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# VPN Comparison for SMBs: The Complete Remote Work Security Guide
“I’ve been told we need a VPN, but I have no idea where to start.” This is one of the most common questions I hear from small business owners and IT staff.
Choose the wrong VPN and you’re looking at wasted monthly fees and a workforce that refuses to use it. Choose right, and your remote work security problems are largely solved.
I’ve spent seven years personally testing IT services — including 20+ VPN solutions ranging from consumer to enterprise. This guide focuses specifically on businesses with 5 to 100 employees and which VPN best secures their remote workforce.
Bottom line up front: When in doubt, go with NordLayer. It has the most intuitive admin console, transparent pricing, and strong zero-trust scalability. That said, it’s not the right fit for everyone — read on for scenario-based recommendations.
Contents
Why SMBs Need a VPN
“We’re too small to be a target” — this is flat-out wrong. Security incident data consistently shows that SMBs are attacked *more* than large enterprises, precisely because their defenses are weaker.
Remote work has introduced three critical vulnerabilities:
1. Unsecured Wi-Fi access — Employees logging into company systems from cafés or home networks risk exposing credentials to man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.
2. Unmanaged personal devices (BYOD) — Without visibility into who is accessing what from which device, you have a serious blind spot.
3. Exposed SaaS access paths — Companies relying on Salesforce, cloud accounting tools, or CRMs often have no security layer protecting those access routes.
A VPN addresses all three issues cost-effectively. The question is no longer *whether* to deploy one — it’s *which one* to choose.
One emerging approach worth noting: Zero Trust VPN. Unlike traditional VPNs that trust anyone inside the network perimeter, zero-trust architecture verifies every user, every device, every time. Several SaaS-based VPN services now incorporate this model, and this guide evaluates them accordingly.
VPN Comparison Table
| Feature | NordLayer | Perimeter 81 | Cisco AnyConnect | FortiClient VPN | Cloudflare Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price (per user) | $8–$14 | $8–$16 | $14–$35+ | $0+ (hardware extra) | $0–$7 |
| Minimum users | 5 | 5 | None | None | 1 |
| Setup difficulty | ★★☆ Easy | ★★☆ Easy | ★★★★☆ Hard | ★★★★☆ Hard | ★★★☆ Moderate |
| Admin console | ◎ Intuitive | ○ User-friendly | △ Requires expertise | △ Requires expertise | ○ Clean |
| Zero trust support | ○ | ○ | △ | △ | ◎ |
| Best for | Most SMBs | Growing teams | Enterprises | Fortinet users | Tech-savvy teams |
NordLayer — Detailed Review
NordLayer is the business-focused branch of NordVPN, rebuilt from the ground up for teams. The admin console is genuinely easy to use — even for non-technical managers. Onboarding new employees takes under five minutes.
Strengths: Transparent pricing, fast server network, intuitive UI, solid zero-trust features on higher tiers.
Weaknesses: 5-user minimum may feel restrictive for very small teams; advanced features locked to pricier plans.
Verdict: Best all-around choice for SMBs without dedicated IT staff.
Perimeter 81 — Detailed Review
Perimeter 81 targets the same market as NordLayer but leans more toward growing companies needing network segmentation. Its policy controls are more granular, which is powerful but adds complexity.
Strengths: Strong access control policies, good scalability, reliable uptime.
Weaknesses: Slightly steeper learning curve; pricing can climb quickly as the team grows.
Verdict: Great for businesses that are scaling and need finer access controls.
Cisco AnyConnect — Detailed Review
AnyConnect is the enterprise gold standard. It’s robust, battle-tested, and integrates deeply with Cisco infrastructure. However, it’s overkill for most SMBs and requires significant technical know-how to deploy.
Strengths: Unmatched reliability and ecosystem integration.
Weaknesses: Complex setup, high cost, requires IT expertise.
Verdict: Only recommended if you’re already in the Cisco ecosystem.
FortiClient VPN — Detailed Review
FortiClient is tightly coupled with Fortinet hardware (FortiGate firewalls). The software itself can be free, but meaningful deployment almost always requires Fortinet appliances.
Strengths: Excellent security features, deep Fortinet integration.
Weaknesses: Not practical without Fortinet hardware; steep learning curve.
Verdict: Best for businesses already using Fortinet equipment.
Cloudflare Access — Detailed Review
Cloudflare Access takes a fundamentally different approach — it’s a zero-trust access platform rather than a traditional VPN. It’s exceptionally affordable and scales from one user upward.
Strengths: Very affordable, true zero-trust architecture, easy SaaS integration.
Weaknesses: Requires more technical setup; not ideal for replacing a traditional network VPN.
Verdict: Best for tech-forward teams prioritizing zero-trust at low cost.
Scenario-Based Recommendations
| Scenario | Recommended VPN |
|---|---|
| No IT staff, need quick setup | NordLayer |
| Scaling team, need access policies | Perimeter 81 |
| Already using Cisco/Fortinet gear | AnyConnect / FortiClient |
| Zero-trust on a tight budget | Cloudflare Access |
FAQ
Q: Can a VPN replace a firewall?
No. A VPN secures data transmission; a firewall controls network access. They complement each other.
Q: Is a free VPN sufficient for business use?
No. Free VPNs lack the management features, reliability, and accountability that business use demands.
Q: How long does deployment take?
NordLayer and Perimeter 81 can be live within a day. Cisco and Fortinet solutions typically take weeks.
Summary
For most SMBs, NordLayer is the right starting point. If you need more granular controls as you grow, consider Perimeter 81. For budget-conscious teams embracing zero trust, Cloudflare Access is compelling. Avoid Cisco and Fortinet unless you already have the infrastructure and IT expertise to support them.