How Corporate VPNs Differ From Consumer VPNs

A corporate VPN and a consumer VPN use similar technology, encrypted tunnels between your device and a server, but they're built for different jobs. Knowing the difference explains what each protects and who can see your activity.

What a corporate VPN does

A corporate VPN connects you into your employer's private network, so you can reach internal systems from home or on the road: file servers, internal websites, databases. Common products include Cisco Secure Client, Palo Alto GlobalProtect and FortiClient.

• Who runs it: your employer's IT team.
• Who can see your traffic: your employer, for whatever goes through the tunnel.
• Main goal: secure access to company resources.

What a consumer VPN does

A consumer VPN sends your traffic through a provider's server on its way to the internet. It hides your activity from your internet provider and local network, such as public Wi-Fi, and changes the location websites see.

• Who runs it: a VPN company you pay, or a free provider.
• Who can see your traffic: the VPN provider can see where it goes.
• Main goal: privacy and location.

Full tunnel vs split tunnel

Corporate VPNs may send all your traffic through the company (full tunnel), or only traffic for company systems (split tunnel). With a full tunnel, your personal browsing on a work device also passes through your employer's network and security tools.

Privacy on work devices

Assume your employer can monitor a work laptop, whether or not the VPN is on. Company devices often have management and security software installed. Keep personal browsing on personal devices.

Security risks

Corporate VPN gateways are high-value targets because they sit at the edge of company networks. In 2024, serious flaws in Ivanti Connect Secure led the US cybersecurity agency CISA to order federal agencies to act urgently, and a critical flaw was found in Palo Alto Networks' GlobalProtect gateways. Prompt updates are essential.

The move to zero trust

Many companies are replacing traditional VPNs with "zero trust" access, where each app checks who you are and the state of your device before letting you in, rather than giving broad access to the whole network.

Using both

• Don't install a personal VPN on a work device without IT's approval; it can conflict with the corporate VPN or break policy.
• On personal devices, a consumer VPN is useful on public Wi-Fi. See what a VPN protects on public Wi-Fi.
• Check for WebRTC leaks, which can reveal your real IP address with either kind. WebRTC Privacy Shield blocks them in Chrome.

See whether you need a VPN.