{"question": "best vpn services for small businesses", "category": "vpn-services", "category_name": "vpn services", "audience": "small-businesses", "audience_name": "small businesses", "engine": "Claude (Anthropic) with web search", "model": "claude-opus-5", "asked_at": "2026-10-24T00:10:46Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/vpn-services-small-businesses-2026-10-24", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/vpn-services/small-businesses", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "Tailscale", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "WireGuard", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "Twingate", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "NordLayer", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "Okta", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "Entra ID", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "OpenVPN", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "per-seat", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "Ubiquiti UniFi", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "UniFi", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "Surfshark One / Business", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 12, "brand": "Perimeter 81", "label": "compared"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://www.esecurityplanet.com/networks/best-vpn-for-small-business/", "domain": "esecurityplanet.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.techradar.com/pro/vpn/best-cost-effective-cloud-vpn-solutions-for-small-businesses-in-year", "domain": "techradar.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://www.twingate.com/blog/comparisons/perimeter-81-vs-tailscale", "domain": "twingate.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.twingate.com/blog/comparisons/nordlayer-vs-perimeter-81", "domain": "twingate.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://costbench.com/software/ztna/tailscale-ztna/", "domain": "costbench.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://costbench.com/software/ztna/twingate-ztna/", "domain": "costbench.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://costbench.com/software/ztna/nordlayer-ztna/", "domain": "costbench.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://blog.openvpn.net/best-vpn-small-businesses", "domain": "blog.openvpn.net", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.security.org/vpn/nordlayer/", "domain": "security.org", "source_type": "other"}], "answer_text": "\"VPN for a small business\" splits into two different products, and most bad purchases come from buying the wrong one. Here's who I'd actually name, in order.\n\n## If you need employees to reach company resources (a server, NAS, database, office network, cloud VPC)\n\n**1. Tailscale** - my default recommendation for most small businesses, especially technical ones. WireGuard-based mesh, essentially zero config, devices connect directly to each other rather than through a chokepoint gateway. The free tier genuinely covers up to 3 users and 100 devices, so you can run a solo shop or a side project at no cost, and Standard is ~$8/user/mo. Downside: it's a networking tool, not a compliance suite - less hand-holding, fewer audit reports.\n\n**2. Twingate** - the pick if you want Tailscale's modern approach but with more access-control structure and an admin UI aimed at non-engineers. Resources are invisible to the internet until a user is authorized, which is a real security improvement over a classic VPN concentrator. Roughly $5-12/user/mo depending on tier, with a free tier for very small teams.\n\n**3. NordLayer** - the easiest sell if nobody on your team is an IT person. Setup is genuinely ", "answer_truncated": true, "measurement": "One answer from one engine on one date. Not a ranking and not a claim about the world; brands the engine did not name are not recorded.", "limitation": "Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.", "alerts": {"name": "Answer Watch Pro", "price_usd": 79, "period": "month", "gets": "daily change alerts for up to 5 brands in what one AI answer engine says, history, CSV export. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included", "url": "https://bikoosh.com/answers"}}