The Top 6 Enterprise VPN Solutions to Use

Cisco AnyConnect: Best for easy set up

Cisco AnyConnect uses multi-factor authentication and establishes a 24-hour usage window after which a user’s connection drops and they are required to log in again.

AnyConnect offers many security options. It performs a system check on authentication to determine whether the workstation meets certain requirements, like anti-malware software or corporate domain membership, before it permits access to the company network. This ensures only company-managed systems are allowed on the VPN. AnyConnect can block access to untrusted servers, display security products installed and run diagnostics to gather information for analysis and troubleshooting. It disables split tunneling, meaning when a user is connected to the VPN, they can only access corporate resources and nothing on a local home network or the internet.

Why we chose Cisco AnyConnect

We picked Cisco AnyConnect for its user-friendly installation process and intuitive interface. We also liked its numerous security features, such as system check and server blocking, that make it a strong option amongst other enterprise VPN solutions with limited features.

Pricing

• Contact the vendor for pricing details.

Features

• Allows access to the enterprise network, from any device, at any time, in any location.
• Provides visibility and insight into endpoint behavior.
• Offers multi-factor authentication.
• Offers always-on support.

Pros

• It is easy to download and install.
• It can be used on multiple devices.
• Provides great customer support.

Cons

• There is no free trial.
• Lacks kill switch capability.

Checkpoint Secure Remote Access: Best for web-based client support

The Checkpoint Secure Remote Access VPN allows for creating custom install packages pre-configured with the target IP address(es) for clients to authenticate to. Like AnyConnect, it’s secured by multi-factor authentication (in this case, either hard tokens or soft tokens, which operate as an app on mobile devices).

Like AnyConnect, split tunneling is disabled and for hackers to get to the internet clients, they would have to configure the company proxy server settings, which only permit access to public-facing internet sites for business use (social media sites were blocked, for instance). Group memberships determine who can connect where. Checkpoint firewalls serve as the management interface for both the VPN and the firewall settings.

Checkpoint Site-to-Site VPNs can link two remote areas together so traffic can reach networks on either side.

Why we chose Checkpoint Secure Remote Access

We chose Checkpoint Secure Remote Access VPN for its impressive SSL VPN portal that allows network access through a web browser. Having secure access to a corporate network is a meaningful value-add that many employees and employers will find useful, especially those working in a hybrid setup. It also makes workflows more efficient, given that employees can access important resources without having to install a full-fledged VPN client on their devices.

Pricing

• Contact the vendor for pricing details.

Features

• The VPN offers a central management platform.
• IPsec and SSL VPN support.
• Secure hotspot registration.
• It offers VPN auto-connect.
• Multi-factor authentication support.

Pros

• SSL support provides web-based access without the need to install a VPN client.
• Compliance scanning support.
• Runs on multiple devices, including Windows, Mac and Mobiles.
• Offers threat prevention capability.

Cons

• It does not support threat prevention on iOS, Android and Linux users.
• Incident analysis is only available for Windows users.

SonicWall Global VPN Client: Best lightweight enterprise VPN

SonicWall offers a fast and efficient product that provides RADIUS/certificate/Smart Card/USB authentication. It comes with both 168-bit key 3DES (Data Encryption Standard) and AES (Advanced Encryption) encryption standards and VPN session reliability that redirects clients to other VPN gateways if problems occur. In addition, SonicWall comes with specific subnet access and command-line options for installation, making it easy to deploy through automated software mechanisms.

Why we chose SonicWall Global VPN Client:

We like SonicWall Global VPN for its speed and reliability. It has a good mix of strong security features such as AES encryption, an easily configurable interface and a quick and reliable user experience. SonicWall also has a good reputation for providing quality customer support.

Pricing

• Contact the vendor for pricing details.

Features

• It can be configured either as an IPsec or SSL end-point agent.
• Supports multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS and Linux.
• Offers easy setup and configuration.
• Detailed logs and reporting for network administrators.

Pros

• Offers strong encryption and authentication to protect against cyber threats.
• It is easy to download and configure.
• Compatible with a wide range of platforms and devices.
• Offers logs and reporting features to monitor VPN usage.

Cons

• There is no free trial or demo.
• No web-based version.

Fortinet FortiClient: Best for offering wider VPN security options

Fortinet FortiClient relies on certificates for integration and deployment and offers access to web filtering and its firewall. Endpoint protection security, which uses automated behavior analysis, is included. A “single pane of glass” approach similar to Checkpoint provides one-stop-shopping to manage configuration, deployment and management as well as check client status and engage in vulnerability scanning and patching.

The solution also offers two different types of VPN solutions—IPSec and SSL—and can be integrated into an organization’s overall endpoint security strategy. This provides a reliable VPN security option for companies that have employees working remotely.

Why we chose Fortinet FortiClient

Fortinet FortiClient’s extensive protocol suite makes it a good choice when security is a top priority; their multiple tunneling protocols are customizable based on protection needs. We also like that Fortinet allows prospective users to trial FortiClient to see if it fits their enterprise needs.

Pricing

• Contact the vendor for pricing details.

Features

• Fortinet supports multi-factor authentication.
• Supports SSL or IPSec tunneling protocols.
• Offers malware protection and anti-exploit support.
• Offers multiple tunneling protocols, including Point-to-Point, Layer 2 and Secure Socket tunneling protocols.

Pros

• There is a free trial option.
• Fully customizable authentication settings.

Cons

• Integration with anti-virus and threat-detection tools makes it a little bit clunky.

Palo Alto GlobalProtect: Best for implementing security policies

Palo Alto GlobalProtect offers similar features to prior products listed, such as multi-factor authentication, high security (cookie or certificate-based authentication are two strong features), web filtering and threat protection. It relies on Zero Trust principles.

GlobalProtect displays significant capability in identifying what devices are connecting to the VPN and whether they are managed (company-owned or operated) or unmanaged (employee-owned), and providing access accordingly (devices deemed suspicious or unauthorized can be blocked entirely). It can determine certificates present on devices, operating system and patch levels, anti-malware versions and status, running software and whether disks are encrypted and data is being backed up by a product.

Why we chose Palo Alto GlobalProtect

We chose Palo Alto GlobalProtect for its trustworthiness and reliability in upholding its security policies and feature promises to its clients. Trust and credibility are important tenets in quality security software, and GlobalProtect has continued to maintain a good reputation for protecting corporate and user data. Its application of zero trust security principles is also an advantage against similar competitors.

Pricing

• Contact the vendor for pricing details.

Features

• Provides least-privilege access support for remote employees.
• Supports multi-factor authentication.
• The software supports threat prevention.
• Offers full visibility across all applications, ports and protocols.

Pros

• There is a demo option to check out the product.
• Offers analytics and visibility for network traffic,
• There is an always-on, secure connection support.

Cons

• Deployment may be difficult for first-time users.

ZScaler Private Access: Best for zero trust network access

ZScaler Private Access is a different product from the previous offerings in this article. Rather than being a traditional end-user VPN client, it’s a cloud service that provides access to applications in cloud environments or on-premises systems via a distributed architecture. The twist here is that the applications connect to authorized users via secure encryption rather than vice versa, so users never actually access the remote networks involved.

It uses standard policy-based access depending on users and applications. ZScaler allows mergers and acquisitions to be facilitated easily due to the reduced infrastructure setup times and lack of need for additional networking equipment.

Why we chose ZScaler Private Access

ZScaler Private Access’ zero trust approach can provide organizations peace-of-mind in an increasingly hybrid workforce. While it isn’t a VPN per se, its cloud service adopts maximum security in protecting corporate data and adds an additional layer of security against possible data breaches.

Pricing

• Contact the vendor for pricing details.

Features

• Multiple device support.
• Provides multi-factor authentication.
• AI-powered network segmentation.
• Supports different types of segmentations, including user-to-app, user-to-device and workload-to-workload segmentation.

Pros

• There is an option for a demo.
• Applies the principles of least privilege to give users a secure connection.
• There is security compliance support.

Cons

• It is only cloud-based.