VPN for business
Also known as: business VPN, virtual private network, remote access VPN, corporate VPN
A business VPN (virtual private network) creates a secure, encrypted connection between a remote user and the company network or resources.
It protects data travelling over untrusted networks like public Wi-Fi and lets staff reach internal systems as if they were in the office, though modern approaches increasingly favour more granular alternatives.
VPN for business, explained at three levels
At home
A VPN is like a private, armoured tunnel built through a public road. Your laptop and the company's network each hold a key; before data leaves your laptop, it is locked inside the tunnel, and only the company end can unlock it. Anyone watching the coffee shop Wi-Fi sees only scrambled traffic heading to one address. Once inside, your laptop behaves as if it were plugged in at the office.
At work
A business VPN, or virtual private network, creates an encrypted connection between a remote worker's device and the company network. It lets staff reach internal systems, such as a file server or accounting software, as if they were in the office, and protects data crossing untrusted networks like public Wi-Fi. For many small businesses, it is the main way remote staff reach anything that is not in the cloud.
At home
A VPN has two ends. The client is software on your laptop, such as FortiClient or the WireGuard app. The gateway is a device or service at the company edge, often built into the firewall. When you connect, the gateway checks your identity, then both sides agree on encryption keys and wrap every packet in an encrypted layer. Common protocols are IPsec, SSL VPN, and the newer, faster WireGuard.
At work
Most business VPNs are remote-access VPNs for individual staff, but site-to-site VPNs link whole offices so two branches share one network. The weakness of both is scope: once connected, a device usually reaches the whole internal network, so one stolen password or infected laptop can roam widely. That is why businesses add MFA, limit what VPN users can reach with firewall rules, or move to ZTNA, which grants access per application.
At home
A VPN can send everything through the tunnel, called full tunneling, or only company traffic, called split tunneling, which is faster but leaves other browsing outside company protection. The gateway itself sits on the open internet and must answer anyone who knocks, which makes it a favourite target; flaws in products from Fortinet, Ivanti, and Cisco have been widely exploited. In my view, a VPN is only as safe as its patching and its MFA.
At work
VPN gateways are high-value targets, and unpatched flaws in them have caused many ransomware breaches, so patching within days of a fix is essential. Best practice pairs the VPN with MFA, ideally phishing-resistant, device posture checks that refuse unmanaged or outdated laptops, and segmentation so VPN users reach only what their role needs. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security and CISA both publish VPN hardening guidance. Many firms are phasing out broad VPN access in favour of ZTNA.
Real-world examples
At home
Lena often worked from cafes and worried about using public Wi-Fi. Her MSP set up a business VPN with MFA, so her connection to company files is encrypted and authenticated. It is safe even on an untrusted network, and attackers without her second factor are blocked.
At work
Carlos's firm relied on a traditional VPN that gave remote staff full network access. After a security review, his MSP added MFA, patched the VPN appliance, and began moving app access to ZTNA, so a compromised laptop could no longer roam the entire internal network.
How it compares
| feature | Traditional VPN | ZTNA |
|---|---|---|
| What it grants | Access to the whole network | Access to specific apps |
| Trust model | Trusted once connected | Continuously verified |
| Breach blast radius | Broad | Limited to allowed apps |
| Best for | Legacy internal access | Modern least-privilege access |
| Key safeguard | MFA + patching + segmentation | Identity + device posture |
For analysts
If you use a business VPN, three things are non-negotiable: MFA on it, prompt patching of the VPN appliance, and limiting what it can reach. For new remote-access needs, ask your MSP whether ZTNA (app-level access) is a better fit than broad network access.
History & origin
VPNs became the standard way to connect remote workers and branch offices securely as businesses embraced the internet in the 2000s. They extended the trusted office network to remote users. The mass shift to remote work strained traditional VPNs, and their 'once you're in, you can reach everything' model clashed with zero trust thinking, driving a move toward more granular access approaches like ZTNA for many use cases.