Best VPN for Enterprise: Tested and Ranked for Business

Enterprise teams operate across home offices, coworking spaces and branch locations spanning multiple time zones. That sprawl creates an attack surface that consumer VPNs cannot address.

For a broader overview of business VPN options, see our best VPN for business guide. Choosing the right enterprise VPN touches compliance, productivity, IT overhead and incident response.

Best VPN for Enterprise (Quick Picks)

Best Overall: NordLayer
Best for Cisco environments: Cisco Secure Client
Best for deep security inspection: Palo Alto GlobalProtect
Best for Zero Trust: Zscaler Private Access

Top Enterprise VPN Solutions

Best VPN for enterprise comparison showing NordLayer, Cisco Secure Client, Zscaler, and Fortinet solutions

We evaluated the leading enterprise VPN platforms based on security depth, management tools, protocol support, compliance capability, performance and independent user reviews.

Provider	Best For	Key Differentiator
NordLayer	Cloud-first enterprises	SSO, SCIM, NordLynx protocol
Cisco Secure Client	Cisco environments	Pre-connection compliance checks
Palo Alto GlobalProtect	Deep security inspection	Real-time traffic inspection via App-ID
Fortinet FortiClient	Hardware-accelerated performance	Unified VPN, firewall and endpoint protection
Zscaler ZPA	Zero Trust	App-level access, no network exposure

NordLayer

Best for cloud-first enterprises and hybrid teams. AES-256 encryption with NordLynx protocol, SSO integration (Azure AD, Okta, Google Workspace), SCIM-based provisioning, device posture checks and DNS filtering. Speeds reach 237 Mbps down and 221 Mbps up.

Cisco Secure Client

Best for large enterprises with existing Cisco infrastructure. Runs pre-connection device compliance checks and blocks non-compliant devices before the tunnel opens. Split tunneling is disabled by default, keeping all traffic within the corporate security stack.

Palo Alto GlobalProtect

Best for security-first organizations needing deep traffic inspection. Connects to Palo Alto’s next-generation firewall and Prisma Access cloud platform. Inspects all traffic continuously using App-ID, User-ID and real-time content inspection.

Fortinet FortiClient

Best for enterprises needing hardware-accelerated performance with built-in endpoint protection. Unifies VPN, firewall, endpoint protection and threat intelligence under one management plane. Supports IPSec and SSL tunneling. Free trial available.

Zscaler Private Access (ZPA)

Best for cloud-native enterprises committed to Zero Trust. Connects users directly to specific applications without exposing the underlying network. Application IPs remain invisible to the public internet. Cloud-only heavy on-premises environments will need a phased approach.

Zero Trust: The Shift Beyond Traditional VPN

Traditional remote access VPNs grant broad network access once a user authenticates. If credentials are stolen, attackers inherit that same access. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) inverts this model: every request is untrusted until verified and users only reach the specific applications their role requires. Device health, identity, location and behavior are evaluated continuously, not just at login.

Over 70% of new remote-access deployments now use ZTNA instead of traditional VPN, up from under 10% in 2021.

How to Choose the Best VPN for Enterprise?

Choosing the right enterprise VPN starts with matching your requirements to platform strengths:

Map security priorities: Cloud application security favors ZTNA. Multiple physical offices need site-to-site VPN support.
Confirm compliance alignment: Verify your platform supports HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR or whichever frameworks apply.
Run a proof of concept: Deploy to 25–50 users before committing. Test reliability, failover and support responsiveness.

Best VPN for Enterprise: FAQs

How much does an enterprise VPN cost?

Most platforms fall in the $8–$15 per user per month range, though big names like Cisco and Palo Alto require custom quotes. Don’t forget to factor in deployment time, training and admin overhead.

Is a VPN enough to protect enterprise teams or do we need more?

A VPN handles encryption and secure access, but it’s one layer, not the whole stack. You’ll still need endpoint protection, identity management and monitoring tools working alongside it.

What is ZTNA and should we use it instead of a traditional VPN?

ZTNA verifies every request and only grants access to specific apps, never the full network. Most enterprises today run both: ZTNA for cloud apps and traditional VPN for legacy systems.

How long does it take to deploy an enterprise VPN?

Cloud-managed platforms can be up and running in hours to a few days. On-premises solutions like Cisco or Palo Alto typically take weeks, sometimes longer depending on your infrastructure complexity.

What VPN protocols should enterprise teams use?

WireGuard and IKEv2/IPSec are the current go-tos for speed and security. OpenVPN remains solid and widely supported. Avoid older protocols like PPTP.

The Bottom Line

NordLayer suits most organizations with fast deployment and ZTNA integration. Cisco Secure Client fits large Cisco shops. Palo Alto GlobalProtect serves security-first teams.

Zscaler ZPA works for cloud-heavy enterprises ready to eliminate the traditional VPN surface. With the average breach costing $4.56 million, deploying the wrong VPN costs far less than deploying none.