Work VPN vs a Privacy VPN: They Are Not the Same Thing
A work VPN, a consumer VPN, and a tunnel back to your own house all get called a VPN. They do different jobs. Cisco or whatever your company issued lets you open internal files. Nord, Proton, or Mullvad rents you an exit on the public internet. A home WireGuard or Tailscale exit makes the bank think you are still at home.
The work VPN
Your employer runs this. You connect, and you can reach the office file server, an internal app, or a database that is not on the public internet. The company can see that you connected, and usually what you do on their network. It is an access tool. It is not a privacy product, and it does not unblock Netflix.
The privacy VPN you subscribe to
This is the product this site reviews. Your traffic leaves through their server. The cafe and your ISP see the VPN, not the site list. Websites see the VPN's address. The company operating it is the new place your traffic concentrates. Pick one that can explain its logs, not one that only bought ads.
- Good at: hiding domains from the local network, and borrowing another country's IP
- Bad at: looking like a normal bank customer, because the address is shared
- Irrelevant to: getting into your employer's private network
Why the names get mixed up
Quora threads about 'a VPN for banking' and 'a VPN for work' answer both with ExpressVPN. That recommendation is wrong for the office network, and it is often wrong for the bank. Ask which network you are trying to enter, and who you are trying to hide from. Those are the only two questions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use NordVPN to connect to my company's network?
No. A consumer VPN exits onto the public internet. Your company network needs the VPN client they gave you, pointed at their servers.
Should I run a personal VPN and a work VPN at the same time?
Usually no. Two tunnels fight, and some company clients forbid it. Use the work VPN for work systems. Use a personal VPN on your own device, on your own time, if you want one.
Is a privacy VPN safe to install on a work laptop?
Only if policy allows it. The company can still monitor a machine they manage. Installing a VPN there does not create a private space.