A single unprotected remote connection is all it takes to expose an entire company network.
In 2025 alone, 78% of organizations reported at least one security incident tied to remote work, averaging $4.56 million per breach. Without proper protection, your team is exposed every time someone logs in from a coffee shop or home router.
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between a remote device and company resources. It keeps data unreadable to anyone trying to intercept it. For a broader overview of business VPN options, see our best VPN for business guide. For businesses managing distributed teams, this is foundational security.
Best VPN for Remote Access (Quick Picks)
- Best Overall: NordVPN
- Best for Speed: ExpressVPN
- Best Budget: Surfshark
- Best Privacy: ProtonVPN
- Best for Teams: NordLayer
Why Remote Access Demands a VPN Today?
Remote work has permanently expanded the attack surface. Vulnerability exploitation now accounts for 20% of initial access paths and VPN-related edge devices represent 22% of those exploit vectors. That figure jumped roughly 8x year over year.
Meanwhile, 73% of remote employees use personal devices that lack enterprise-grade protection.
A VPN encrypts all traffic using AES-256-GCM or ChaCha20. It masks the user’s real IP address and prevents ISPs and bad actors from seeing transmitted data. For teams handling client files or accessing internal tools from multiple locations, it is the simplest first layer of defense.
What Features Matter Most
- Encryption and Protocols: AES-256 is the baseline. WireGuard is now the dominant protocol for speed and security. Leading providers have also begun rolling out post-quantum encryption using ML-KEM to protect against future quantum threats.
- Kill Switch: This cuts internet access automatically if the VPN drops. Without it, your real IP and unencrypted traffic are briefly exposed.
- Split Tunneling: Route work apps through the VPN while non-sensitive traffic uses the direct connection. It preserves bandwidth without compromising security.
- No-Logs Policy with Independent Audits: Privacy claims mean nothing without third-party verification. Every provider on this list has been independently audited multiple times.
Best VPNs for Remote Access Compared
| Feature | NordVPN | ExpressVPN | Surfshark | Proton VPN |
| Starting Price | $3.39/mo | $3.46/mo | $1.99/mo | Free tier available |
| Servers | 9,000+ | 3,000+ | 4,500+ | 18,000+ |
| Countries | 118+ | 105+ | 100 | 112+ |
| Protocol | NordLynx | Lightway | WireGuard | WireGuard/Stealth |
| Connections | 10 | 10+ | Unlimited | 10 |
| Post-Quantum | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Kill Switch | Yes (dual) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free Plan | No | No | No | Yes |
NordVPN: Best Overall
NordLynx delivers 750+ Mbps throughput with full encryption. NordVPN completed post-quantum (ML-KEM) deployment across all platforms in early 2025. Six independent no-logs audits back its privacy claims. For teams scaling up, NordLayer offers centralized management on the same infrastructure.
ExpressVPN: Best for International Teams
ExpressVPN has more third-party audits than any other provider on this list. Lightway enables sub-second connection times with post-quantum encryption by default. TrustedServer runs entirely on RAM, so no session data ever touches a hard drive.
Surfshark: Best for Budget-Conscious Teams
Surfshark has unlimited simultaneous connections at $1.99/mo on a two-year plan. Strong WireGuard speeds with AES-256-GCM encryption. CleanWeb blocks ads and malware. MultiHop routes traffic through two servers for added privacy.
Proton VPN: Best for Privacy-First Teams
Proton VPN is the only major provider with a genuinely usable free tier. Headquartered in Switzerland with open-source apps. Secure Core routes traffic through privacy-friendly jurisdictions before reaching the open internet. Stealth protocol bypasses VPN blocks in restrictive regions.
For larger organizations requiring advanced access controls and compliance features, visit to our comprehensive guide to enterprise VPN solutions.
Best VPN for Remote Access: FAQs
The Bottom Line
NordVPN delivers the best overall package for remote access with industry-leading speeds and post-quantum encryption. ExpressVPN is the premium choice for international teams. Surfshark offers the best value with unlimited connections. ProtonVPN is the pick for privacy-first teams.
A quality VPN costs a fraction of what a single remote work breach could cost your business. With organizations facing an average of 1,000 remote-work-related cyberattacks per month, this protection is not something to put off.