Businesses increasingly rely on remote employees, cloud applications, shared systems, and distributed offices. That makes secure network access an important part of everyday IT management.

A business VPN can create an encrypted connection between employees, devices, offices, and company resources. However, modern business VPN products are no longer limited to traditional VPN tunnels. Many now include Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), identity management, device controls, centralized administration, logging, and application-level access.

The best business VPN services for one company may therefore be very different from those that suit another. A small team may prioritize simple deployment and predictable pricing, while a larger organization may need single sign-on (SSO), device management, detailed audit logs, dedicated IP addresses, or integration with existing security systems.

This guide explains what to look for, compares several current business-oriented solutions, and provides a practical framework for choosing the right approach.

What Is a Business VPN?

A business VPN is a security and networking service designed to provide employees or other authorized users with secure access to company resources over the internet.

Instead of sending sensitive traffic through an ordinary public connection, the VPN establishes an encrypted connection between the user’s device and a VPN endpoint or private business network.

Business VPNs can be used for situations such as:

• Remote employees accessing internal applications
• Connecting branch offices
• Protecting connections over public Wi-Fi
• Connecting employees to cloud or private infrastructure
• Restricting access to business resources
• Managing network access from a central administration console

A business VPN differs from many consumer VPN products because business solutions generally place greater emphasis on centralized administration, user management, access policies, identity integration, and organizational security.

OpenVPN describes a business VPN as a secure connection between devices and company networks, with centralized controls intended for business environments.

Why Businesses Use VPN Services

Secure remote access

Employees may work from homes, hotels, coworking spaces, branch offices, or other locations. A VPN can provide a protected connection when employees need to access private business resources remotely.

Protection on untrusted networks

Public and shared networks can introduce security risks. Encrypting traffic between a device and the VPN service can help protect data while it travels across the network.

However, a VPN should not be treated as complete cybersecurity protection. Endpoint security, identity management, authentication, software updates, backups, and employee security practices remain important.

Centralized administration

Business VPN platforms often provide administrative consoles that allow IT teams to manage users, devices, permissions, and network access from one location.

Support for distributed teams

Companies with multiple offices or remote employees may use VPN or Zero Trust technologies to connect people to resources without requiring everyone to work from the same physical location.

Business VPN vs. Zero Trust Network Access

One of the most important considerations when evaluating business VPN products is understanding the difference between traditional VPN access and Zero Trust Network Access.

A traditional VPN can provide access to a private network after authentication. Depending on the configuration, this may give a user access to a relatively broad portion of that network.

ZTNA takes a more granular approach. Instead of assuming that a user who connects to the network should be trusted broadly, access policies can restrict users to specific applications, resources, or services.

OpenVPN’s documentation describes ZTNA as an identity- and context-based access boundary around applications, using policies and least-privilege principles.

For example:

Traditional approach:

Employee → VPN → Corporate Network → Multiple Internal Resources

More granular approach:

Employee → Identity Verification → Policy Check → Approved Application

The second model can be useful when an organization wants to reduce unnecessary network access.

That does not mean traditional VPNs are automatically unsuitable. The right architecture depends on the company’s infrastructure, applications, security requirements, and IT capabilities.

Best Business VPN Services to Consider

There is no single solution that is objectively best for every organization. The following services illustrate different approaches to business VPN and secure remote access.

1. NordLayer

NordLayer is designed specifically for business network access and provides centralized management for organizations.

Its business VPN offering includes encrypted connections, remote access capabilities, centralized administration, and options designed for organizations ranging from smaller teams to larger enterprises. NordLayer currently lists its Lite business plan at $8 per user per month with a five-user minimum.

Consider NordLayer if you need:

• A dedicated business-oriented VPN platform
• Centralized administration
• Secure remote access
• A solution that can scale with a growing team
• Business-focused network security features

Pricing and plan features should be checked directly with NordLayer because plan structures can change.

2. Proton VPN for Business

Proton VPN offers business plans aimed at professionals, teams, and organizations.

Its current business documentation lists VPN Essentials at $6.99 per user per month and VPN Professional at $9.99 per user per month, excluding taxes. Professional adds capabilities such as SSO, SCIM, two-factor authentication enforcement, and dedicated servers, although a dedicated server is required for that plan.

Consider Proton VPN if you need:

• A business VPN from an established privacy-focused provider
• Centralized management
• WireGuard support
• SSO and SCIM on the Professional plan
• Dedicated servers or IP addresses for certain business requirements

The service supports multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

3. OpenVPN CloudConnexa

CloudConnexa is a cloud-delivered business networking platform from OpenVPN.

It provides features such as granular access policies, Zero Trust controls, DNS filtering, centralized management, and private networking. OpenVPN currently lists a free Starter plan with five seats, Essential at $7 per seat per month, and Premium at $9.50 per seat per month.

Consider CloudConnexa if you need:

• Cloud-managed VPN infrastructure
• Zero Trust access policies
• Centralized administration
• Integration with identity systems
• A solution that can support distributed networks

OpenVPN also distinguishes CloudConnexa from Access Server: CloudConnexa is managed in the cloud, while Access Server is designed for self-hosted deployment.

4. Tailscale

Tailscale takes a different approach from many traditional VPN services. It uses a mesh-style networking model that connects authorized devices and services while allowing organizations to define access policies.

Tailscale currently lists a Standard plan at $8 per user per month and a Premium plan at $18 per user per month, with Enterprise pricing available by quote.

Consider Tailscale if you need:

• Secure connections between devices and servers
• Developer-friendly networking
• Private infrastructure connectivity
• A mesh networking approach
• Granular access policies

It can be particularly relevant to organizations with technical teams managing servers, cloud infrastructure, development environments, or distributed systems.

5. Cloudflare Zero Trust

Cloudflare’s Zero Trust platform extends beyond a traditional VPN model and provides tools for controlling access to private applications and networks.

Cloudflare currently lists a Free plan for teams under 50 users and a Pay-as-you-go plan at $7 per user per month when paid annually. Enterprise requirements can be handled through a custom Contract plan.

Consider Cloudflare Zero Trust if you need:

• Application-level access controls
• Zero Trust architecture
• Identity-based policies
• Secure access to private applications
• Integration with broader cloud security services

It may be more than a company needs if the requirement is simply a straightforward VPN for a small number of remote workers.

Business VPN Comparison

Service	General approach	Useful for	Pricing information
NordLayer	Managed business VPN/network access	Remote teams and organizations	From $8/user/month on listed Lite plan
Proton VPN for Business	Business VPN with privacy and management features	Professionals and teams	From $6.99/user/month
OpenVPN CloudConnexa	Cloud VPN + Zero Trust	Distributed businesses	Free for 5 seats; paid plans from $7/seat/month
Tailscale	Mesh-based secure connectivity	Technical teams and infrastructure	Standard $8/user/month
Cloudflare Zero Trust	ZTNA/SASE approach	Application and identity-based access	Free under stated limits; paid from $7/user/month

Prices shown above are publicly listed prices found during research and may change. Some plans also have minimum seats, additional infrastructure costs, taxes, annual-billing requirements, or enterprise pricing. Always confirm the current price and feature availability on the provider’s official website before purchasing.

Important Features to Look For

Choosing among the best business VPN services requires more than comparing monthly prices.

1. Centralized user management

IT administrators should be able to add, remove, and manage users without configuring every employee’s device manually.

Look for features such as:

• User groups
• Role-based permissions
• Centralized administration
• Automated provisioning
• User deactivation

2. Single Sign-On

SSO can allow employees to authenticate through an organization’s existing identity provider.

This can simplify account management and help organizations apply consistent authentication policies.

If your company already uses Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, Google Workspace, or another identity provider, check whether the VPN supports the required integration.

3. Multi-factor authentication

MFA adds an additional authentication factor beyond a password.

For business environments, it is worth checking:

• Which MFA methods are supported
• Whether MFA can be enforced
• Whether policies can differ between user groups
• Whether administrator accounts have stronger authentication requirements

4. Device management and posture checks

A user may have valid credentials but still be connecting from an insecure or unmanaged device.

Some modern business VPN and ZTNA platforms can consider device-related conditions when determining whether access should be allowed.

5. Audit logs

Logs can help administrators understand:

• Who connected
• When they connected
• What systems they accessed
• Whether authentication failed
• What security events occurred

Check how long logs are retained and whether they can be exported to your organization’s security monitoring platform.

6. Dedicated IP addresses

Some businesses need a consistent public IP address for allowlisting or access-control purposes.

For example, a company may configure an external service to accept connections only from approved IP addresses.

Dedicated IP functionality is not necessary for every business, so it should be considered based on your actual requirements.

7. Split tunneling

Split tunneling allows selected traffic to use the VPN while other traffic uses the user’s ordinary internet connection.

This can reduce unnecessary VPN traffic, but it should be configured carefully because it changes how traffic flows through the organization’s security infrastructure.

8. Scalability

A solution that works for five employees may not be appropriate for 500.

Before purchasing, consider:

• Current employee count
• Expected growth
• Number of offices
• Number of devices
• Number of applications
• Remote workers
• Concurrent connections
• Administrative workload

How Much Does a Business VPN Cost?

Business VPN pricing varies considerably depending on the deployment model and features.

Cloud-based services commonly charge per user or seat. Self-hosted solutions may instead charge based on concurrent connections or licenses while also requiring infrastructure and administration.

For example, CloudConnexa currently lists $7 per seat per month for Essential and $9.50 for Premium, while Proton VPN lists business plans beginning at $6.99 per user per month.

However, the subscription price is not necessarily the total cost.

A business should also consider:

• Setup time
• IT administration
• Dedicated servers or IPs
• Identity-provider integrations
• Support requirements
• Additional security products
• Hardware for self-hosted deployments
• Employee training

A lower subscription price can therefore require more internal technical work, while a more expensive managed platform may reduce infrastructure responsibilities.

Cloud VPN vs Self-Hosted VPN

Businesses generally have two broad deployment approaches.

Cloud-managed VPN

A cloud-managed solution is operated by the provider.

Advantages

• Less infrastructure to maintain
• Faster deployment
• Centralized management
• Easier scaling
• Provider-managed infrastructure

Limitations

• Ongoing subscription costs
• Dependence on the provider
• Less infrastructure-level control
• Some advanced features may require higher-tier plans

Self-hosted VPN

With a self-hosted VPN, the organization manages the VPN server or infrastructure itself.

Advantages

• Greater control over infrastructure
• More customization possibilities
• Can be appropriate for organizations with existing infrastructure expertise

Limitations

• Requires technical administration
• Infrastructure must be secured and maintained
• Updates and monitoring become the organization’s responsibility
• Scaling can require additional work

OpenVPN, for example, positions Access Server as a self-hosted option and CloudConnexa as its managed cloud alternative.

How to Choose the Right Business VPN

Instead of choosing a service based only on a review list, start with your organization’s requirements.

Step 1: Identify what employees need to access

Create a list of the systems employees actually use.

For example:

• Internal web applications
• File servers
• Databases
• Cloud applications
• Remote desktops
• Development servers
• Office networks

This helps determine whether you need broad network connectivity or application-specific access.

Step 2: Determine your team size

Calculate both current and expected users.

Don’t forget contractors, temporary workers, administrators, and service accounts where applicable.

Step 3: Check identity requirements

If your organization already uses an identity provider, choose a solution that supports it.

SSO and automated provisioning can become increasingly valuable as the organization grows.

Step 4: Decide between VPN and Zero Trust

If employees need access to an entire private network, a traditional business VPN may meet the requirement.

If employees only need specific applications, a ZTNA approach may provide more granular access control.

Some platforms support both approaches, allowing an organization to adopt different models for different workloads.

Step 5: Calculate the total cost

Do not compare only the advertised monthly price.

Calculate:

Total cost = subscriptions + infrastructure + implementation + administration + additional services

This provides a more realistic picture of the investment.

Step 6: Test before deployment

Whenever possible, run a pilot with a small group of employees.

Test:

• Connection reliability
• Authentication
• Application compatibility
• Speed
• Device support
• Administration
• Logging
• User experience

A successful pilot can reveal problems that are difficult to identify from a feature list.

Common Business VPN Mistakes to Avoid

Choosing only because of price

The cheapest service may not provide the identity, logging, management, or support features your organization requires.

Giving users excessive network access

VPN access should be configured according to business needs. Users generally should not receive access to systems they do not need.

Ignoring administrator security

VPN administrators have powerful permissions. Protect administrator accounts with strong authentication and appropriate access controls.

Forgetting employee devices

A secure VPN does not automatically make an infected or poorly managed computer safe.

Endpoint security should remain part of the organization’s overall security strategy.

Not reviewing logs

A security product generates limited value if nobody reviews important events or responds to suspicious activity.

Treating VPN as complete cybersecurity

A VPN protects a particular part of the connection and access process. It does not replace:

• Endpoint protection
• MFA
• Backups
• Security awareness
• Patch management
• Access control
• Email security
• Monitoring
• Incident response

Are Business VPNs Worth It?

For organizations with remote employees, distributed offices, private applications, or sensitive business systems, secure remote access can be an important part of an overall security architecture.

Whether a traditional VPN or a modern Zero Trust solution is appropriate depends on how the organization operates.

A small company with a straightforward remote-access requirement may need only a relatively simple managed VPN. A larger organization with cloud infrastructure, multiple identity systems, and strict access requirements may benefit from a broader Zero Trust or SASE platform.

The important point is to match the technology to the actual security and networking requirements rather than buying features the business will never use.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best business VPN service?

There is no single business VPN that is best for every company. The appropriate choice depends on team size, infrastructure, identity-management requirements, applications, budget, and the level of network control required.

Solutions such as NordLayer, Proton VPN for Business, OpenVPN CloudConnexa, Tailscale, and Cloudflare Zero Trust represent different approaches and should be evaluated against those requirements.

2. Is a business VPN different from a personal VPN?

Yes. A business VPN typically focuses more heavily on centralized administration, user management, access policies, identity integration, and organizational networking.

A personal VPN is generally designed for individual users and personal internet privacy.

3. Is a VPN enough to protect a business?

No. A VPN is one security control, not a complete cybersecurity strategy.

Businesses should also consider MFA, endpoint protection, secure passwords, software updates, backups, access controls, employee training, monitoring, and incident-response procedures.

4. Should a small business use a VPN or Zero Trust?

It depends on the business’s requirements.

If employees need straightforward access to a private network, a business VPN may be sufficient. If employees only need access to specific applications or resources, Zero Trust Network Access may provide more granular controls.

5. How much does a business VPN cost?

Pricing varies by provider, plan, number of users, deployment model, and additional features.

For example, current publicly listed prices include Proton VPN business plans starting at $6.99 per user per month and OpenVPN CloudConnexa paid plans starting at $7 per seat per month.

Prices can change, and additional infrastructure or premium features may increase the final cost.

Conclusion

The best business VPN services should be evaluated according to what your organization actually needs rather than by price or a generic feature checklist.

For straightforward managed remote access, a dedicated business VPN may be appropriate. For organizations that need application-level access, identity-based controls, or more granular policies, a Zero Trust solution may be a better fit. Technical teams may also prefer mesh networking approaches, while organizations with existing infrastructure expertise may consider self-hosted options.

Before purchasing, identify your users, applications, security requirements, authentication systems, budget, and expected growth. Then test shortlisted solutions with a small group before deploying them across the organization.

Finally, verify current pricing, features, compliance information, supported devices, and contractual terms directly with the provider because business VPN products and plans can change over time.