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vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

Perimeter 81 Review 2024 - Keep This in Mind Before Buying

Our Score: 8.2/10
Ranked 19th out of 305 VPNs
MJ Marsden Published on 8th February 2024 Cybersecurity Researcher

Perimeter 81 sells itself as a reliable, versatile, cloud-based VPN for business owners. I wanted to see if it lives up to its own claims so I took it for a test drive, and you can see all my findings below.

Bear in mind that Perimeter 81 is predominantly for business use rather than leisure, so you can’t stream or game with this VPN. If you want a reliable service that unblocks streaming platforms and gives you great speeds to watch and game without buffering, try one of my favorite VPNs instead.

Try Perimeter 81 Risk-Free For 30 Days

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Perimeter 81 Features — 2024 Update

8.0
💸 Price 8 USD/month
📆 Money Back Guarantee 30 Days
📝 Does VPN keep logs? No
🖥 Number of servers 700+
💻 Number of devices per license 10
🛡 Kill switch Yes
🗺 Based in country Israel
🛠 Support Chatbot
📥 Supports torrenting Yes

Server Network — Small but Good Distribution

Perimeter 81 has 700 servers in 16 countries. Although this isn’t the largest network of servers by any stretch, I was impressed with its distribution.

If you have an international company, the global network ensures your employees or colleagues in different countries have nearby servers to connect to in your network. That way, you can all avoid any annoying latency issues.

The server locations are:

Europe Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
South America Argentina, Brazil, Mexico
North America Canada, The US
Asia Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Singapore, Thailand
Oceania Australia, New Zealand
Africa South Africa

Perimeter 81 also has dedicated servers in 8 countries — USA, UK, Canada, Japan, Netherlands, France, India, and Singapore. This means that you can pay an extra fee and have a dedicated server address and static IP which is only used by you and authorized staff members.

Even though it’s quite a small network, I can recommend Perimeter 81 due to its location distribution and stable connections.

Security — Keeps Your Business Network Secure

Perimeter 81’s cloud VPN architecture means that you don’t have to invest in additional security hardware. This saves you money, and means that all of your staff are kept safe online each day so your business data can’t be compromised.

Encryption and Protocols

Perimeter 81 uses AES-256-CBC cipher, which is the highest level of encryption available and impossible to hack. It would take over a hundred years to decrypt your traffic. It’s also great against brute force attacks, as the keys are incredibly long.

For its protocols, the VPN uses WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. WireGuard is my favorite choice thanks to its fast speeds. However, OpenVPN is the industry standard, so it’s still a great option — even though it’s a little slower than WireGuard, it’s usually pretty fast and keeps your connection secure. IKEv2 is great for mobile devices since it has good stability when switching from WiFi to mobile data.

IP, DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 Leaks

All of Perimeter 81’s servers I tested were fully secure. I ran each one through a leak detector tool and there were no IP, WebRTC, or DNS leaks detected on any of the servers I tried.

A DNS leak is when your VPN’s security fails and allows your ISP to see your internet activity. If there was a cyberattack during an IP and WebRTC leak, your real IP address would be revealed. This is something that could seriously compromise a business network.

There were no leaks in Perimeter 81’s servers, meaning that your data is protected.

Cloud VPN Architecture

Perimeter 81 runs on zero-trust architecture, which is meant to revolutionize the way businesses run their day-to-day operations by keeping all online traffic completely secure.

The architecture prevents the need for additional security hardware. All staff and contractors are allowed to use the network with restrictions that are pre-set by the company, preventing threats such as malware, phishing, and brute force attempts.

DNS Filtering

This feature allows you to limit the websites that your team members can visit. DNS filtering prevents risks from sites with dangerous scripts. It stops malware and phishing attempts, and ensures that nobody on your team can accidentally or purposefully engage in non-authorized activities while using the business network.

Device Posture Check

Device Posture Check gives you control over which devices can connect to your network — so you can give temporary access to contractors, for example.

All connecting devices must qualify as “secure” according to the standards you set. These rules can identify what level of anti-virus software is in use, disk encryption standards, Windows Registry Keys, and specific files, processes, and certificates.

Split Tunneling

Split tunneling lets you route some of your traffic through an encrypted VPN, leaving other applications or devices with direct access to the internet. This can be useful if you need to access local banking servers while connected to the VPN.

There are certain restrictions to Perimeter 81’s split tunneling in order to keep your networks as secure as possible. The service warns that there are limitations with some operating systems, and recommends specific subnet numbers depending on which protocol and OS you are using — so always check the specific recommendations before using the split tunneling feature.

Dedicated Servers and IP Addresses

Perimeter 81 offers you dedicated servers and IP addresses in 8 specific locations — the USA, UK, Canada, Japan, Netherlands, France, India, and Singapore. This means that your network is the only one that is connected to the allocated server, enhancing security and preventing overcrowding and connectivity issues.

User Management

This cloud-based VPN comes with management features that can be set in advance and apply to everyone who signs into the network. These include:

  • 2-factor authentication — Choose how your staff sign in securely.
  • Allocation of a specific VPN for specific employees — Keep certain activities confined to a private server with minimal access.
  • Kill switch — If the VPN malfunctions for any reason, your connection is cut off immediately, ensuring the network is protected.
  • User configuration profiles — Assign rules to all user emails that can restrict access, control website searches, and monitor data.

Because of these features, I can recommend Perimeter 81 for its security. It uses secure protocols and has features that are dedicated to keeping your IP protected, no matter who is accessing your business network.

Privacy — Standard Business VPN Policy

Perimeter 81 keeps some logs in order to comply with its zero-trust security policy. This is fairly standard for a business VPN, which must track and log user traffic to ensure its security is in full working order.

The following management actions are monitored:

  • Invitations to and deletions of team members.
  • Changes to team permissions.
  • Creating new cloud-based access gateways and other actions carried out in the management portal.

All parties who are allowed onto your network will have the following activities tracked:

  • Connection and login timestamps.
  • Login successes and failures.
  • Locations of all devices that are connected to the network.
  • Hostnames and server information.
  • Origin IP addresses will be logged when private access gateways are used.
graphic showing Perimeter 81's privacy policyIt uses cookies and logs to track user data

This seems like a lot of data, but in order to adhere to its promised security regulations, Perimeter 81 has to keep more information than a personal-use VPN. Most of these checks are linked to monitoring of functionality (login failures and changes to permissions within teams, for example). But the logs of user devices and originating servers relate to the security steps that are offered within your subscription price.

The company is based in Israel, which isn’t technically part of the 5 Eyes Alliance. However, it does have close ties with countries that are — including the US and Australia. This means that, if the government makes a request to see your information, Perimeter 81 may be obligated to hand it over. The privacy policy also states that it has no issues handing over your data if there are requests related to police activity, bankruptcy, etc.

If you need a personal VPN that doesn’t store any logs, try one of these recommended choices.

Simultaneous Device Connections — Up to 10

Each staff member can have up to 10 devices connected to the network.

Installation & Apps

8.6

Device Compatibility — Available on Most Devices

Perimeter 81 is compatible with all major platforms including macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and Windows. It also offers integration with a number of cloud-based application management platforms, such as Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Amazon AWS, Salesforce, and Heroku.

Set-Up & Installation — Easy to Install

Because this is a business VPN rather than one that’s designed for quick and instant personal use, there are a few more steps in Perimeter 81’s set-up than with standard VPNs I’ve tested. That said, it’s still quite easy to navigate and there are plenty of help pages if you get stuck.

You start by assigning your company a domain name which takes you to your own admin area. From here, you can choose your plan and make payment. Head to “Devices” and choose which client you want to use from the list.

Graphic showing Perimeter 81's device download listIt only took a couple of minutes for the client to download

The desktop app will open in a new window, where you’re asked to sign in once more. Once you’re up and running, you need to adjust a few settings before you can start using the server network. All settings can be found in the management console. This is also where you access the public VPN servers.

The mobile apps are very similar to the desktop options, but they don’t include a couple of the desktop features. These include Connect on Launch, notifications, and the ability to set up trusted WiFi networks.

Before you allow access to your team, you need to configure your chosen settings in the management console. It can be a little tricky, but there are help pages and video tutorials to guide you through the steps if you get stuck. This is where you control user permissions, whitelist sites, and decide how your team’s activities will be monitored by Perimeter 81’s zero-trust technology. In the “members” area you can invite specific email addresses to join the network, or create a list of up to 100 emails on a .csv file and upload it to allow permissions to the whole team at once.

Another handy setting is the “Always On” feature. This ensures that whenever anyone accesses the network, the VPN and all of its protections are always in effect.

Perimeter 81 is more complicated than most other VPNs but there are plenty of tutorials and online guides to help you get started. With the help of customer support, I was able to set up my network fairly quickly.

Pricing

8.5
Essentials
$ 8 / month per month
Premium
$ 12 / month per month
Premium Plus
$ 16 / month per month

Perimeter 81 accepts all major credit cards, wire transfers, and PayPal payments. It is not possible to pay using cryptocurrencies at this time.

There are different plans depending on your business requirements. Plans are split into 4 types, and there are 2 payments within each subscription — a set fee per person using the network, and the fee for the plan overall.

  • Essentials — $8p/m per user + $40p/m per gateway. This plan requires a minimum of 5 users and offers basic cover and support.
  • Premium — $12p/m per user + $40p/m per gateway. You’re expected to have a minimum of 10 users and it offers more advanced features and security.
  • Premium Plus — $16p/m per user + $40p/m per gateway. Premium suits larger businesses with a minimum of 20 users and comes with additional layers of security and management features.
  • Enterprise — The Enterprise plan is not priced, and requires a minimum of 50 team members. If you are considering the Enterprise plan, you have to contact Perimeter 81 directly to discuss your specific business needs. The service then informs you of the price.

You can pay monthly, or upfront with a yearly payment plan.

It’s fair to say that Perimeter 81 is pretty expensive, but if you need a secure hub to run your business from you may find it’s worth the high price tag.

Reliability & Support

7.8

Perimeter 81 offers plenty of support, especially when you’re configuring your management area. You can even request a complete demo of the system to watch before you commit to buy. There are numerous help pages and links to videos to help guide you through each feature and its set-up.

There is an instant chatbot that comes up when you first start to use the website. It answered basic questions about what the service provides and how to get started. If you want to know about a specific query that isn’t covered by the chatbot or in the Help pages, you can submit a ticket and receive an emailed response. When you ask a question, a rep will email you back and request that you make an appointment to chat with them using Chili Piper, so you don’t get a direct or quick answer. This is designed to convert conversations to sales, so it’s safe to say that Perimeter 81 are business-focused in all areas.

Support also varies depending on which plan you have chosen for your business. Premium and Premium Plus subscribers get prioritized assistance, and Enterprise plan holders have access to 24/7 help. Basic plan holders and potential customers can expect a response during unspecified “Office Hours.”

I usually like to be able to get answers about potential VPNs before committing so I can make sure it’s right for me in advance. It’s off-putting when you have to take additional steps to get the answers you need, and can’t get a simple email reply. For this reason, I would say the customer support isn’t ideal. However, the help pages and video guides are extensive, so you might find they offer everything you need.

Compare Perimeter 81 With The Top Alternative VPNs
Our Score: 9.9
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Our Score: 9.4

The Bottom Line

Protect your network and connect with your remote employees on the cloud with this business VPN alternative.

Final Verdict

Perimeter 81 is a great option for businesses with multiple staff using a shared network. It comes with outstanding security features, control over what your staff can access, and quality VPN servers for fast and secure tunnels.

The overall packages do work out quite expensive, but there is a lot included in the subscription plans. If you have a growing business you may find that Perimeter 81 has the solution to many of your network management concerns.

If you need a fast and reliable VPN with great streaming abilities for personal use, take a look at my top recommended VPNs instead.

  • 700 servers in 16 countries
  • 256-bit encryption and top-class protocols
  • Restrictions and controls for remote staff use
  • Dedicated IP addresses
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

FAQs on Perimeter 81

What is Perimeter 81 used for?

Perimeter 81 is a cloud-based business VPN network, using zero-trust architecture. It allows you to pre-set your staff access and controls, comes with state-of-the-art security, and has multiple features to prevent cyberthreats such as malware, brute-force attacks, and trackers.

Is Perimeter 81 a VPN?

Yes, it is a business VPN. Perimeter 81 gives you access to secure servers across the globe, including dedicated locations and static IP addresses. You also run a management panel that allows you to invite staff to join a pre-configured network. This means that you have control over what staff can access online, preventing additional cyberthreats.

Is Perimeter 81 safe?

Perimeter 81 is extremely safe. It uses state-of-the-art encryption and protocols, but it also allows additional controls over what can be accessed on your business network. Access is only granted to specific users and particular devices that adhere to pre-set conditions. This way, you don’t have to worry about malware or malicious scripts being introduced.

Money Back Guarantee (Days): 30
Mobile app:
Number of devices per license: 10
We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
Learn more
vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
Perimeter 81 User Reviews (User reviews are not verified)
7.0
Based on 22 reviews in 1 languages

Write a Review on Perimeter 81

Please rate VPN.

All Speed Streaming Security Сustomer service
Marko
Marko
2/10
The solution promises a lot but underdelivers.

They advertised a seamless setup, but that was not the case for me. First off, the gateway pricing is outrageous. With $50 for a server, you don't even know what the server spec is. For small companies like mine, it would be an overkill. Also, setting up the P81 connector was no cakewalk either. The Android client application is full of bugs and has crashed on me a multitude of times. The better and cheaper option would be to host your own VPN server on a cloud VPS, which barely costs $5 a month using some other VPNaaS.

Amit Gupta
Amit Gupta
4/10
I hate P81

I work as a contractor, so work with multiple firms and multiple VPNs. Perimeter 81 fails regularly, it has drop outs and crashes. Sometimes it works for days then it stops and I need to re-install. Sometimes it works - wont connect and I need to change protocols. The impacts my ability to do work, and slows me down

Johan
Johan
2/10
Unstable and not recommend

The service is unstable, lot of drop-outs! The usual feedback from the company is to change the protocol or do a manual update of the app. Does sometimes works, but most of the time it occurs again. If you work on a remote server most of the time, it will drive you up the wall when you lose the connection every hour. Also experienced a major incident on their side in March 2022, the VPN was out of service a whole business day. At that point, I decided to change VPN provider.

About the Author

MJ Marsden is a former Editor at vpnMentor. Her understanding of cybersecurity issues and keen eye for accurate information means her work consistently focuses on readers’ online safety.

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