It is a dream to be able to work at home, in a coffee shop, or at the beach. And for many people, it is! An increasing number of individuals are taking work at home. Indeed, it has been documented that, more than 36 million Americans alone will be working at home by 2025. That’s a lot of people!
There is however one major challenge that comes with working outside the office, which is internet safety.
You are likely to be covered by a strong and secure internet when you are in the office of your firm. But what about when you are at home? Or at a public café? Your online network may not be that secure.
This is where a VPN comes in.
VPN is abbreviated as Virtual Private Network. Imagine that it is your own secret tunnel on the internet.
The use of VPN is becoming very prevalent. A report established that approximately 70 percent of companies that employ VPNs do so in order to ensure the safety of their remote workers. In another study, nearly 39 percent of VPN users need to use it on behalf of their employment. The VPN market is also expanding rapidly indicating that there is an increasing number of people in need of them annually.
In this paper, we will discuss the importance of VPN in remote work. We will demonstrate what to be on the lookout for and provide our list of the 10 Best VPN for Remote Employees to ensure that you remain safe and productive wherever you may be.
Why Remote Employees Need a VPN
Consider that you are passing a secret message. Would you put it in a postcard so everybody would see? Probably not. You would ask it to be in a sealed envelope.
Browsing with the internet is like writing a postcard without VPN. Your postcard is open when you go on public Wi-Fi (a cafe, hotel, airport, etc.). On the same network there may be bad actors or hackers who may attempt to look over your shoulder. They may attempt to rob your passwords or private information of your company.
A VPN makes your postcard a sealed locked metal box. It is basically that a VPN can do:
It hides your activity:
VPN is a tunnel that is encrypted and secure. Encryption is a very secret cipher. Your emails, the sites you access, files you email, all the details of your internet life are entered into this secret code. You can rob someone of all their clothes and they will only see a mess of unreadable junk in front of them.
It protects company data:
When you are at home working, you find yourself having to access files or servers of your company. In case a hacker has stolen the password to such a server, this would be a catastrophe to your company. This connection is secured by a VPN. It ensures that nobody can access those valuable files.
It ensures that you are safe over public Wi-Fi:
One of the best places where hackers can find is in public Wi-Fi. It’s often not secure. A VPN creates a barrier of security around your gadget (such as your laptop or phone). It renders you invisible to other people in that network. You are able to take your coffee and get down to work without wondering whether somebody is spying on you.
It hides your location:
VPN does conceal your actual IP address. Your IP address is the Home address, but of your computer. A VPN will allow you to borrow an IP address to one of its servers. This is because you can make it appear that you are in another city or even other country.
A VPN is not a nice to have to a remote employee. It is a tool that is indispensable to defend yourself and your business.
Key Features to Look For in a VPN
Not all VPNs are the same. There are certain features that you should seek when you are on the hunt of one to work. The following are the most significant ones, which are explained in a simplistic manner.
Encouragement of strong encryption (The Secret Code)
This is the greatest task of a VPN. You would like to be able to see the words AES256 encryption. It is such a very strong secret code. It is encryption of the same type that banks and governments employ to safeguard their information. It is almost impossible to break it.
A “No‑Logs” Policy
This is a big one. No-logs policy No-logs policy is the assurance that the VPN company does not log what you do on the internet.
It is a good VPN, and does not keep records of the websites you access.
- It does not save the things you download on it.
- It does not store your original IP address.
Why is this important? In case the VPN company does not possess any data, they cannot sell it to anyone. And when the police or some government demands their records of you, they have nothing to provide. Search VPNs with an audited no logs policy. This involves an external firm that has been brought in to audit and establish that indeed they do not maintain logs.
A Kill Switch
It is an incredible safety measure. Suppose that your VPN is a hidden tunnel. What will become of the tunnel when it breaks (perhaps your internet is slow)? There is a chance that your actual, bare, and unprotected postcard information may escape through a few seconds.
A kill switch is similar to an emergency brake. Once your VPN connection is lost, your computer is blocked out by the kill switch. It halts all the traffic until the safe tunnel is repaired. This will ensure that not a single bit of information will be left unguarded.
Good Speeds
A VPN will also require your information to pass an additional process (its server), which is occasionally slowing down your internet. However, an excellent VPN is so swift that you will hardly notice. It is highly essential in work. You do not want to see your video calls experience a freeze or your files require hours to be downloaded. Find VPNs with modern protocols (such as Lightway or WireGuard).
Lots of Servers
A VPN company is spread throughout the world. These are the computers to which you can be linked. It is good to have numerous servers because of two reasons:
- Speed: When the number of servers is large, they do not become overworked. You can always find a fast one.
- Location: In case you have to feign as being in a certain city (such as New York) in order to connect with your company office server, the VPN must have a server in that area.
Device Support
It is likely that you have more than work-related devices. Perhaps, you possess a Windows laptop, iPhone, and Android tablet. All of them should be supported by your VPN. Find a VPN that will allow you to use multiple devices simultaneously using a single account. There are even those that provide unlimited connections!
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The 10 Best VPN for Remote Employees
The following is a closer examination of our 10 Best VPN for Remote Employees. We have also added personal VPN (perfect when you are a freelancer, or your company does not provide you with one) and business VPN (that are used by companies to operate the entire staff).
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is considered to be one of the most popular and reputable VPNs in the world. It is reputed to be extremely quick and hyper safe. It is an excellent universal option of a telecommuter. It also relies on the WireGuard protocol (it is named NordLynx) to make your video calls seamless. It is more than a VPN but it has a feature known as Threat Protection. This is an automatic blocker of ads and a blocker of unsafe web sites with malware.
It is like having a security guard to your browser. It has a no-logs policy that is audited and has its seat in Panama where the privacy laws are favorable. Our servers are in excess of 8,000 servers and thus you will never miss a quick connection.
Key Features:
- NordLynx protocol (really fast)
- Threat Protection (blocks ads/malware)
- Double VPN (transfers your data to two servers to provide an additional level of protection)
- Kill Switch, Audited No-Logs Policy.
Best For: Remote workers with an interest in the best combination of speed, security, and additional functionality.
Website: nordvpn.com
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has a reputation of being extremely user friendly. Its applications are free, uncomplicated and simply work. All you do is press a single huge button to connect. This is ideal to anyone that is not tech-savvy. It is also extremely rapid, and with its own special protocol known as Lightway.
ExpressVPN is frequently considered one of the best VPN for remote employees, since it covers over 105 countries and is more than nearly all VPNs. This implies that you are guaranteed a good connection almost anywhere in the world. It has a no-logs policy, which is proven and audited and has a powerful kill switch.
Key Features:
- Lightway protocol (blazing and dependable)
- 105 nations of servers
- Extremely basic apps
- Audited No -Logs Policy
- Kill Switch.
Best For: Anyone that desires a no-frills VPN and can afford to pay a little more.
Website: expressvpn.com
3. Surfshark
Surfshark is the cheapest in this list. The core characteristic of it is spectacular: you obtain unlimited connections of devices. It implies that you can install Surfshark on your laptop, your phone, the phone of your partner, your tablet, and so on, and have only one account. This fits an employee who has a home office that is full of devices.
However, it is not only cheap, but also very good. It possesses all the desired security features such as a kill switch and a no-logs policy. It is also a CleanWeb browser with ad and tracker blocking capabilities.
Key Features:
- Unlimited connections in parallel
- CleanWeb (ad/malware blocker)
- MultiHop (Double VPN)
- Kill Switch
- Good speeds.
Best For: Remote workers who have numerous devices or a family or are on a budget.
Website: surfshark.com
4. Proton VPN
Proton VPN is developed by the same scientists that have developed Proton Mail, a well-known, ultra-secure mail service. Their main focus is privacy. This VPN has its seat in Switzerland, a nation with large privacy legislation. There is no logs policy at all and all their applications are open source, meaning anyone may view the code to ensure that it is safe.
Proton VPN is often recommended as one of the Best VPN for Remote Employees because of its strong privacy protection and secure infrastructure. The free plan of Proton VPN is also excellent. It is also slower as compared to paid plan and only provides you with 3 countries but it is ideal when you only require basic protection.
Key Features:
- Swiss (good privacy) based
- Good free version with unlimited data
- Audited No-logs Policy
- NetShield (ad blocker)
- Secure Core (Double VPN).
Best For: Privacy-conscious users and individuals requiring a secure and stable free VPN.
Website: protonvpn.net
5. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a decent VPN that can be recommended to those who are new to using VPNs. Its apps are very easy to use. It even has special servers of specific tasks. An example is that you can press a button to be connected to a streaming best or a torrenting best server. This makes it simple to use. It has over 11,500 servers that make it have one of the largest networks in the world. That is to say that you will never have to wait in a crowded server.
It is also a low cost when you opt to have a long-term plan. It has a no-log policy and all the major security features, which makes it a good and easy choice to work.
Key Features:
- Over 11,500 servers
- Extremely user-friendly applications
- Streaming-optimized servers
- Low-cost long-term contracts
- Kill Switch.
Best For: Novices or telecommuters who desire to stream using their VPN.
Website: cyberghostvpn.com
6. IPVanish
The other good VPN is IPVanish, which allows an infinite number of devices, just as Surfshark. That is a big plus. The speed of IPVanish is its primary advantage. It has its own server network that it owns and operates, hence enabling it to provide very fast and reliable performance.
It is very beneficial to remote employees who must download and upload large files throughout the day. It has an audited no-logs policy and everything you need to have in terms of standard security, such as a kill switch.
Key Features:
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Extremely high speeds
- Has its own server network
- Audited No logs Policy
- Kill Switch.
Best For: Remote employees that require the highest possible speeds to upload and download heavy files.
Website: ipvanish.com
7. Private Internet Access (PIA)
PIA is a long time trusted VPN and is often considered among the Best VPN for Remote Employees due to its flexibility. Another service that would allow you to connect unlimited devices is it. The primary advantage of it lies in the fact that it is highly configurable, i.e. it can be changed by tech-savvy users who can modify a lot of settings.
You are able to alter your encryption level or your protocols. It has a simple setting which works well even when you are a beginner. It also has an extensive server network and a no-logs history.
Key Features:
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Numerous advanced settings
- Extremely low-priced
- Robust Audited No -Logs Policy.
Best For: For users who enjoy customization or anybody who wants an unlimited plan without spending much money.
Website: privateinternetaccess.com.
8. Perimeter 81
Perimeter 81 is not a mere VPN. It is a complete security tool for new businesses. It is built for remote teams. It is based on a Zero Trust model rather than simply providing everyone with a secret tunnel. That is, it does not have its trust on anybody by default. Whenever an employee attempts to access a company file, he or she needs to demonstrate his or her identity.
This is far more secure to a company. The team manager receives a dashboard where he/she can see who is logging in and can easily grant or withdraw access. It also assists businesses to comply with safety regulations such as HIPAA or GDPR.
Key Features:
- Zero Trust security
- Simple manager dashboard
- team oriented
- Compliance regulations (HIPAA, GDPR)
- Single Sign-On (SSO).
Best For: Small to medium size businesses that require a secure and easy to manage solution to the remote team.
Website: perimeter81.com
9. Twingate
One of the biggest rivals of Perimeter 81 is Twingate. It is very popular with many people as it is aimed at replacing the old company VPN which was slow. It is also developed based on a Zero Trust concept. The most advantageous thing with Twingate is that it is extremely fast and nearly unnoticeable.
The employees do not even need to think about whether it should be turned on or off. It operates in the background to offer protection to only the work-related apps and data. The personal internet usage (such as watching videos) is not routed by the company tunnel that is much faster to you and more private.
Key Features:
- Zero Trust security
- Only works related applications (fast)
- Invisible to the user
- Extremely quick to install
- Free plan with small teams.
Best For: Tech companies and teams that despise the slow and traditional VPN.
Website: twingate.com
10. GoodAccess
GoodAccess is a corporate VPN, which is oriented on one thing: simplicity. It is designed to target small business owners who are not experts in the field of IT and is often considered among the Best VPN for Remote Employees. It assigns the team members static IP addresses. This is a pure IP address which is not shared.
This is very useful. In a case in point, an organization may install its own tools in such a way that only individuals with that special IP address may access them. This prevents practically all random hacker attacks. The dashboard is extremely easy and it takes approximately 10 minutes to have a team set up.
Key Features:
- Extremely easy to set up (10 minutes)
- Dedicated team-specific IP
- Access to the Zero Trust
- Easy-to-use dashboard to managers.
Best For: Small businesses that are not tech-savvy and require a straightforward and powerful means of securing their team.
Website: goodaccess.com
Free vs. Paid VPN for Remote Employees
In the case of VPN, you will find a lot of free ones. It is very tempting to use one. When you work at home, you are practically not to use a free VPN. The adage goes that, a free product is, you are a product. This is the way the majority of free VPNs earn money:
- They sell your data. They record the sites you visit and offer this to the advertisers. This is the last thing that should be done by a VPN.
- They show you ads. They bombard you with pop-up advertisements.
- They are very slow. Their servers are overcrowded, and thus the video calls and downloading files are not possible.
- They have data limits. Most free VPNs offer very little, such as 500MB/day. That will run out in 30 minutes of labor.
- They are not secure. Other free VPNs are in fact malware disguised to steal your data.
The free edition of a reputable paid VPN, such as ProtonVPN, is the only secure free VPN. They provide a free plan in the form of a demo to upgrade. Their free version is secure, unlimited data with no restriction, but with less speed and features than their paid version.
In case of serious remote working, you require a paid VPN. A low price of a few dollars a month is a trivial sacrifice to security and peace of mind.
Conclusion
Working at home offers so much freedom but freedom comes with a burden to be safe. The information of your company is priced and so is your personal data. Browsing the internet without security and in particular when using the public Wi-Fi is equivalent to leaving your front door wide open.
The most convenient and simple tool that will lock that door is a VPN. It creates a secret, encrypted tune that surrounds your information that is not visible to hackers and spies. It keeps your passwords safe, files of your company and even your privacy.
Being a freelancer and requiring a personal VPN, such as NordVPN or Surfshark, or being a team member and requiring a business one, such as Perimeter 81, choosing the Best VPN for Remote Employees is no longer an option. It is an essential component of a secure and intelligent remote life.
FAQs
Will a VPN cause my internet to be too slow to work?
An effective, premium VPN (such as those listed below) should not be much slower. When you make a connection to a nearby server, you are able to make video calls, download files and browse without any issues. Free VPNs are often very slow.
Will my company look at what I do online over my personal VPN?
No. When you have a personal VPN (such as NordVPN or ExpressVPN), it is impossible to monitor your online activity by your company. The VPN will encrypt your traffic before going out of your house. All they can do is to realize that you are using a VPN, not what you are doing with it.
Is it legal to use a VPN?
Yes. Use of VPN to provide privacy and security is 100 per cent legal in nearly all countries (including North America and Europe).
Should I use VPN when I am simply working at my home Wi-Fi?
Yes, it is still a good idea. Although Wi-Fi in the home is safer than in the cafe, a VPN can guarantee:
- Prevents your ISP (such as Comcast or Spectrum) from knowing what you are doing on the internet.
- Keeps you safe against hackers who may attack your home network.
- Cover your IP, and you have increased privacy.
