Have you ever wondered, How much information about you is being logged into a server every time you visit a website?
Are you sure that you are surfing the Internet anonymously?
Definitely Not. If you are surfing the Internet via the IP address provided by your ISP, you are not at all surfing the Internet anonymously. That’s why you need a VPN. Today, we will be learning what is a VPN and it’s uses as well as some Best VPN for small business in 2020.
What is a VPN and How it works?
Before knowing what is a VPN or why should you use one, You should have an idea on “How the Internet works ? “.
When you visit a website like Google, your computer sends a request over the internet to Google’s servers. But, the Internet is not a small place to find something easily. It has millions of servers running simultaneously. Hence, there is a unique identification number for every computer connected to the internet called IP (Internet Protocol) address.
Hence, your computer sends a request to the IP address of Google’s web server and Google’s server will complete the request and send back the data or information you have asked for.
But, there is a catch here. Just like there is an IP address for Google’s web server. Your computer also has an IP address which can be found on the request you have sent to Google over the internet. That means Google might have logged your IP address in their server.
By just using an IP address, some people can do a lot of things which include
- Finding limited personal information about you like your location etc.
- Start a Dos/DDos attack which crashes your servers and stuff.
- In the worst-case scenario, They can sell your IP address in Dark Web, which further will be used for criminal activities.
Hence, it is must to hide your IP address using a VPN. VPN, also referred to as Virtual private network is used to change the route of the requests over the internet. When you use a VPN to surf the internet, This is how you send and receive data :
- You send a request to a server using a browser like Chrome or Firefox.
- Your VPN provider takes the request and sent the request to the destined server.
- The web server will send data back to the VPN and VPN will send the data back to your computer.
Here, Your IP address is safe since you are just sending a request to your VPN provider, but not to the web server who stores IP logs.
Why does a small business need a VPN?
A. Improved security
By using a VPN, you can have an extra layer of protection to your small business. A computer connected to the internet via a VPN will securely encrypt data and makes sure that your browsing is private and secure.
B. Public internet isn’t secure enough
When you are browsing the Internet over a public Wi-Fi or Ethernet, One who has good knowledge over network hacking can initiate a lot of types of attacks like Man in the middle attacks, packet sniffing, Fake Wifi connections, Session hijacking etc.
Let’s say you are using a VPN while you are connected to public wifi when a hacker initiates a man in the middle attack, He can still get access to data, But it is highly encrypted data which can’t be read easily. All he gets access to is some garbage which takes up a huge amount of storage but doesn’t give any information.
C. Unblock websites
When your ISP blocks some websites in your region, you can use a VPN and unblock it when you need to access it by changing your location by changing the IP address.
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Hence, a small business does need a secure VPN. VPN’s can be expensive and hard to use. But, Don’t worry, Here is a list of Best VPN for small business in 2020 which are easy to use, affordable and secure.
Best VPN for small business in 2020
1. Express VPN
When we talk about Best VPN for small business, the first VPN provider that comes to our mind will always be Express VPN. Initially released in 2009, Express VPN has been providing VPN services for a long time. This VPN is based in the British Virgin Islands which is being run by a group of individuals who care a lot about privacy and security. It is best suitable for business users who want to protect their online transactions and documents.
Express VPN supports a wide range of operating systems like Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, ios etc.
It also supports smart TV and consoles such as PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, Apple Tv, Amazon Fire TV stick and all other Smart TV’s.
Express VPN offers extensions for two most popular browser of all time namely, Chrome and Firefox.
Pricing
Here are the pricing models of Express VPN
- $12.95/Month if you purchase it for 1 month.
- $9.99/Month if you purchase it for 6 Months
- $8.32/Month if you purchase it for 12 months.
You can pay using Credit Cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, Webmoney, Yandex Money and more. Your purchase is protected by a 30-day full money refund if you are not satisfied with the product.
Support
Express VPN offers very good support which includes video tutorials for setting up VPN’s across multiple devices, Live chat options, Ticket system for complaints and help stuff. If none of these helped, You can always send them an e-mail to get the required information and help.
Highlights
- IP address masking.
- Support for various devices.
- Strict no-logs policy.
- Best in class 256 bit AES encryption.
- Unlimited Bandwidth.
Special Offer: Thetechhacker audience has a special offer when you purchase an annual plan. You will get an additional 3 months when you purchase an annual plan.
2. Nord VPN
If you are a tech geek like me who watches a lot of technology stuff like Linus Tech Tips, You should have come across a service called Nord VPN.
Established in 2012, Nord VPN is also a very good competitor for Express VPN. It is also one of the best VPN for small business. Nord VPN has 5300 worldwide servers across 59 countries. It comes with a great UI, Effective pricing and good support.
Nord VPN supports a wide range of devices like Android, Windows, Mac, Ios, Linux, Smart Tv’s etc. Their apps are so easy to use, All you do is pick a server and click connect, Easy as that.
Nord VPN offers great security features such as AES 256 bit encryption, Automatic kill switch. Along with security, you would also have strong privacy protection since they follow strict no-logs policy and they offer IP protection.
Pricing
- $3.49/Month if you purchase it for 3 years.
- $4.99/Month if you purchase it for 2 years.
- $6.99/Month if you purchase it for 1 year.
- $11.95/Month if you purchase it for a month..
A single subscription gives you access to VPN simultaneously on 6 devices that support NordVPN.
Support
Nord VPN helps the customers in the Following Ways
- A beautifully crafted FAQ Page.
- Separate pages for General, Connectivity And billing issues and help.
- 24/7 Live chat for customers.
Highlights
- 30 days Money back guarantee.
- AES 256 bit encryption.
- Various pricing models for affordable VPN.
- Extremely fast support.
- Support across various devices.
3. PureVPN
PureVPN is another VPN service based on Hong Kong and has been offering its services since 2007. It has been offering services for 13 years which made it an established VPN service. PureVPN has 2000+ servers across 140+ countries.
PureVPN can be used on a wide range of operating systems such as Windows, Linux, Mac, Android and ios.
It offers a good amount of features like Unlimited server Switching, No cap bandwidth, Premium Addons. You can use one subscription on 10 devices at the same time.
Pricing
- $8.33/ Month if you purchase it for 6 months.
- $10.95/Month if you purchase it for 1 month.
PureVPN offers a 7-day free trial and it costs $5.82/month after the trial account is expired. All the subscriptions come with 31-day Money-Back guarantee for a full refund.
Support
PureVPN provides 24/7 customer support along with living chat which does not use any bots for messaging. PureVPN has a dedicated support team for answering all your queries.
Highlights
- 2000+ servers across the globe.
- Effective features like Addons, unlimited bandwidth, Secure WiFi.
- Works on a wide range of operating systems.
- 31-day Money-Back guarantee.
4. IPVanish
Initially released in 2012, IpVanish is not an old VPN service when compared to other services in the list. But, the quote, Age is just a number and it is absolutely right when it comes to this VPN provider.
IPVanish has 1400+ servers across 75+ locations around the globe. IPVanish provides their VPN services on a wide range of operating systems such as Android, ios, Linux, Windows, Mac and Firestick.
All plans include software with great UI, Unlimited bandwidth, 24/7 customer support. One subscription can be used in 10 devices simultaneously.
Pricing
- $6.49/Month if you purchase it for 1 year.
- $8.99/Month if you purchase it for 3 months.
- $10.00/Month if you purchase it for 1 month.
Support
IPVanish helps their customers in a lot of ways which include, a FAQ page, Setup and troubleshooting guides, 24/7 live chat and email support.
Highlights
- Effective and affordable pricing.
- Unlimited bandwidth on all plans.
- 30-day Money-Back guarantee.
- 1 subscription can be used on 10 devices.
- 256-bit AES encryption.
5. SurfsharkVPN
Surfshark VPN is one of the cheap and best VPN for small business ever existed. The features provided by surfShark VPN are unmatchable and too good to be true. But, it is one of the best VPN services.
Surfshark has 1700+ servers across the world for seamless connectivity and speed. They provide VPN client for almost all popular operating systems like Windows, Mac, Linux, ios, Android, Consoles and smart Tv’s.
Surfshark has one huge feature which states that 1 subscription can be used on unlimited devices simultaneously. Surfshark won’t store any logs for improved security. They provide a lot of features like Cleanweb, Adblock, Whitelister, 256 Bit encryption.
Pricing
- $1.99/month if you purchase it for 24 months.
- $5.99/month if you purchase it for 12 months.
- $11.95/Month if you purchase it for 1 month.
Support
Surfshark provides Live chat, FAQ page, Tutorials for setting up VPN in different platforms etc.
Highlights
- $1.99/Month package is outstanding.
- 256 bit AES encryption for security.
- 1700+ servers across the globe.
- An Adblock for blocking ads and trackers.
Conclusion
So, that was our list for Best VPN for small business in 2020. Each entry is best in its own way. You have to choose one of them based on your needs and interests.
Personally, I love NordVPN. It has a great UI, Beautifully designed website, Good support team. It’s totally up to you on which way to go.