Virtual private networks or Vpns have come a long way since being introduced to us internet consumers years back. It used to be a means solely for the purpose of browsing anonymously online but now, even businesses can benefit from using a VPN in their daily operations.

Believe it or not, small and big business – as well as corporations, are using VPNs for their day-to-day operations. From a consumer’s perspective, we only see VPNs as a means to access region-locked content as well as a way to stay anonymous online.

For businesses though, VPNs are a way to expand your business effectively at a low charge. It can also be a way to protect your data, as well as the data of your consumers that you are entrusted with.

Picking a VPN for personal use and a VPN for business use needs to be treated differently. For starters, both types of VPNs have their own purposes. Each has its own structure of pricing as well. If you are looking for things to consider when buying a VPN for business, then you’ve come to the right place.

Pricing

The price for business VPN services vary from personal VPN services. Obviously, it’s more expensive than your usual VPN which you’ll pay for at least $100-$120 annually. Since this is a business you are hoping to cover with a VPN service, you are looking at around $500-$1000 monthly depending on the size of your business.

The good news is that there are ways through which you can cut costs effectively. For instance, if you look here, you can gain massive discounts through coupons. Some portals offer discounts as high as 70% so make sure to check these out before you pay for any VPN service.

Business packages are there to ensure that you can get the most out of a VPN service for the right price.  Most providers will give you a discount the more people you involve in your VPN subscription.

Demos

Most of today’s VPNs give you access to a demo. This demo will include all of the features of the service – free of charge. It’s their way of letting you test if their service is actually a fit for your business. Make sure to schedule for this demo is possible so that you can easily check if the service is indeed worth the price.

Security Features

The most important aspect of a VPN for business is the security it can provide to you, your employees, and your customers. Security features will vary from one service provider to another. However, there are a few features that are a must for a  business setting and these should be the ones you need to look for.

• DNS Leak Protection – Your domain name system (DNS) is a directory that matches with your IP address. It is one of the foundations of the internet which is why you must do your best to protect your DNS. DNS leak protection prevents your DNS from being discovered by others while you’re using a VPN.
• Kill Switch – A kill switch is basically an automatic protection method that masks users of the VPN from outsiders just in case they get suddenly disconnected from the VPN. In essence, it allows VPN users to stay behind an extra layer of protection.
• Split-Tunneling – A good VPN for a business is one that allows you to micromanage the business functions you want to connect to the service. Split-tunneling allows you to let some of your business apps run through the internet while letting others go through the VPN. This helps give better protection for some apps while maximizing security at the same time.
• Logging – Logging is basically a feature through which all incoming and outgoing connections to the VPN are recorded. This is an important security feature to look for as it can tell you whether or not your server has been compromised.

These are the important security features to have for any VPN. Make sure to look for these when it comes to VPN for businesses. VPNs are already safe and secure but these extra features up the security levels by a huge margin.

Device Coverage

If your  business has been affected by the pandemic, then there’s a good chance that you’ve shifted some of your workforce into a work-from-home setup. In cases like these, it would be best to ensure that your employees are able to access the VPN regardless of what device they are on.

Aside from their work computer, you should expect that your employees are going to access the web through their smartphones of tablets. Finding a VPN that covers multiple devices is a great way to ensure that your company and its employees are always protected by the VPN.

The top VPNs are compatible with numerous devices. Ideally, you’d want to check what operating systems they can work on. Of course, the best VPNs should work on all major operating systems including Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, and Linux.

Customer Support

Even if you have an IT department to handle all of your VPN woes, it’s still better to get help directly from your service provider instead. A VPN service with great customer support is an essential for businesses. Now, what does great customer support mean in this case?

This means that the VPN provider must be accessible 24/7 through various channels such as emails, live chat, and telephone. They should be ready to help you out with your problem at all costs.

The importance of customer support is that the provider should be able to assist you when something goes wrong with your VPN. In some cases, problems can hinder your business’s workflow. In the worst cases, it can compromise your data and assets as well.

A VPN for your business is one of the best investments you can make for your growth and development. Understandably, you’d only want the best for your business so make it a must to choose the best VPN service possible.

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