Choosing the right full tunnel VPN: How-to guide for your business

In hybrid and remote work environments, securing every connection that accesses your corporate network is non-negotiable. A full tunnel VPN can serve as a powerful shield, encrypting every bit of traffic between user devices and the internet through a secure tunnel. But not all VPNs are the same. The wrong solution can slow down your team, cause compliance issues, or leave sensitive data exposed.

Choosing the right full tunnel VPN for your business isn’t just about picking the most popular name in the market but it’s about selecting a solution that aligns with your business goals, IT capabilities, and long-term growth.

Let’s walk through everything you need to know to make an informed decision, from the core features to look for to common pitfalls to avoid.

What is a full tunnel VPN?

A full tunnel VPN is a type of virtual private network where all network traffic is routed through the VPN server regardless of its destination. That means whether your employees are accessing cloud-based apps or public websites, everything travels through a secure, encrypted tunnel managed by your business.

This setup differs from a split tunnel VPN, where only specific traffic (usually internal company data) is sent through the VPN, and the rest goes directly to the internet. While split tunneling can improve speed and reduce bandwidth costs, it also opens up potential risks by allowing unmonitored access to external sites.

With a full tunnel VPN, businesses gain better control over employee activity, stronger protection against man-in-the-middle attacks, and improved compliance with security standards. It ensures your IT team has visibility into all traffic, which is crucial for threat detection and policy enforcement.

If you’re serious about network security and safeguarding sensitive information, a full tunnel VPN is the way to go.

Read more: Full tunnel VPN for business - What it is and why it matters

Why does choosing the right full tunnel VPN matter?

The market is flooded with VPN providers, but selecting just any VPN won’t do it, especially for a business environment.

An underpowered or poorly implemented VPN can introduce performance issues, bottlenecks, and vulnerabilities. Some providers may even keep logs of your employee activity, putting you at risk of violating data privacy regulations like GDPR or HIPAA.

The right full tunnel VPN should not only secure your data but also scale with your business, support multiple devices and operating systems, and be easy for your IT team to manage.

Now let’s explore the most critical features to consider before committing to a full tunnel VPN provider.

Key features to look for in a full tunnel VPN for business

Not all VPNs are the same. If you are considering a full tunnel VPN setup for your business, make sure your solution checks these boxes:

• Split VPN tunnel: Split VPN tunnel capability allows you to encrypt critical traffic while letting other data flow through the regular network. This ensures sensitive business data is protected without compromising speed or flexibility for non-essential traffic.
• Peer-to-hub connections:  Managing peer-to-peer traffic can be complex, but peer-to-hub connections simplify it by routing all communication securely through a centralized hub. This setup enhances security and makes the network easier to manage.
• Cryptographic routing: Advanced key-based routing secures traffic while maintaining high network performance. Cryptographic routing ensures that data is always encrypted and only travels through trusted paths, reducing risks of interception or unauthorized access.
• Built-in IP roaming: With built-in IP roaming, a peer’s IP address automatically updates without manual reconfiguration. This feature ensures continuous connectivity for mobile or remote devices without IT intervention.
• VPN internet gateway: A VPN internet gateway lets you route traffic through a designated server while consistently encrypting data and enforcing security policies. This centralizes control and strengthens protection across your organization.
• User access policy: Role-based access controls allow you to manage who can reach specific corporate resources. By granting appropriate access, you enhance security while ensuring employees can stay productive with the tools they need.
• Access control test: Regularly verify access controls to prevent unnecessary exposure. This feature protects the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive data by detecting and mitigating weak points in the network.
• On-demand access: Grant time-limited privileges for specific resources through integrations with other systems. On-demand access minimizes unnecessary exposure to sensitive data while supporting collaboration.
• Custom OIDC authentication: Seamlessly authenticate users using your company’s OIDC setup. This ensures secure, single sign-on access to VPN resources without disrupting user workflows.
• Audit logging: Track configuration changes, user activity, and network events with transparency. Audit logging helps IT teams maintain control over the VPN environment and supports compliance requirements.

Read more: VPN Best practices for enterprise security

Common mistakes to avoid when choosing a full tunnel VPN

Even with the best intentions, many businesses fall into traps when selecting a full tunnel VPN. Avoiding these pitfalls can save you time, money, and potential security risks.

1. Prioritizing price over security

It’s tempting to choose the cheapest option, especially for small businesses or startups but when it comes to network security, you get what you pay for. Inexpensive VPNs often cut corners on encryption, don’t scale well, or worse log your data.

See your full tunnel VPN as a security investment, not just a cost. Choose a provider with a proven security track record and business-focused features.

2. Ignoring user experience

If the VPN is clunky, slows down devices, or constantly drops connections, your team will find ways to bypass it and that’s a huge risk. Poor UX leads to shadow IT and creates gaps in your security perimeter.

Look for VPNs that are lightweight, easy to connect, and require minimal end-user intervention. A full tunnel VPN should enhance security without disrupting workflows.

3. Overlooking support and SLA terms

Downtime is expensive. Choosing a provider without reliable support or service guarantees can leave you stranded in critical moments. Make sure you fully understand the SLA terms, support hours, and escalation paths.

4. Not testing before committing

Don’t buy blind. Always run a pilot test performance under load, check ease of management, and ensure compatibility with your current stack. Involve both IT admins and a sample of end users to get a complete picture.

5. Choosing consumer-grade VPNs for business use

Consumer VPNs might work for individuals, but they often lack the features and control needed for business environments such as centralized dashboards, user management, and role-based access.

Stick to VPN solutions designed specifically for business or enterprise use.

Read more: Understanding different types of VPN protocols and when to use them

Final checklist for decision makers

Before you finalize your full tunnel VPN provider, use this checklist to ensure you’re covering all the critical bases:

Choose with confidence, secure with certainty

A full tunnel VPN is one of the most powerful tools in your security stack when chosen wisely. It not only protects your organization from external threats but also gives you control over network traffic, compliance posture, and user privacy.

But with dozens of vendors offering “secure” solutions, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Instead of choosing based on brand name or price alone, evaluate your business needs against the key features and considerations.

Ask yourself:

• Can my team manage and scale this VPN easily?
• Will this solution support both our current and future workflows?
• Does it help us meet industry compliance standards?
• Is the user experience frictionless enough for broad adoption?

Choosing the right full tunnel VPN isn’t just a one-time decision, it’s a long-term commitment to your company’s digital safety. Take the time to evaluate, test, and invest in a solution that meets your needs today and tomorrow.

Book your demo with Veltar today and discover how our enterprise-grade solution can protect your network, streamline VPN management, and support your team wherever they work.

FAQs

1. What is a full tunnel VPN, and how does it work?

A full tunnel VPN routes all internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel, ensuring that both internal and external data remains protected from threats.

2. Why is a full tunnel VPN important for business security?

A full tunnel VPN encrypts all internet traffic, protects sensitive business data from cyber threats and ensures secure access for remote and on-site teams.

3. What are the most important features to look for in a business VPN?

Key features include strong encryption, centralized management, zero-logging, scalability, multi-device compatibility, and performance optimization.

4. Can a full tunnel VPN affect internet speed?

Yes, it can slightly reduce speed due to encryption and routing. However, modern VPNs with smart routing and load balancing minimize performance drops.

5. Is a full tunnel VPN suitable for small businesses?

Absolutely. Small businesses benefit from the same high-level security and data protection, especially if employees work remotely or access sensitive data online.