Also known as a VPN router, a hardware VPN is a piece of physical equipment that has its own processor and firewall and helps you to take advantage of virtual private network features like encrypting and decrypting your Internet connections. Hardware VPN is superior in two primary areas: security and speed. Th fact that the hardware VPN handles only its own functions, rather than running over a general-purpose device, makes it less vulnerable to attack, while its dedicated processor prevents it up gobbling up your servers’ CPU cycles. On the downside, hardware VPNs are expensive to setup, maintain and upgrade.
Software VPN solutions are tools that you can download and install on your personal devices to create secure tunnels for transferring your data packets. The greatest advantages of software VPNs are affordability and scalability. A software VPN will involve a lower upfront investment than a hardware VPN, and scaling up is as simple as upgrading the server components now and then. On the downside, your VPN will be only as secure as the hardware it’s being run on, and the processor/memory sharing will probably cause it to lag behind a hardware VPN’s speeds.
Compared to software VPN, there are multiple benefits you can get by purchasing a hardware VPN. Here are some of them:
There is no contest between hardware VPN and software VPN when it comes to speed and security features. A hardware VPN wins by a landslide. It is simply because the router was specially made to handle VPN traffic. That means that it is equipped with a powerful CPU and RAM, superior encryption, or hardware-based acceleration features. Some pieces of hardware VPN also come with a native firewall, access control, NAT interface and IP binding, as well as antivirus, anti-spyware and cyber-threat prevention technology.
When you set up a VPN router, it means that all devices that connect via Wi-Fi or Ethernet can take advantage of VPN features. Also the members of your business or family don’t have to know they are connecting through a VPN – they connect in normal way to a Wi-Fi or Ethernet port.
Normally, when you get a software VPN solution, you have to make sure that it is compatible with the devices you wish to guard. Otherwise, you will not be able to install the VPN anywhere you want.But a piece of hardware VPN takes care of this problem. As long as the device has Internet connectivity, it can connect to the hardware VPN.
Your hardware VPN comes bundled with all the necessary security features. As such, you have to go through setup only once: unpacking and configuring the VPN router in your home or office. If you resorted to a software VPN solution instead, you would have to download, install and configure the VPN on each device.
To counteract the slow connection speed caused by VPN encryption, some VPN routers support hardware-based acceleration. They use AES-NI technology to increase the data encryption and decryption speed.
Generally speaking, software VPN solutions are more versatile than hardware VPN equipment. Simply put, you can control VPN settings with minimal effort. Here are some of the advantages of using software VPN.
A piece of hardware VPN equipment can cost a lot of money, depending on how advanced it is and how many features it has. On the other hand, a software VPN solution is significantly cheaper and affordable for any pocket.
A wide range of corporations turn to virtual private network services to allow the remote access of their employees. It is one of the many reasons for using VPN. Assuming that you are at home and need to access a file from your office’s intranet, you can use a VPN. The technology fools the office into thinking that you are attempting to access the file while sitting at your workstation.
When talking about hardware VPN, we mentioned that it surpasses software solutions because it has better security features.But that does not mean you should overlook the security-related settings of software VPN. In fact, you can access them easier through a graphical interface and easily make adjustments or turn specific options on and off.
Exploring multiple VPN servers is certainly more convenient when using a software VPN service. All you have to do is open a menu and click the country you wish to connect to. Compared to this, managing VPN servers on hardware VPN takes more time. It means accessing the router’s configuration panel every time you want to pick another VPN profile with a different protocol and server.
Bottom Line: What Should You Choose, Hardware or Software VPN?
The purpose of both hardware VPN and software VPN is the same: to secure your Internet connection, hide your IP address, spoof your location, bypass restrictions, access blocked sites etc. But there are clear differences between the two methods for ensuring VPN connectivity. What is better for you depends on your requirements.
For instance, if you want to run a business, hire IT professionals and use a dedicated IP address, then you can afford buying a sophisticated piece of hardware VPN equipment.
However, if you are more interested in using a VPN at home, then your best bet is opting for a software VPN service. It is a budget-friendly solution that fits all pockets, thanks to various payment plans designed to accommodate your needs. And, without a doubt, a VPN software tool is easier to set up, configure and manage. No kind of expertise is necessary.
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