costs lean.
"Quick setup, intuitive apps, and stellar support. Surfshark handles our small marketing agency‘s security without slowing us down. The price is unbeatable for this level of protection." – Karl T., creative agency owner
4. ExpressVPN for Teams
Best for fast global server coverage and responsive support.
Long a leader in the consumer VPN space, ExpressVPN‘s business offering delivers the same performance and service:
- AES 256-bit encryption and Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP protocols
- TrustedServer technology for greater security and privacy
- Over 3000 servers in 94 countries
- Private DNS on every server
- Encrypted tunnels between global offices
- Admin portal for easy team setup and management
- Dedicated account manager and priority support
Per-user pricing starts at $7.99/month based on team size and needs. While a bit pricier than competitors, the speeds, server coverage, and white-glove support are unmatched.
"With team members on 4 continents, we can‘t have VPN slowing collaboration. ExpressVPN‘s huge server network and private DNS keep us securely connected with minimal latency. Support always goes the extra mile." – Chen W., global e-commerce startup CTO
Securing Your Small Business Network
For small businesses with an office network, consider installing the VPN directly on your WiFi router. That way, every device connected to that network is protected automatically without needing individual VPN apps. This is especially useful for securing IoT devices with no built-in VPN capability.
Configuring a VPN on your router does require some technical know-how. NordLayer and Perimeter 81 offer dedicated VPN gateway devices you can easily deploy on-premises. ExpressVPN partners with FlashRouters to provide pre-configured VPN router options for small offices.
Keep in mind, all devices on the network will run through a single VPN server connection, so choose a provider with fast speeds and enough bandwidth to handle your entire team‘s traffic. Use split tunneling to only route the most sensitive data through the VPN and let non-critical traffic go through your regular ISP connection.
Optimizing VPN Performance
Any VPN will slow your connection a bit compared to your bare internet speeds. But by choosing a provider with fast servers and configuring your VPN properly you can minimize the impact:
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Connect to the VPN server closest to your physical location for the lowest latency. Most VPNs have an "auto-select" option that will pick the fastest server.
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If your provider offers WireGuard protocol, use that for the best speeds on devices that support it, like Windows, Mac, iOS, Android. Otherwise, use OpenVPN UDP or IKEv2. Avoid OpenVPN TCP and L2TP/IPSec if possible.
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Use split tunneling intelligently to only encrypt sensitive traffic that really needs it, like financial data, customer records, trade secrets. Route high-bandwidth, low-risk activities like video calls and streaming media outside the VPN tunnel.
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For remote employees, provide clear guidelines on when they should activate the VPN (on public WiFi, handling certain data) and how to troubleshoot common issues. Make sure their devices meet recommended hardware/software specs.
Testing Your Small Business VPN
Once you‘ve set up your team‘s VPN, don‘t just blindly trust that it‘s working properly. Regularly test for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks that could expose your real location and activities. Some tools I recommend:
- IPLeak.net: Tests for exposed IP address, DNS servers, and WebRTC leaks.
- Cloudflare ESNI Checker: Verifies that your VPN is securing DNS requests with Encrypted SNI.
- BrowserLeaks.com: Comprehensive test suite for detecting various browser-based leaks.
If any tests reveal a leak, contact your VPN provider‘s support for help. The VPNs I‘ve recommended all have 24/7 chat and email support and detailed knowledge bases.
You should also periodically audit your VPN usage to check for anomalies or unauthorized activity. Look for strange login locations, excessive bandwidth consumption, or odd usage patterns. Your VPN‘s admin dashboard should provide detailed connection and usage logs for investigation.
Securing Remote Work with a VPN
With 85% of small businesses now allowing remote or hybrid work, securing those out-of-office connections is critical. A VPN is one of the best ways to protect remote workers, especially when using untrusted networks.
Mandate that remote employees activate the VPN whenever working on any public Wi-Fi network (cafes, airports, coworking spaces, etc.). Those networks are notoriously insecure and prone to snooping and "man-in-the-middle" attacks.
For highly sensitive data and communications, have remote workers use the VPN even on their password-protected home Wi-Fi. You never know if a neighbor or hacker has compromised those networks.
If your small business handles regulated data like patient health records or financial information, a VPN helps demonstrate compliance with security requirements. Standards like PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR all call for encrypting transmission of personal data, which a VPN handles.
Train remote employees to use the VPN anytime they‘re accessing customer databases, sharing files with internal colleagues, or connecting to cloud services that require login. Combining a VPN with other tools like password managers, encrypted messaging apps, and multi-factor authentication creates a robust security setup for remote work.
Final Thoughts
Investing in a VPN is one of the most impactful and cost-effective ways to level up your small business cybersecurity. By thoroughly encrypting your internet traffic and remote connections, it greatly reduces your risk of data breaches and compliance penalties.
My testing found NordLayer, Perimeter 81, Surfshark for Teams, and ExpressVPN for Teams to be the top VPN solutions for small businesses. They all deliver military-grade encryption, strict no-logs policies, intuitive apps and central management, and responsive support at SMB-friendly price points. Your final choice will depend on your specific needs, feature preferences, and budget.
Regardless of which VPN you choose, proper configuration and testing are key to ensuring maximum security and minimal performance hits. Follow the setup and optimization tips I‘ve outlined and make sure your team actually uses the VPN consistently. No security tool can protect your business data if it‘s not active.
