At TechRepublic, we desire offer our readers with a reasonable and truthful evaluation of virtual private networks they may purchase. To achieve this, we believe it is necessary to share how we evaluate VPNs, what criteria are used to rate each element of a VPN and how all of it amounts to our final star rating.
We use an internal algorithm that’s built upon five primary categories: pricing, core VPN features (e.g., encryption, server network), ease of use, consumer support and specialist analysis. Each classification is then weighted to account for how important it is to our audience of technology buyers.
SEE: Strength and Dictionary Attacks: A Guide for IT Leaders (TechRepublic Premium)
While our algorithm undergoes change, these classifications are the main pillars by which we assess each VPN. If you have varying opinions on our picked requirements, we encourage you to use our method and examines to inform your own examination of a particular VPN.
Below is the breakdown of how we review VPNs.
ESET PROTECT Advanced Workers per Company Size Micro (0-49), Little (50-249), Medium (250-999
), Large(1,000-4,999), Business(
5,000+)Any Business Size Any Business Size Includes Advanced Risk Defense, Complete Disk File Encryption, Modern Endpoint Defense, Server Security
ManageEngine Log360 Employees per
Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Big (1,000-4
,999), Enterprise (5,000+)Micro (0-49 Employees), Little (50-249 Workers), Medium (250-999 Staff Members), Big( 1,000-4,999
Workers), Business(5,000+Employees)Micro, Small, Medium, Big, Enterprise Features Activity Dashboard, Advanced Threat Analytics, Analytics/Reporting, and more ManageEngine Desktop Central Staff Members per Business Size Micro(0-49), Small(50-249), Medium(250-999), Large(1,000-4,999), Enterprise(5,000+)Any Company Size Any Company Size Includes Activity Tracking, Anti-virus, Dashboard, and more Rates(20%)Rates represent 20%of our total score for VPNs. This classification consists of subcriteria that include however are not limited to: Numerous subscription choices. Available totally free trial. Choice to utilize a totally free variation. Pricing relative to the competition. General value for money. Core VPN functions
(30%)Core VPN
features, such as servers and security
protocols, account for 30%of our total score. This category includes subcriteria that consist of but are not restricted to: Security track record and lack of data breaches. File encryption and
- for 15%of our total VPN score. This classification comprises subcriteria that consist of but are not restricted
- to: Intuitiveness of user interface.
- In-app style. Installation and setup difficulty.
- Ability to develop connections.
- Client assistance(30 %)Client support accounts for
- 30%of our overall VPN score.
- This category consists of subcriteria that include but are not restricted to: Assistance choices for consumers(email, live chat
- , phone, etc). How rapidly consumers get
- a reaction after posing a question or problem. Availability of assistance resources such as guides, online forums and tutorials. Professional analysis( 5%)Professional analysis represent 5% of our total VPN rating. This category consists of subcriteria
- that include however are not restricted to: Personal
- experience with
- the item itself. Inclusion of features that set the VPN apart from other companies.
Reduce of research, that includes
accessibility of demonstrations, product documents and other products to validate details. Our VPN evaluation research study techniques To get a holistic view of each VPN
- we examine, we prioritize analysis got through in-house and hands-on user
- testing. We likewise supplement our findings through product demos, documents and confirmed customer feedback on websites that include but are not restricted to: Gartner Peer
Insights. Neighborhood online forums.
How do I select the very best VPN for my organization? Selecting the best VPN for your organization will mainly depend upon your company’s particular scenarios
- and needs. While there isn’t one best service, there are a few key things you can do to get the most out of a VPN membership. Take full advantage of totally free trials and complimentary plans Want to see whether the VPN you have an interest in has an available free trial and/or
complimentary variation. These let you check drive a particular service provider’s flavor of VPN without having to commit to a regular monthly membership or initial purchase. Some VPNs likewise have money-back guarantees that let you refund a preliminary payment if you discover that their software isn’t a great fit. VPN refund periods usually range
- from 14 to 45 days, offering users a
- long-enough time to
check out an option extensively. Know how you’re going to use the VPN Another essential step is to find out how your business is going to use a VPN. While all VPNs secure online traffic, some options position more priority on particular features over others. For instance, particular VPNs have security as their number
one top priority, while others are constructed for streaming or traveling. Knowing how your company prepares to use a VPN can help reduce the quantity of research study you require to do. If you’re not sure about how a VPN can be incorporated into your organization, we suggest going through this list of articles (and the Likewise See section at the bottom ): Check out a VPN supplier’s server fleet VPNs are a terrific way to unclog geo-restricted content. The method they do that is through their server networks, with servers being spread out all over the world. While all VPNs have servers, not all have large server networks
at their disposal. Search for a provider that offers a minimum of 2,000 to 4,000 servers in its network. If your main usage case with a VPN is to unblock region-locked material, the more servers, the better your opportunities of unblocking. Another essential factor to consider is server locations. If you have a specific region that you need to unclog
material from, it’s an excellent idea to check whether your VPN of choice has a server in that location. Thankfully, a lot of VPNs offer an openly offered list of their servers and their matching locations. Think about expense and gadgets to be used This might be a no-brainer however consider cost and whether a VPN fits your company’s spending plan. Luckily, the majority of VPN companies provide a variety of membership options and contract lengths to accommodate a range of budget plans. Another crucial element is the number of gadgets you want connected to a VPN. Not all VPNs have endless simultaneous device connections, so
make sure you pick a provider that can protect all the devices at hand. Finally, don’t skimp on security VPNs secure your surfing information and keep your online activity protected– at least they should. Look for VPNs that have no-logs policies and are individually examined.”No-logs”policies are claims from VPN suppliers that state they do not log or record user data. While any VPN supplier can state they do not log data, a quality solution would have a no-logs policy that’s backed by third-party testing or an independent audit. This provides an additional layer of self-confidence that your data isn’t being sold off or given to the
incorrect hands. If you wish to learn more, we have a round-up of the best no-logs VPNs in 2024 you can check out. It’s likewise a great guideline to inspect whether a specific VPN has been associated with any data breach or zero-day vulnerability.
Case in point, Ivanti Secure VPN recently had five new zero-day vulnerabilities in 2024, leading to thousands of online gadgets at risk of being exploited. Check out our evaluations or do a fast Google search of the VPN you’re interested in and see whether there’s any news or history of security breaches. Source
