Are you on the hunt for a free Virtual Private Network system (VPNs) but not sure where to begin looking?  We've put together this blog post for business owners like you. In this blog, you will learn all you need to learn about how VPNs work. Also, why protecting your network with open-source VPNs is essential. 

Why does privacy matter?

Privacy is everything in business, and it is one of those crucial things you can't ignore. Let's say, by some chance, (perhaps lousy luck) you compromise your privacy. What could go wrong? A lot may be at stake.

For starters, you may become a victim of cybercrime. Or hackers may harass your clients and tarnish your reputation in the process, which may ultimately lead to losing clients. Whereas if you invest in safeguarding privacy by implementing open source VPN software, you stand to gain a lot.  

Open source VPNs ensure that your virtual private remains private. 

 How does that happen? Well, when you do one of the following:

1. When you get excellent open-source VPNs. Or,
2. When you hire an IT guru to configure your VPN software.

Open source technology comes equipped with various encryption to ensure that your network remains private and secure. Some VPN systems are robust, and others are clunky and complex tools only a few people can use. So choose carefully. You have to ensure that whatever VPN system you pick is suitable for your business. 

In this blog post, we pin six different VPN solutions against each other and highlight some of their core features. Your job is to choose the best match for your business. 

But, before we dive in, let's clear this right away:

What is a VPN?

Are you one of the people who may be wondering what VPN stands for? Well, it stands for Virtual Private Network, a cybersecurity solution that helps businesses safeguard their privacy online. Put differently, VPN hides your IP address and encrypts your data so that third parties can't steal your data. This way, advertising agencies, security agencies, or even hackers can't track your activities online. Most VPN tools support Secure Sockets Layer protocol (SSLP), which helps them become more user-friendly and customizable.

Why do open source VPNs matter?

In the business environment, we're now embracing the importance of privacy the same way we appreciate transparency. We say privacy and transparency can coexist as long as one doesn't conceal the significance of another. And open source VPNs make that possible. 

Recently, it has become easy for unscrupulous businesses to access your data for advertising. Fortunately, there are open source VPNs that can prevent this.  

This point brings us to the next question: 

What is an open-source VPN?

The easiest way to define open source VPN is: open-source VPN is any free VPN system that anyone can modify, configure, and use. It comes with a wide range of functionalities that protects your virtual network. It uses a variety of encryption methods such as SSL/TLS to secure site-to-site information. 

A challenge about most open source VPNs is that it is not easy to configure yourself, and you will need an expert in networking knowledge or IT to help you out. For instance, the expert will set up a VPN by using a third-party VPN platform. 

Some key benefits of using open source VPN include:

• You will get strong security - Your virtual network and site will be secure. 
• You will get excellent community support - There are multitudes of developers working around the clock to improve an open-source VPN system. 
• You can configure an open source - No scratch that...you can hire someone to configure it for you! 
• Open source VPNs support forward secrecy - You know that confidential information is shared amongst a trusted circle of people. 
• Most open-source VPNs are vetted - You know you will be using a perfect tool. 

Here are our top 6 six open-source VPNs you should consider: 

1. VPN Gate

VPNGate is one of the open-source VPNs any business owner should check out. It offers some of the best features. What's more, it will cost you not even a penny to use it, and all you have to do is hire a reputable IT company to set it up for you. What's good about VPNGate is that it lets you link up via the SoftEther VPN protocol or more conventional VPN protocols. 

Plus, VPN Gate is one of the safest and easy-to-use solutions. It supports OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, MS-SSTP, and SoftEther VPN's SSL-VPN protocols. It also comes with an anti-censorship tool, which is free. You can connect to any server run by volunteers. 

VPN Gate Features

• It is available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS platforms, and operating systems. 
• VPNGate allows you to connect to any server. 
• It will enable you to configure files for SoftEther VPN. 
• It supports different encryption protocols.
• It comes with a free anti-censorship tool. 

2. OpenVPN

You can also go for OpenVPN, which is a 100% free, open-source system. It is one of the highly secure VPN solutions any business can use. It comes with encryption protocols such as SSTP, L2TP, and PPTP.  You can use OpenVPN to infiltrate any geo-restricted websites, regardless of your location. For instance, you can gain access to any website globally. How does that happen? By simply customizing OpenVPN and deploy it over other security protocols like SSL and SSH. 

OpenVPN Features

• OpenVPN has a multi-factor authentication feature. 
• It allows you to implement single-sign-on. 
• It has a much more flexible UI. 
• It has an API integration. 
• It will enable you to sync it with primary and backup nodes. 
• It runs on OSS software. 
• It has a Challenge/Response authentication feature
• You get a single sign-on capability feature. 
• You can run scripts securely on clients.

3. Softether

You can also choose SoftEther VPN open source, which is one of the most robust VPN systems. It comes with one of the most versatile protocols for operating systems such as Windows, Linux, Mac, and Solaris. The good news is, you can use it to grow your network without paying anything. 

In comparison to OpenVPN, it is the fastest. If you use mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, SoftEther allows you to gain remote access. And it has one of the most potent SSL-VPN protocols to penetrate firewalls. By simply setting up your VPN server, you can access any VPN server from the comfort of your home. 

Features of SoftEther VPN

• SoftEther VPN is easy to set up by accessing a server site-to-site via remote access. 
• It has SSL-VPN Tunneling on HTTPS protocols that can infiltrate firewalls.
• It is easy to use. 
• It is hard for hackers to infiltrate.
• You will get dynamic-DNS and NAT-traversal features. 
• You will get SoftEther VPN encryption protocols.
• You will get logging and firewall features for the inner VPN tunnel.
• It supports Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, iPhone, iPad, and Windows.  
• SoftEther VPN has SSL-VPN L2TP, MS-SSTP, L2TPv3, and EtherIP protocols. 

4. Freelan

Freelan is another free VPN system you should consider. It is compatible with operating systems such as Windows, Mac, and Linux software.  While Freelan has no GUI, it still offers the best features in the industry. 

Freelan is unique in that it allows you to abstract a LAN network online, then you can always use it later. You also get an option to configure Freelan to stalk the internet anonymously. There are some exciting features; which we will highlight below:  

Features of the Freelan

• Freelan allows you to set up your computer as a server and other computers as your clients.
• It comes with a peer-to-peer configuration feature.
• Freelan has a Hybrid configuration. 
• You can create many servers and connect your nodes as well.

5. Pritunl

If you need an easy-to-use VPN that doesn't take long to set up, then you should consider Pritunl. This open-source VPN server is available to any business, regardless of its size or industry. We recommend it because it has a user-friendly interface that won't take long for your team to figure out. 

While Pritunl doesn't have any functionalities to set static IP, it can still create cloud VPN. You can also use it to generate site-to-site links. Are you worried about the privacy of your network? Use Pritunl's encryption protocols to protect your network and to browse the internet anonymously.  

Features of the Pritunl

• Pritunl supports SSH authentication and two-factor authentication. 
• You can automate it via a "deploy script" configuration management system. 
• You can implement Pritunl Zero as a proxy between the user and the web service running on your internal network. 
• Pritunl ensures that a user closes and opens a new tab without logging in again when a session ends. 

6. Tunnel Blick

Last but not least, there is Tunnelblick. If you are an Apple or Mac user, this VPN should be yours too. This free and open-source software is compatible with macOS and OS X. You can do more on it than other VPNs. For starters, you can use it to link up with any VPN service via OpenVPN. Tunnelblick has VPN protocols that make it flexible and easy to configure. Think of it as a graphic user interface for the OpenVPN Community Software.

It is another excellent open-source VPN software for entrepreneurs who value security. Interestingly, Tunnelblick is the only, if not one of the few VPNs that you can install automatically from a zip file. Don't believe us? Check out this link and learn why it is an exceptional tool. 

Because it is open-source, you can rest assured that it will be secure. Besides, Tunnelblick always offers updates on its features. So you will get one latest version after another. And a stable VPN app that rarely breaks down.

Installing it is pretty straightforward. All you have to do is connect to a VPN server, and then you will be ready to go. Alternatively, you can hire an IT specialist to configure it for you and your team. 

Features of Tunnelblick

• You will get complete Domain Name System (DNS) leak protection.
• Tunnelblick offers both Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). 
• There is a Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) leak protection feature.
• You also get Kill switch (although this is for the latest beta version only)
• Tunnelblick is available in multi-languages.
• Tunnelblick is one of few VPNs translated to more than 35 languages.

Conclusion

Without implementing VPN software, your privacy and that of your employees is at risk. Before you can say, "all my online activities are protected," you need a tool with the proper encryption protocols. It would be best to have a solution that secures the site-to-site information and the protocol SSL/TLS too. And if that tool is free, the better for your business. 

A compatible VPN like Tunnelblick can be a good start for anyone skeptical. The fact that it works well with macOS and OS X makes it a must-have. We all know that no brand values safety like Apple, right? While it is free and quick to configure, that doesn't mean anyone without technical know-how should try customizing it. 

"Who can I trust to configure my VPN?" You may ask. We wouldn't blame you for thinking that the same people responsible for implementing cybersecurity software may be cyber criminals. That's why you must do thorough background research when you hire an IT company to implement your VPN. Only employ a team of reputable experts that have a good reputation.

You may also ask, "How do I know if an IT company is reputable?" The easiest and quickest way to find out is by reading online reviews. Most good IT companies will have more good reviews than bad ones. Also, you need to make sure that you read all policies before signing up. Know which data you agree to share with them and for how long the contract will be. Remember, other VPN services companies may require that you pay a cancellation fee.