VPNs have become a fundamental part of security in business environments. But when selecting the best VPN option out there, business owners sometimes feel tempted to try and integrate free VPNs within their systems.
In this article, we’ll outline the differences between free and paid VPNs, focus on their pros and cons, and help you understand why a free VPN is a no-go when your business counts on it.
Free VPNs Explained
A free VPN doesn’t charge you a monthly or an annual subscription for its services. At first, this might seem like a great option if your business is on a tighter budget. However, it has significant issues related to security features.
More precisely, most free VPNs use the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol for data encryption. This is an outdated protocol that hasn’t been considered safe since 1998. Also, many free VPNs rely on 128-bit encryption. While this offers some level of protection, it is significantly weaker than the 256-bit AES encryption used by the best business VPNs.
Additionally, free VPNs may implement bandwidth restrictions. This refers to a cap on the amount of data you can transmit over the VPN during a particular period, which can be set daily or monthly. Your business might also encounter other nuances, like minimal server networks with poor unblocking capabilities, worse performance resulting in network latency, and even connection disruptions.
However, the biggest issue about free VPNs stems from how these tools make money. We all know that nothing is really free. So, even if you don’t pay money while using a free VPN, it still finds ways to profit from your business.
In most cases, free VPNs track your online activities and sell collected data to advertisers or data brokers. Funnily enough, this completely dismisses the purpose of using a VPN because your online activity is still being monitored and monetized.
The security limitations of free VPNs make them fundamentally incompatible with professional business environments.
Paid VPNs At a Glance
Unlike free VPNs, paid ones have a monthly or yearly cost. Although this may be a drawback, you can still find very affordable VPN solutions on the market that are worth considering.
Paid VPNs offer extensive server networks with specialized functionality for different business needs. These include obfuscated servers that bypass strict national firewalls in countries like China. They also feature double VPN technology that routes traffic through multiple encryption points for enhanced security and dedicated P2P servers optimized for secure file-sharing applications.
As mentioned before, paid VPNs have a much more robust security framework. They use stronger encryption (AES 256-bit) that scrambles your data and turns it into gibberish when you transmit it online. More importantly, paid VPNs have no-log policies, meaning they don’t collect and sell your data to advertisers or other parties.
Your business will also enjoy more advanced security features when using a paid VPN. Some of the most prominent ones are a kill switch to disconnect you from the internet if the VPN fails, DNS and IP leak protection, and private DNS to keep your requests secure from third parties.
Not to mention that paid VPNs have much better performance, resulting in speedier loading times and minimal latency or lags. Their large, uncongested server networks—which offer more consistent connections and faster speeds than free VPNs—allow this.
Last but not least, paid VPNs ensure you comply with business security standards, such as GDPR and HIPAA, due to their robust encryption that restricts unauthorized access and maintains confidential data safe.
Which Paid VPN Should You Use for Your Business?
As there are multiple paid VPN providers on the market, you need to consider a few different factors that will help you make the right choice. A few of them are:
- Company size: If you’re running a large enterprise, you’ll need a VPN with advanced security features, higher bandwidth, and the ability to support multiple simultaneous connections. However, if you’re a small or mid-size business owner, you may choose a more basic VPN that offers sufficient security and performance for everyday tasks.
- Performance and Speed: Ensure a VPN offers reliable and fast connections, with minimal latency or downtime, to support seamless operations. This is especially relevant for businesses with remote teams or high-volume data usage.
- Budget: Consider the cost relative to the features provided. Ensure a VPN offers good value for your needs, balancing security and performance without unnecessary premium features for smaller businesses.
Conclusion
VPNs enhance your business security, and there’s no doubt that businesses should opt for a paid VPN. When you’ve narrowed down your paid VPN list to choose from, you can type keywords like “Is NordVPN safe?” in the search bar to learn more about each VPN provider and see whether their offers meet your business needs.
