Business or personal VPN: when is it time to make the change?

Cybercrime continues to grow at a rapid pace. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, global cybercrime costs are expected to reach $10.8 trillion in 2026, an increase of 35% since the $8 trillion reported in 2022.

IBM reports that the average cost of a data breach exceeded $4.4 million in recent years. Meanwhile, virtual private network (VPN) adoption is rising, with the global VPN market projected to surpass $75 billion in 2027.

You may have heard that there are different types of VPNs, but are not sure which one is right for you. In simple terms, VPN solutions are used for two main purposes: business and personal. A business VPN is a corporate tool, while a personal VPN focuses on individual use, such as private browsing and secure internet access.

All VPNs work by creating an encrypted tunnel between a user’s device and the internet or a corporate network. The core difference lies in how they are used and managed.

Let’s explore business (B2B) and consumer VPN (B2C) use cases to help you decide which one fits your needs.

Understanding corporate VPN vs. consumer VPN

A personal VPN is a service designed to protect an individual’s internet connection by encrypting traffic and masking the user’s IP address. It is typically used for private browsing, securing public Wi-Fi connections, and accessing geo-restricted content.

A business VPN is a solution designed to provide secure access to company networks, applications, and resources, while giving organizations centralized control over users, devices, and security policies.

In short, personal VPNs prioritize privacy for individuals, while business VPNs focus on secure access, control, and scalability for organizations.

Here’s a comparison table of a personal VPN and an enterprise VPN:

Business VPN: when do you need it?

A business VPN offers a secure way for remote workers to access a company’s resources, while also giving organizations centralized control over network security. Business VPNs allow for the customization of access policies, ensuring that teams and individuals only access the data and applications they need. With features like dedicated IP addresses, network segmentation, and third-party integrations, these VPNs provide robust protection and management tools for businesses of all sizes.

Let’s explore some use cases and the benefits corporate VPN solutions bring to organizations:

Enable secure remote access

Remote work has become the new norm, allowing remote workers to work from home, cafes, or co-working spaces. However, with this flexibility comes increased cybersecurity risks, such as data exposure over unsecured public Wi-Fi networks. For example, an employee working in a cafe may unknowingly put your company's data at risk when accessing corporate resources via public Wi-Fi.

A VPN enables safe access by creating an encrypted tunnel between the remote worker’s device and the company’s network. This ensures that sensitive data remains protected, even if intercepted by hackers. Employees can safely access their company’s intranet, emails, applications, and other resources from anywhere, reducing the risk of data breaches.

Avoid data breaches

Data breaches can be devastating for organizations of any size. They result not only in financial losses but can also damage reputation, disrupt operations, and erode customer trust. Since the average cost of a data breach is around $4.4 million, it highlights the significant impact cyber incidents can have on businesses.

A corporate VPN helps reduce this risk by enabling secure private access and centralized control over user activity and device management. Admins can restrict access to sensitive systems, enforce security policies, and monitor network activity more effectively.

However, secure access also depends on strong credential management. Using a password manager alongside a business VPN helps enforce strong, unique passwords and reduces the risk of account compromise through reused or weak credentials. Combined, these controls create a stronger security foundation that helps prevent unauthorized access and limit the impact of potential incidents.

Manage member access and segment networks

Business VPNs like NordLayer offer the flexibility to create and manage teams, gateways, and servers, enabling you to assign specific users to specific resources. For example, administrators can purchase Servers with dedicated IPs that are accessible only by authorized users. This allows for dividing the network, where certain teams have access only to the resources they need.

By using allow-listing and static IPs, you can filter out unauthorized access and create a segmented network that enhances security and productivity.

Bypass geo-restrictions for global employees

Many regions enforce internet restrictions that can prevent access to essential tools and services. With a company VPN, remote employees can bypass these geographical restrictions by connecting to a VPN server in a region with fewer limitations.

For instance, while traveling for business, employees can use the VPN to access internal databases, documents, and services as if they were in an unrestricted area, ensuring that work continues smoothly.

Centralize network security management

Business VPNs are built for company-wide access, providing centralized control over network protection. Admins can manage users, monitor their activity, and enforce security policies from a single dashboard. This also includes features like role-based access control (RBAC), where employees only access the data necessary for their roles, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access.

With customizable access policies, business VPNs can support multiple users and devices while allowing for easy integration with other security tools, making them a crucial part of a company’s security architecture.

Enhance secure remote access capabilities

Corporate VPN providers, such as NordLayer, go beyond VPN by offering advanced secure remote access solutions like secure internet browsing, DNS filtering, and malware protection. In addition to traditional VPN, functions, cloud-based solutions eliminate the need for hardware, making it quick and easy to deploy across the company.

NordLayer also offers an Always On VPN feature, ensuring that employees maintain a secure connection at all times. If the VPN connection drops, internet traffic is disabled until the connection is restored, adding an extra layer of protection against cyber threats.

Personal VPN: when do you need it?

A personal or consumer VPN is a service designed to secure your own devices and online activity outside of work. One in four internet users has utilized a VPN at least once. The main reasons to use a personal VPN include safeguarding data online, enhancing privacy, and accessing global content. Here's why a personal VPN might be essential:

Safely connect to public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi networks in cafés, airports, and shopping malls are convenient but risky. Cybercriminals often target such networks, potentially accessing your internet traffic to steal bank account details, login credentials, or even your identity. Using a remote access VPN ensures that all your internet traffic is encrypted, creating a secure tunnel that keeps your data safe from prying eyes.

Unlock content globally

Some content is only available in specific regions. For example, you may realize that your favorite social media, gaming platform, or news site is not available in the country you’ve traveled to. To avoid such disappointments, you can click on a VPN server close to your home and enjoy the content as if you’ve never left. That’s because the sites you want to access will see the IP address of the server you’re connected to, and not your real one.

And who doesn’t love a good deal? As an extra bonus, a personal VPN can help you save money on things like plane tickets, hotel rooms, and car rentals. Often, the prices increase because the website knows you have checked their product before. Next time you’re buying something online, try connecting to various server locations to find the best deal.

Browse privately

Every time you go online, your internet service provider (ISP) ensures you have an internet connection. As all your web traffic goes through their servers, the ISP can see everything you do online, and share this information with advertisers, corporations, and governments. A secure VPN prevents your ISP from tracking your online moves so you can browse the internet privately.

NordVPN has all these features and more. You can read one of NordVPN's reviews found online to learn about the details.

When should you move to a business VPN?

If your business is growing, keeping sensitive data secure becomes essential. There are several indicators that it's time to upgrade from a personal VPN to a business VPN, including:

• Growth in remote workforce: a business VPN provides secure remote connectivity for multiple users, ensuring safe connections to company resources.
• Centralized management: business VPNs, like NordLayer, offer centralized control over access policies and data usage for enhanced network protection.
• Compliance and regulations: a business VPN helps meet requirements like GDPR or HIPAA, securing sensitive data and ensuring network oversight capabilities.
• Collaboration with external parties: business VPNs allow secure, role-based access to external partners or contractors, keeping your network segmented and protected.

How to migrate from personal VPN to business VPN

Switching from a personal to a business VPN is a crucial step for growing companies. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth transition:

1. Evaluate your needs. Assess key requirements such as the number of users, devices, bandwidth, and essential security features like access control.
2. Choose the right VPN. Opt for solutions offering secure offsite access and centralized management. NordLayer offers custom features like Servers with dedicated IPs and Zero Trust VPN alternatives.
3. Implement strategically. Work with your IT team or a managed service provider to ensure seamless deployment. Include staff training and testing to guarantee smooth operations.
4. Establish security policies. Ensure robust encryption and access controls are in place to meet compliance and security standards.

How long does it take to set up a business VPN?

The time required to set up a business VPN can vary depending on the provider and the complexity of your company’s network infrastructure. However, with NordLayer, the process is fast and straightforward.

In most cases, NordLayer’s cloud-based VPN can be deployed in minutes without any infrastructure setup on the user's side. This ensures minimal disruption to business operations and immediate secure access for your team.

What VPN should you choose?

When your priority is business network protection, scalability, and compliance, switching to a business VPN like NordLayer is the best choice. With features like network monitoring, RBAC, and ZTNA NordLayer provides the advanced protection businesses need. However, for personal use, NordVPN remains a strong choice for securing individual devices.

Learn more about how NordLayer compares to NordVPN in our comparison: NordLayer vs. NordVPN