If you don’t want cybercriminals to wander near your business, use a VPN. But here’s the catch: Not all VPN services can keep your business safe. Some of the services are unreliable and even prone to hacks and exploits. So, how do you determine if a VPN service will be effective in protecting your business online? Through the VPN protocols it uses. This article will explain what a VPN protocol is and share the best VPN protocols you can use. With this information, you can easily choose the best service for your business.
What is a VPN protocol?
A VPN protocol combines encryption standards and transmission protocols that ensure stable and secure server communication. They’re the backbones that support VPNs to provide security or speed for online activities. You can also liken these protocols to tunnels for your Internet traffic. Without a strong VPN protocol, a user might be compromised on the Internet.
Many VPN protocols are available in the industry. But they differ in terms of capabilities and strength. Some of them are suitable for mobile devices, while some are compatible with WiFi routers. You can also find VPN protocols that are best for Internet security and those with all the capabilities.
Because of these differences, you must determine the protocol that powers the operations of your VPN service provider before subscribing. In some instances, your VPN service provider may allow you to choose the protocol you want while using their servers.
So, let’s check the effective ones to consider for your business.
5 top VPN protocols
1. OpenVPN
This is an open-source protocol that most of the top VPN service providers use. It was first released in 2001 and designed to serve general purposes. It wasn’t built into mobile devices or computers, and that’s why it’s easy for third-party VPN clients to utilize it.
OpenVPN can work on many platforms, but you’ll need to integrate third-party software to enable it. This protocol can accommodate many ports and different types of encryption because it is easy to configure.
The flexible nature of this protocol makes it easy for users to update it according to changes in cybersecurity best practices. Also, this protocol is one of the best in that direction regarding safety and security. It supports many encryption algorithms, such as Blowfish and AES.
As for speed, OpenVPN is not the fastest, but it can still deliver as expected depending on your device and configurations. Also, manual setup is a no, but you can rest assured that the provider app will enable you to install it and run without stress.
2. Secure socket tunneling protocol (SSTP)
This is a protocol that Microsoft developed and built into Windows Vista. SSTP is another VPN tunnel that you can rely on for your online business, especially if you use Microsoft computers. SSTP is not an open-source protocol like OpenVPN, but you can use it on Linux, Android, and macOS. Although, you may have a hard time connecting it from macOS.
SSTP can get around firewalls that don’t have a complex configuration. It is not the fastest in the industry, but it works as fast as OpenVPN. You can rely on this protocol for your online business as it uses SSL 3.0 encryption to secure your data.
However, SSTP has its vulnerabilities, and setup is easy only on Windows.
3. Internet key exchange (IKEv2)
This is a protocol developed by Cisco and Microsoft. It is mobile-friendly and one of the fastest protocols you can depend on as a business owner. If you’re always uploading and downloading large files in business operations, this particular protocol is for you.
IKEv2 ensures a steady connection to a VPN tunnel because it supports switches between mobile Internet and WiFi. For instance, if your traffic is moving through the tunnel and suddenly the service goes off, this protocol reconnects you immediately.
When it comes to security, this protocol is still recommendable. It is safe, secure, and does everything that an online business owner will expect. IKEv2 uses different AES encryption to protect users online.
Also, the setup is easy but only on devices that compatible with it. So, if you use mobile devices in running your business, this protocol is worth your attention.
4. Layer two tunneling protocol /Internet protocol security (L2TP/IPSec)
Here is a pair of multipurpose VPN protocols that operates at the network level. This pair provides encryption, and many site-to-site VPNs use it. Each one is unique in its capabilities but pairing them together ensures a higher-level functionality.
You can rely on this pair to protect your online business. But the downside is that this pair doesn’t work in countries where VPN services are restricted. They can’t bypass restrictions easily. So, you may need to consider other protocols on this list if you’re living in such countries.
But you be sure of security and speed with L2TP/IPSec.
5. Point-to-point tunneling protocol (PPTP)
PPTP is best suited for people who stream videos. So, unless you’re in such a business, this VPN protocol should be like a last resort. It is one of the first protocols which Microsoft developed in years past to facilitate dial-up networks. You can use PPTP to connect both the Internet and intranet.
This protocol is among the fastest in speed because its encryption standard is lower than many. We can’t support PPTP for security because it has lots of vulnerabilities. However, manual setup is easy, and you can find it on many mobile devices and computers.
Many VPN services adopt PPTP, especially those focusing more on protocols compatible with Linux and Windows operating systems. But if you want the best protocol to keep your business secure online, PPTP is not for you.
Final words on VPN protocols
If you want to get the best VPN service for your business, check the protocol it is using. We have explored the top five VPN protocols to consider in your search, and we’ve outlined their capabilities. So, you can decide on the best one depending on the nature of your business.
OpenVPN is very secure and can protect your data from cybercriminals. It may not be the fastest, but you can rely on it. However, if you want a mobile-friendly and fast protocol for easy downloads and uploads, IKEv2 is your go-to VPN Protocol.
But as we said earlier, PPTP should be your last choice if you can’t use the others, which is unlikely. It has developed lots of vulnerabilities over the years.
Featured image: Pixabay
