If you’re securing remote access for a growing team, VPN is among the most competitive keywords in software advertising for a reason: getting this choice wrong means either a security incident or a helpdesk full of frustrated remote workers.
Additionally, this guide breaks down the top business platforms on the market in 2026, what each one actually does well, and how to pick the right fit for your company size and budget.
Why Businesses Still Need a VPN in 2026
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) has taken over much of the conversation in enterprise security.
Additionally, several vendors below now sell ZTNA alongside — or instead of — a traditional VPN.
For most small and mid-sized businesses, a business VPN is still the simplest way to:
- Give remote and hybrid employees secure access to internal servers, file shares, and internal tools
- Encrypt traffic on public Wi-Fi for traveling staff
- Enforce consistent access policies (MFA, device checks, IP allow-listing) from one admin dashboard
- Meet baseline requirements for cyber insurance and compliance audits
However, choice hinges on whether you need a lightweight team VPN or a full zero-trust platform for your setup.
Quick Comparison Table
| Provider | Best For | Starting Price | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco Secure Client | Large enterprises already on Cisco gear | Contact vendor | VPN + ZTNA + endpoint visibility in one client |
| NordLayer | Growing teams that want fast setup | ~$6-8/user/month (annual, Enterprise tier) | Clear public pricing, private gateways, SSO |
| Proton VPN for Business | Privacy-focused teams | ~$6.99-10.99/user/month (annual) | Open-source apps, dedicated IPs, strong privacy record |
| Check Point Secure Remote Access | Existing Check Point firewall users | Contact vendor | IPsec + SSL VPN with unified policy management |
| Fortinet FortiClient | Teams wanting VPN + broader endpoint security | Contact vendor | Combines VPN, ZTNA, web filtering, and vulnerability remediation |
| Palo Alto GlobalProtect | Enterprises needing strict policy enforcement | Contact vendor | Identity-based access with device posture checks |
| SonicWall Global VPN Client | Existing SonicWall hardware users | Contact vendor | Lightweight, straightforward IPsec setup |
| Zscaler Private Access | Enterprises going full zero-trust | Contact vendor | Application-level access instead of broad network access |
Pricing on enterprise-tier products is typically quote-based and changes based on seat count and contract length, so treat the figures above as a starting point and confirm current rates directly with each vendor before budgeting.
Additionally, The Top Business VPN Providers, Reviewed
1. Cisco Secure Client — Best Overall for Large Enterprises
Cisco Secure Client (the successor to AnyConnect) pairs a VPN with endpoint protection and compliance checks, managed in the cloud. It supports split tunneling controls and multi-factor authentication out of the box.
Best for: Organizations that already run Cisco networking hardware and want VPN, endpoint visibility, and ZTNA under one roof rather than stitching together separate tools.
Watch out for: It’s a more complex deployment than a lightweight team VPN, and it shows its value most clearly inside a Cisco-centric environment.
2. NordLayer — Best for Fast-Growing Teams
NordLayer is built by the team behind NordVPN, repackaged specifically for business use. It offers private gateways, dedicated servers, single sign-on, DNS filtering, and device posture monitoring, with pricing published openly on its site rather than hidden behind a sales call.
Best for: Small and mid-sized businesses that want to be running in a day, not after weeks of vendor calls.
Watch out for: Advanced controls (SSO, dedicated IPs) are gated behind higher tiers, so map out your must-have features before picking a plan.
3. Proton VPN for Business — Best for Privacy-First Teams
Proton built its consumer reputation on privacy and open-source transparency, and its business tier carries that over: dedicated IP addresses, private gateways, enforced two-factor authentication, and cross-platform apps you can actually audit.
Best for: Legal, healthcare, or advocacy organizations where the vendor’s own privacy track record is part of the buying decision.
Watch out for: It doesn’t bundle full endpoint protection, so larger organizations may still need a separate endpoint security tool alongside it.
4. Check Point Secure Remote Access — Best for Existing Check Point Customers
Check Point offers both IPsec and SSL VPN options with policy-based access controls that plug directly into an existing Check Point firewall deployment.
Best for: Companies that already run Check Point at the network edge and want remote access managed under the same policy engine.
Watch out for: Value drops off if you’re not already in the Check Point ecosystem — it’s not the simplest standalone option.
5. Fortinet FortiClient — Best for VPN Plus Broader Security
FortiClient bundles VPN access with ZTNA, endpoint visibility, web filtering, and vulnerability remediation, managed centrally across the fleet.
Best for: IT teams that want one agent doing several jobs instead of running a VPN client and a separate endpoint agent side by side.
Watch out for: Like the other Fortinet-ecosystem tools here, it’s strongest when paired with Fortinet’s network hardware, and configuration can get complex.
6. Palo Alto GlobalProtect — Best for Strict Policy Enforcement
GlobalProtect ties VPN access to identity and device posture, so a connection can be denied or restricted based on who the user is and what state their device is in, not just their credentials.
Best for: Regulated industries that need granular, auditable access policies.
Watch out for: Deployments require careful planning; this isn’t a same-day rollout.
7. SonicWall Global VPN Client — Best Lightweight Option
SonicWall’s client offers straightforward IPsec VPN with strong encryption and multiple authentication methods, integrating cleanly with SonicWall firewalls already on-site.
Best for: Smaller businesses with existing SonicWall hardware who just need reliable remote access without a lot of extra tooling.
Watch out for: It’s a more dated architecture compared to newer ZTNA-first platforms, so it suits maintenance of an existing setup better than a fresh, cloud-first deployment.
8. Zscaler Private Access — Best for Full Zero Trust
Zscaler takes a different approach entirely: instead of putting a remote device on the company network, it grants access to specific applications based on identity and policy, delivered from the cloud.
Best for: Enterprises actively moving away from network-level VPN access toward a zero-trust model.
Watch out for: It’s not a drop-in VPN replacement — expect to map out applications and access policies before rollout.
How to Choose the Right Business VPN
Additionally, a few questions will narrow the VPN list quickly.
How many employees need access, and how fast are you growing? Under 50 seats, a self-service platform like NordLayer or Proton VPN for Business gets you running quickly without a sales cycle. Past a few hundred seats, the quote-based enterprise platforms (Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto, Check Point) start making more sense because of their centralized policy management.
Do you already own firewall or endpoint hardware? If you’re running Cisco, Fortinet, Check Point, or SonicWall gear already, their matching VPN client is almost always the path of least resistance — you get unified logging and policy management for free.
Are you trying to move toward zero trust, or do you just need remote access today? If the goal is “let people connect to the office network securely,” a traditional VPN is enough. If the goal is “stop granting broad network access altogether,” look at Zscaler Private Access or the ZTNA modes built into Cisco Secure Client and FortiClient.
Does compliance or cyber insurance dictate specific controls? Enforced MFA, device posture checks, and audit logging are common requirements. Confirm what your insurer or compliance framework actually requires before signing a multi-year contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreover, is a VPN necessary for a small business with a remote team? Yes, for most setups. A business VPN encrypts traffic and centralizes access control, which is a meaningfully lower risk than employees connecting to internal tools over unsecured home or public Wi-Fi with no policy enforcement at all.
What’s the difference between a business VPN and a consumer VPN? A consumer VPN is built to hide one person’s browsing traffic. A business VPN adds centralized admin controls: user provisioning, group-based access policies, dedicated IP addresses, single sign-on, and audit logs your IT team can actually review.
How much does a business VPN cost? Self-service platforms like NordLayer and Proton VPN for Business publish per-user pricing typically in the $6-15/user/month range on annual billing. Enterprise platforms from Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto, and Check Point are quote-based and priced around seat count, support tier, and existing hardware contracts.
Is a VPN the same thing as Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)? No. A traditional VPN puts a remote device on the company network. ZTNA grants access to individual applications without extending broader network access. Several vendors above (Cisco, Fortinet, Zscaler) now offer both, letting you run a hybrid model while migrating.
Can a business VPN replace endpoint security software? Generally no. Some platforms (Cisco Secure Client, FortiClient) bundle endpoint visibility alongside VPN access, but lighter platforms like NordLayer and Proton VPN for Business focus on network access and expect you to run separate endpoint protection.
Bottom Line
If you already run Cisco, Fortinet, Check Point, or SonicWall hardware, start with that vendor’s matching client — the integration savings are real. If you’re a smaller, fast-moving team without existing enterprise infrastructure, NordLayer or Proton VPN for Business gets you a working setup without a drawn-out sales process. And if the long-term goal is Zero Trust rather than traditional network-level VPN access, it’s worth evaluating Zscaler Private Access or the ZTNA features already built into the platforms above before committing to a multi-year contract.
Pricing and features are accurate as of publication and may change — confirm current plans directly with each vendor before purchasing.
