Why do I need more than one network security tool?

No single tool stops every type of attack. Firewalls focus on traffic at the edge of your network, VPNs focus on providing safe, encrypted access, device tools watch for malware, and email tools catch phishing attempts. Using several network security solutions together means if one layer misses something, another layer may catch it.

Is a VPN alone enough to secure my network?

No. A VPN is important, but you still need other tools and good habits. Update devices to ensure security vulnerabilities have been patched, enforce strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, use firewalls, web controls, and regular backups. Proton business VPN [/business/vpn] strengthens your network by making access safer for remote and hybrid work, but it should be part of a larger suite of network security solutions.

How does encryption help network security?

Encryption conceals information by scrambling it so that it appears to be random data. If someone grabs it on a shared or unsafe network, they cannot easily make sense of it. Proton VPN encrypts data between devices and your VPN gateways, which makes passwords and company data more secure when people work away from the office.

Are network security solutions different for small businesses?

The concepts are the same, but smaller teams often need easier tools with fewer buttons. They still need to protect data, manage access, and watch for problems. Network security solutions for small businesses should be easy to set up and run. Proton VPN helps small teams secure remote access without extra hardware or complex rollout.

Network security solutions that keep your business protected

Your business’s data now moves between offices, homes, personal devices, and cloud apps, which opens more chances for attacks. Network security solutions include tools — from firewalls to secure VPNs, like Proton VPN — to lock down these connections and keep your business safe without slowing people down.

The right network security solutions help your business:

Protect data across every connection
Secure office and remote access
Cut risk on public WiFi
Make network security easier to manage

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What are network security solutions?

As your data moves between people, devices, locations, and applications, it’s vulnerable to interception. Network security solutions are the tools and services you use to protect everything that connects to your network.

Network security solutions, whether for small businesses or industry leaders, will focus on the same core principles:

Controlling who can connect to networks, devices, and software?
Deciding what they can access
Inspecting and encrypting traffic

Strong network security stops the wrong people and devices and helps the right people connect safely.

Why network security is hard to get right

The easiest entry point into your network is your credentials. Once an account is compromised, attackers can use it as a foothold to access other tools, escalate privileges, and expand their reach without being noticed.

Proton Pass helps businesses manage the credentials teams use every day. With built-in end-to-end and zero-access encryption, your organization stays secure without any extra effort.

Your network is no longer in just one place

Work no longer takes place just in a single office. Now, remote work means employees accessing work systems from coworking spaces, home networks, or on unsecured public WiFi. People may also check email or access company data and networks on their personal laptops. Each place and device adds one more way for attackers to try to access your company's systems.

Lack of oversight creates blind spots

You might already use firewalls, antivirus software, cloud access tools, and a VPN for your business. But if they don’t work well together, you can miss warning signs of unauthorized access. This can make network security management feel messy, even if you own strong products on paper.

Poor security management slows things down

When security feels slow or confusing, people look for shortcuts. They might save files to their personal cloud drives or skip the VPN when it seems like too much hassle.

Hybrid work adds long-term pressure

Hybrid work is now a core part of how many teams operate. That means your approach to network security management needs to support long-term remote and on-site access.

Common types of network security solutions

Many teams may already be using one of these tools, but firewalls or antivirus software alone are no longer enough to protect small businesses or enterprise-level network security.

Next-generation firewall (NGFW)

A firewall decides which traffic can enter or leave based on rules you set, such as web filters that focus on websites and online apps.

Next-generation firewalls (NGFW) go further. They can see which user and app the traffic comes from and can scan for threats in real time.

This helps block hackers scanning your network, stop unwanted inbound connections, and keep employees away from dangerous or scam websites.

Network Access Control (NAC)

Network Access Control (NAC) checks each device that requests to connect using MAC addresses or digital certificates, only allowing approved devices.

This solution works especially well if everyone is in the office using managed laptops and phones. However, cloud services and personal devices used for remote work outside the office may sit beyond its view.

In these cases, NAC is often combined with tools like a business VPN and identity-based access to keep external connections safer.

Remote access VPNs

A virtual private network (VPN) is another essential tool for preventing eavesdropping on public or shared WiFi. VPNs encrypt traffic from your employees’ devices, wherever they connect from, so your data remains private, even on risky public networks(new window) at cafes, airports, or hotels.

Intrusion prevention systems (IPS)

When a new weakness is discovered, attackers move quickly before a fix is rolled out. Intrusion prevention systems (IPS) can act as a safety net by spotting those attacks early and blocking them at the network level.

Zero-trust Network Access (ZTNA)

Just because a user or device is on your network doesn’t mean you should trust it. With Zero-trust network access (ZTNA), every access request is checked, every time.

You only get access to the apps and data you need for your role, nothing more. This keeps stolen passwords or lost devices from having full access across your network.

Network segmentation

Network segmentation breaks your network into smaller, controlled zones. A perimeter gateway acts as the main controlled entrance between your corporate network and the web. Inside, separate segments can be created for finance, HR, and guest access.

Proton VPN allows you to send different teams to different VPN gateways that connect only to the parts of the network they require, limiting access to sensitive systems and reducing damage if one account or device is compromised.

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

Secure access service edge (SASE) is a cloud service that bundles networking and security tools like firewalls, web filtering, and zero-trust access in one place. Proton VPN can plug into a SASE-style setup as the encrypted path your users connect through.

Wi-Fi security

You also want to protect your wireless access points by setting up guest Wi-Fi networks, creating strong passwords, and maintaining up-to-date Wi-Fi standards. This can help keep casual snooping and simple attacks away from company data.

DNS, email, and web protection

Blocking dangerous links and domains reduces the chance of employees falling victim to fake login pages, scam websites, and malware hidden in links. Strong email security practices can reduce the risk of phishing emails capturing passwords or catching attachments containing malware.

Data encryption

Tools like Proton VPN create an encrypted tunnel for your traffic, so even if someone gets access to your local network, they cannot read the encrypted data. This can help prevent sensitive files being stolen or shared by mistake, or data being exposed when a device is lost or stolen.

How Proton VPN fits into your network security stack

A secure business VPN works alongside tools like firewalls and web filters to strengthen your network security management, especially for people working outside the office.

Encrypt every connection

Turn on auto-connect so traffic from laptops and phones is encrypted on home, office, and public Wi-Fi. This keeps sign-ins, files, and internal tools safer from prying eyes.

Route traffic through secure gateways

Send employee traffic through Proton VPN gateways you control. From there, you can run it through your existing firewalls, web filters, and monitoring tools, using the same rules for office and remote users.

Segment access by team and location

Set up team gateways and IP allowlists so finance, engineering, support, and contractors only reach the parts of the network they need.

Use strong sign-in and multi-factor authentication

Proton VPN for Business can work with Proton Pass, Proton Authenticator and popular identity providers like Google and Okta. Signing in stays simple for employees while multi-factor authentication adds extra protection.

Set rules for personal and unmanaged devices

Use policies and groups to limit which devices and destinations employees can use over VPN. This reduces the chance of risky personal devices reaching sensitive systems.

Monitor and adjust access over time

Use Proton VPN’s central admin tools to review gateway usage and adjust groups as projects change.

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Best practices for network security solutions

Encrypt every connection

Any device that connects to your business network should go through an encrypted tunnel first. This protects sign-ins, internal tools, and files from prying eyes.

Proton VPN helps make this the default, by giving employees easy apps that connect in a couple of clicks.

Don’t trust any connection by default

Even if someone is on your network, treat each request as unknown until they prove who they are. Use strong identity checks, like multi-factor authentication, and limit what each role can reach.

With Proton VPN, you can allow only certain users or groups to connect to specific VPN gateways, which then link only to the systems they require.

Split your network into zones

Divide your network into separate zones. For example, one zone for finance, another for general office work, a separate one for guests or visitors. If something goes wrong in one zone, it’s harder for an attacker to jump to another.

You can place Proton VPN gateways in front of certain zones so only approved users can get near them.

Use one main source of identity

Try to have a single place where you manage user accounts, groups, and sign-in rules. This makes it easier to add people, change roles, and remove access when someone leaves.

Keep a clear view of traffic

Aim for one simple way to see what is happening across your network: key sign-ins, big file moves, and connections from strange locations.

Make security easier

People are busy. If your secure route is confusing, they will look for shortcuts. Give them clear instructions, helpful defaults, and tools that “just work” for everyday tasks.

Proton VPN apps are designed to be simple: pick the right gateway and click connect.

How to choose the right network security tools and solutions

Focus on real risks by asking what do you need to protect, how do people reach it today, and how much can you spend to fix the biggest gaps first? When you compare network security solutions, look at:

Budget and running costs

A cheaper tool that’s hard to run can cost more in the long term. Consider the cost of setup time, training, and ongoing admin work.

What you are protecting

List your key systems and data. For example, finance tools, customer databases, core apps. Check whether each security tool clearly helps protect those systems.

Features that matter to you

Prioritise a few must-haves, like strong VPN encryption, clear access controls, or easy reporting. Avoid getting distracted by extra features or services you’ll never use.

Ease of use

Make sure your team can set it up, understand it, and keep it up to date. Choose tools that can handle more users, locations, and cloud apps as your business grows.

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Get started with the #1 VPN for businesses

A business VPN like Proton VPN gives you strong encryption and simple, managed access paths, which you can then combine with firewalls, web filters, and other tools you already use.

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FAQs about network security solutions

What are network security solutions?: Network security solutions are the tools and services you use to protect your network and the data. They control who can connect, what they can access, and how data is encrypted and checked for threats. This includes firewalls, VPNs, web and email protection, device security, and more.
Why do I need more than one network security tool?: No single tool stops every type of attack. Firewalls focus on traffic at the edge of your network, VPNs focus on providing safe, encrypted access, device tools watch for malware, and email tools catch phishing attempts. Using several network security solutions together means if one layer misses something, another layer may catch it.
Is a VPN alone enough to secure my network?: No. A VPN is important, but you still need other tools and good habits. Update devices to ensure security vulnerabilities have been patched, enforce strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, use firewalls, web controls, and regular backups.
Proton business VPN strengthens your network by making access safer for remote and hybrid work, but it should be part of a larger suite of network security solutions.
How does encryption help network security?: Encryption conceals information by scrambling it so that it appears to be random data. If someone grabs it on a shared or unsafe network, they cannot easily make sense of it.
Proton VPN encrypts data between devices and your VPN gateways, which makes passwords and company data more secure when people work away from the office.
Are network security solutions different for small businesses?: The concepts are the same, but smaller teams often need easier tools with fewer buttons. They still need to protect data, manage access, and watch for problems.
Network security solutions for small businesses should be easy to set up and run. Proton VPN helps small teams secure remote access without extra hardware or complex rollout.