Remote work has become the norm, and so has the expectation that your connection to corporate resources is secure. Whether you are connecting from a coffee shop, a coworking space, or home, a VPN protects your work data from interception on untrusted networks. This guide covers which VPNs are actually suitable for remote work, and what trade-offs you make with speed and compatibility.
Your VPN needs depend on what your company requires. Some companies mandate specific VPN protocols or certificate-based authentication. Others simply want you on their VPN for access control and logging. If your company provides a corporate VPN, use it. If you are choosing your own, look for a VPN that supports OpenVPN and/or WireGuard, can handle split tunneling (so work and personal traffic is not all routed through the VPN), and offers stable connections in your region.
ProtonVPN Plus is a solid choice for remote workers. It offers WireGuard support, fast speeds for most tasks, and does not log your browsing activity. The Plus plan includes secure file storage and secure email forwarding. For most office work, the speeds are sufficient. Video calls, large file uploads, and real-time collaboration tools work reliably. ProtonVPN is audited annually and publishes transparency reports.
ExpressVPN is faster and more expensive. It uses a proprietary protocol optimized for speed and is popular among professionals who transfer large files or work on latency-sensitive tasks. ExpressVPN has faced less independent auditing than ProtonVPN, but the company is transparent about its data retention policies: it does not log sessions, and it will not hand over logs that do not exist.
Mullvad VPN is minimalist and privacy-focused. It does not require an account, meaning it can not track which connection is yours. Mullvad publishes its server code and participates in formal security audits. The trade-off is less customer support and fewer advanced features. For remote workers who prioritize privacy and do not need corporate features, it is an excellent choice.
What to avoid: free VPN services are a liability in a corporate context. They often inject ads, have unreliable speeds, and have been caught selling or mishandling user data. Your employer expects your connection to be secure and audited, which free VPNs are not. Additionally, avoid VPNs based in countries with aggressive surveillance laws or data-sharing agreements with the United States. VPN provider location matters for privacy.
Setting up your VPN for remote work: install it on your work laptop and mobile devices. Most modern VPN clients support auto-connect, so you are protected as soon as your device connects to any network. Test the connection to your corporate VPN or cloud resources to ensure there are no routing conflicts. If your VPN supports split tunneling, configure it so that corporate traffic goes through the VPN and personal traffic (social media, streaming) does not.
Speed expectations: a VPN will reduce your speed slightly because all traffic is encrypted and routed through the VPN provider's servers. Expect 10-20% throughput loss on gigabit connections and minimal loss on standard broadband. If your connection is already slow, a VPN will make it feel slower. Test your VPN in the location where you will use it before committing to a long-term plan.