What’s the fastest reliable setup for remote staff?

Use WireGuard with per-user keys, enforce kill switch and VPN DNS, and group-based access (least privilege). For restrictive networks, fall back to OpenVPN TCP/443.

How to separate contractors from employees?

Create a contractor group with time-limited credentials and restrict to specific apps/subnets; rotate keys when contracts end.

Do we need site-to-site tunnels?

Start with remote-access (user-to-site). Add site-to-site later for branches or warehouses that need persistent access.

How do we check for VPN leaks?

Run DNS/IP leak tests after connecting; ensure VPN-owned DNS and test the kill switch once per OS. See our UK leak guide for steps.

Business VPN (UK, 2025) — Remote Teams, Security & Setup

Secure remote access for UK teams with clear device policy and modern VPN protocols.

Updated: 2025-09-16 • ~12–16 min read

Why a business VPN?

Remote access: employees reach on-prem apps, NAS, RDP, SSH from home or travel.
Wi-Fi safety: encrypt traffic on public networks (stations, cafés, hotels).
Segmentation: restrict access per role (least privilege), log admin actions.
Consistency: unified policy across Windows/macOS/iOS/Android.

For home users, see What is a VPN? and Best VPN Settings (UK). For routers: Router setup.

Architecture: access types

Remote-access VPN (user-to-site): employees connect client apps to a VPN gateway; best for distributed teams.
Site-to-site VPN: branch routers build tunnels to HQ; great for offices/warehouses.
Hybrid: combine both (branches + remote staff).

Start remote-access first (fastest win), then add site-to-site for fixed locations.

Setup steps (SMB/SME)

Choose gateway: business VPN service or your own appliance (router/firewall with WireGuard/OpenVPN).
Identity: centralise accounts (IdP/SSO if available). Use per-user credentials/keys.
Create groups: Finance, Support, Contractors etc. Map access to subnets/apps.
Profiles: generate per-OS configs (Windows/macOS/iOS/Android). Prefer WireGuard first.
Kill switch + DNS: enforce app kill switch and VPN DNS resolvers.
MFA: add TOTP/Push for admin access and sensitive apps.
Monitoring: enable connection logs (metadata only) on the gateway; alert on anomalies.
Pilot: roll out to 3–5 users → fix edge cases → deploy to everyone.

Need app specifics? Quick starts: Windows • macOS • iOS • Android.

Device & access policy (practical)

Device posture: OS updates, disk encryption, screen lock, AV/EDR where appropriate.
Least privilege: default deny to internal subnets; allow per group/app/port.
Split tunneling: allow only if needed; require full-tunnel for admin tasks.
Contractors/guests: separate group with time-limited credentials; restrict to specific apps.
Key/cred rotation: rotate when staff/contractors leave.

Document “how to connect” (screenshots), and add a one-page runbook for common errors.

Protocols & encryption

WireGuard — fastest and simplest to manage; ideal for laptops/phones.
OpenVPN TCP/443 — robust on restrictive networks (hotels, offices, campuses).
IKEv2 — stable roaming on mobile; use where client support is strong.

Details: WireGuard vs OpenVPN vs IKEv2 (UK) • Baseline settings: Best VPN Settings.

Leak checks & logging

DNS: enforce VPN DNS; verify with our leak checks.
Kill switch: test once per OS (temporarily quit the app — traffic must stop).
WebRTC: limit in browsers (esp. Chrome/Edge) on admin devices.
Logging: keep connection metadata for ops/security (joins, duration, IP, group). Avoid storing content.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
Users can’t reach internal app	Missing route / ACL	Add subnet route for the app; allow group in firewall
Disconnects on hotel Wi-Fi	UDP blocked/throttled	Switch to OpenVPN TCP/443; rotate UK endpoint
DNS shows ISP resolvers	DNS leak	Enforce provider DNS; retest via leak guide
Contractor sees too much	Over-permissive group	New contractor role with minimal ACLs; rotate keys

Roll out safely

Pick a provider with audited no-logs, UK endpoints, per-group access, and solid desktop/mobile clients.

NordVPN — See offer Surfshark — See offer

Video: Business VPN — quick UK walkthrough

About the author

Denys Shchur — SEO practitioner & VPN enthusiast. Writes practical, UK-focused guides on privacy, performance tuning and streaming.

More by Denys: Remote Work • Windows • What is a VPN?