In an era where IT resources and workforces are evolving towards increased cyber threat, it is important to provide unique managerial solutions and improved end-user experience.
As someone who’s constantly surfing the internet, I was looking for a security solution that is easy to work with, where I could get a better service despite network traffic and enhance my security stance. So, I came across Twingate.
While this solution is different from a virtual private network, it feels great to discover a security company that claims to offer more. I was excited to see that I could use Twingate for personal access to an on-premise website.
Twingate passes all my assessments for a remote access solution, and most people say they could substitute their legacy VPN service for Twingate.
But how awesome is Twingate?
From experience, I am impressed at the company’s dedication to improving its security solution, and Twingate is one of the few services that has made my job seamless.
With Twingate, everything runs fast, and you’ll get fewer lags and distorted Zoom moments that ruin the vibe.
In this review, I’ll help you see if you can use Twingate to substitute some VPNs by telling you everything I found out when I tested them across all aspects.
About Twingate
Twingate was established in 2019 by Lior Rozner, Alex Marshall, and Tony Huie, who previously worked with Microsoft and Dropbox.
The founders saw the need for a more efficient and secure course to access corporate resources remotely. They created a product that will attain the same access generally provided by virtual private networks and also fix the drawbacks that come with it.
Twingate doesn’t only fix the flaws of most VPNs; it improves the network security of your organization and reduces bandwidth.
Since many people now work from home, Twingate is a modern network solution for such individuals, as it provides a secure access solution seamlessly.
Twingate jumped in when VPNs posed security risks, became complicated to manage, and became too slow. It provides encrypted and secured connections between users and their resources and the requirement to gain access without a VPN.
Over the years, Twingate’s ingenious approach to web security has drawn in multiple clients across different industries, including healthcare, finance, technology, and more.
Presently, Twingate has made progress and offers more growth and expansion of its offerings to help individuals and organizations in the aspect of security posture. It also streamlines remote access for employees.
In other words, Twingate’s modern zero trust-based strategy to ensure remote access concentrates on increasing the value of maintainability, usability, and security. They offer distinguishing features, support, and plans.
Also, Twingate’s logging and centralized management deliver visibility and control and visibility across the industry network. So, with this security solution, you can efficiently scale up to offer support and security to many users without having concerns about purchasing new hardware.
Twingate Pros and Cons
Twingate is a remote access solution that provides different advantages, but it isn’t perfect. It has potential downsides.
When I tested Twingate, I didn’t bump into many issues, as it worked efficiently and perfectly. It also improved my IT department end-users trust. However, I still found a few things I didn’t fancy about them.
Knowing Twingate’s pros and cons helps you consider if they align with your specifications and needs.4
Here are Twingate’s Pros and Cons.
- Seamless User Experience: Twingate is simple, easy to use, and fast. What I find impressive about this security solution is that it runs fast in the background. When I tested it, I experienced more speed than the previous VPN I used. Besides, I also like the fact that it is easy to connect, and I didn’t have any slowdowns. Some security services I have used slowed me down. With Twingate, you won’t need to connect constantly.
- Zero-Trust Network With Excellent Security: Twingate uses strong security measures like the SSL/TLS and AES-256 encryption protocols, and this relies on a zero-trust model. What makes it intriguing is that employees can gain secure access through Twingagate’s user-identity-based authentication standards, like 2FA and SSO.
- Local DNS Request Resolution: Another thing I like about Twingate is that you will benefit from many relevant factors. Besides, many users have submitted good reviews, remarking on the company’s official website that the service does not require a private DNS resolver to access the network as a VPN does. This helps improve protection.
- No Public Gateway: Most security services use public VPN gateways, which causes vulnerability to cyberattacks. What I find satisfactory about Twingate is that it doesn’t expose users to hackers. So, hackers find it more challenging to carry out such attacks as Twingate guard against all security cases.
- No Slow Down of Personal Traffic: One unique thing about Twingate is that it uses split tunneling, which prevents users from experiencing slowdowns on traffic that is not allocated as a business resource. This means that you can stream a video and make a business video call without using any encryption-related speed reductions.
- Centrally Managed User Access: Another thing I like about Twingate is that it transmits the traffic you have already designated and connects to a server, gateway, or business resource, gateway, or server through a controller. With this, you won’t need to connect to a traditional virtual private network of a specific server location.
- Free Trial: While most security solutions offer a 7-day free trial, Twingate extends their free trial to 14 days, offering an opportunity to test their service before investing money. Also, it helps you decide if Twingate can offer the stability you need for your business before signing up.
Cons
The downsides of Twingate service are given below:
- Complexity: While I like Twingate service more than most security services, I don’t find them impressive in this factor. Twingate is tough to manage in an organization with a complicated network structure. You need to dedicate substantial time and effort to set up and maintain this platform appropriately.
- Limited Application Support: Twingate supports multiple applications but might have a niche of less compatible legacy apps. This could cause limitations for some organizations that depend heavily on specific software.
- User Adoption: What I don’t fancy about Twingate is that it is difficult to adopt. When you get started with a unique remote access solution like Twingate, you might have to accommodate new habits and workflow. Most users may find it demanding to adjust to the fresh system, leading to reduced productivity or possible opposition during the growth duration.
Read Also our Full reviews:
Twingate Features
Twingate is a contemporary, cloud-based network security service that aims at enhancing and simplifying secure remote access to corporate resources.
Aside from its user-centric and secure approach to remote access, This security solution offers many features, allowing many institutions to safeguard their resources and improve users’ experience.
Here are some key features of Twingate:
1. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
Twingate’s popularity relies on its network access. This security model is dedicated to verifying each user’s identity and devices, making an effort to access corporate resources, regardless of location.
This approach is exceptional because it significantly limits the risk of unauthorized access.
Twingates’s Zero trust comes with tight security. I saw it as a VPN alternative, and I used it to keep my personal and business traffic separate. With Twingate, you can safeguard your cloud infrastructure adequately.
From experience, this is an incredible platform for individuals and organizations with fewer workforce, as it is an easy application to set up and use. Also, you can purchase it at a low price
2. Software-Defined Perimeter:
Another feature of Twingate that users like is its software-defined perimeter. You can use Twingate to design a secure and encrypted network that automatically links you to the resources you need.
What I like about Twingate is that, while providing you with the required resources, it doesn’t expose you to any public internet. Instead, it reduces the need for conventional VPNs and eliminates the attack surface.
3. Granular Access Controls
Twingate uses access controls and allows organizational officials to determine their granular principles based on groups, user roles, or a specific attribute. This feature allows users to access whatever resources they need. It also enhances security and reduces the possibility of data breaches.
From the web-based management console of Twingate, administrators can provide or limit users’ resources, set up granular access policies, and get an oversight or report on resource use.
This feature has it all. It enables users to set their access policies on a per-resource, per-device, and per-use basis. With this, administrators can implement policies to help them take preventative measures against internet breaches and other cyber threats.
Twingate can use its granular access policy to help you accomplish compliance norms with data protection measures, requiring maximum protection of exclusive accounts.
Additionally, since Twingate’s access controls are located on various port-level routes, this security solution prepares users to reduce cyber threat invasion in their businesses rather than grant them permission to the entire network.
Overall, Twingate has a user-friendly interface that is intuitive and easy to use. You can set up a new access control seamlessly. You’ll also like its accessible reporting tools.
4. Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)
With Twingate, you can get support for multi-factor authentication. This is a feature I like so much because it comes with an additional layer of security that makes it easy for users to log in.
Multi-factor authentication also helps in stopping unauthorized access. So, even if your data is compromised, Twingate ensures your safety.
Unlike VPN, Twingate has taken its logging verification to another level. It uses application-level filters and zero-trust networks to confirm a user’s authenticity. It also provides users with access to their required resources.
From what I have seen about Twingate’s authentication features, when experiencing a security breach, it doesn’t impact your entire network. Only a specific resource is affected.
Twingate also has a system admin with maximum control of your network. This feature controls who accesses your servers and uses one app to manage groups and individuals.
Additionally, Twingate uses Single-Sign-On methods like Google and Okta for user authentication. Besides, they employ a second-factor authentication through Twingate’s traditional 2FA standard for additional security. With all Twingate has to offer, there’s no need for a traditional virtual private network.
5. Integration With Popular Infrastructure
Twingate uses existing infrastructures or identity providers, including Okta and Active Directory. This allows businesses to leverage their user management systems. This also makes onboarding seamless and guarantees co-existing access controls to an entire network.
The impressive thing about Twingate is that it doesn’t just offer seamless integration with many identity providers but does this with log managers and SIEM solutions. When I evaluated this feature, It delivered a single sign-on and MFA across my accounts.
Additionally, Twingate integrates with endpoint detection and mobile devices, allowing you to provide and manage better security in several layers.
6. Centralized Monitoring and Management
I found so many excellent functions in Twingate, and one of them is that it offers a centralized management console, allowing administrators to set up seamless access policies, assess user behavior, and monitor network activity.
When I tested this feature in my organization, I was able to maintain visibility and control over the network security of my workforce.
As an IT team, one of the benefits of Twingate is that it allows you to set up access restrictions, which is different from a traditional VPN.
For instance, using an OpenVPN or IKEv2 requires monotonous manual adjustments, additional risk, and extra proxies. But Twingate simplifies everything by offering you less stressful permission management.
7. Proxy Connection
Twingate understands how to impress its users. This security solution provides a proxy connection, allowing you to have access to resources in your organization. From files to servers and gateways.
The connection process consists of four units, including the connector, controller, relay, and app. These components work towards ensuring secure access to any business resource you want.
If the resource you’re looking for on a website is easy to access, you don’t need to go through the relay process, as you can have it on the spot.
8. DNS Privacy
Twingate provides DNS Privacy, a secure virtual private network policy incorporated in transactions and communications, to ensure users’ privacy.
DNS privacy indicates that security processes should be put in place to prevent hackers from accessing sensitive information.
When evaluating Twingate, it became evident that without DNS privacy, most hackers would do as they want with your servers and attack your personal information.
It might also interest you to know that Twingate doesn’t only provide DNS privacy but also solves DNS leak issues through its Zero Trust network feature.
While Zero Trust reduces the possibility of getting attacked by a cybercriminal, your company’s DNS infrastructure gets more wins.
The Zero Trust feature blocks others from seeing your company’s DNS servers. With this, your workforce will continue to access resources and carry out any task they want.
9. Privacy Logging And Auditing
The privacy log is one feature that I always look forward to in a security solution. Twingate logs its entire network activity, including identity-index into each user’s attempted connection or access. This feature provides a better view of users’ resources and management levels.
Twingate also uses its logging features to identify and rectify malicious behavior. It screens application usage and discards irrelevant subscriptions.
That’s not all, as this security platform also provides integrations with Splunk, Elastic, and Data Log to maximize logging and reporting abilities. When logged into your company’s server, keep in mind that you can seamlessly generate and manage your account through the admin dashboard.
This security platform might not offer the best privacy policy across all security services. They store information that users require rather than save information that goes into the hands of unauthorized third-party individuals.
Additionally, Twingate’s privacy policy states that it won’t track your data or any information that is transmitted through your network. This usually insinuates the company has a strict no-log policy. However, this claim has no explicit specification.
Twingate is based in the United States, making it an issue for most clients due to the country’s data protection regulations.
10. Server Locations
Twingate has its servers located in over 10 countries, and because it’s different from a traditional VPN, it might not be possible for you to connect to a specialized server when accessing the Internet.
Twingate service uses a controller to gain access to a company resource. This security company focuses on granting you access to your company resources no matter your location in the world.
With this, the total number of servers and location is not regarded as a crucial feature. Also, there are no explicit geo-restrictions on Twingate’s website, as the product cannot bypass a geo-restriction.
However, what I found out about Twingate is that the Government can potentially block its access. But, since Twingate was created for businesses, this could likely not happen.
Twingate Price
Twingate offers different plans, starting with the Starter-free package, which allows up to 5 users and 10 remote networks. With this plan, you can test Twingate to see if it’s worth investing in. It is free and has no hidden charges.
Next to the Starter-free plan is the Team plan, and it is the cheapest option after the free plan. It allows up to 100 users and 20 remote networks.
If you want more scalability, you can get it with Twingate’s Business plan at $10 per month. This plan is suitable for large businesses with up to 1,000 remote networks and 500 employees. Compared to the Starter-free and Teams plan, the Business plan has more functions but will cost you more.
Twingate’s final package is the Enterprise plan. This is the most expensive option, and you’ll need to customize a suitable feature for your organization.
Here are Twingate’s plans and the prices they offer.
- Starter: This plan is free. it is suitable for small teams looking forward to substituting a VPN for remote access. It offers 1 admin, 5 users, remote access to media servers, works on NAS, Cloud VMs, and 10 remote networks.
- Teams: This plan costs $5.00/month. It comes with all the features in the starter, plus 3 admins, 100 users, gate access to the SaaS application, SSO with Google Workspace, and 20 remote networks.
- Business: This plan costs $10.00/month. It offers everything in Teams plus up to 500 users, 100 remote networks, 10 admins, standard support, Integration with JumpCloud, and Device control through MDM & EDR.
- Enterprise: This plan hasCustom pricing, and it is suitable for organizations with over 500 employees that require detailed auditing and comprehensive access controls. It offers everything in the Business plan, plus invoicing, SLAs, enhanced API, and more.
You can purchase any of Twingate’s paid plans on a monthly and yearly basis. It all depends on your budget and company preference.
Also, note that the Enterprise or Custom option doesn’t have a pricing detail. Therefore, your organization needs to go through all Twingates sales at that level. All subscriptions come with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Twingate Security and Privacy
Twingate uses many features to ensure your privacy and security. It uses AES 256-bit and TLS/SSL encryption technologies.
This platform will store some of your data, but not to worry, as it uses the information it stores to set up or identify issues in your account.
Twingate claims it can provide secure access to the private servers of any company, and its privacy policy states that it will not retain customers’ information but help them build a reputation and offer more resources in the industry.
Since Twingate operates with diverse third-party applications, it will get extra data logs but won’t read data rerouted through it or log your traffic, including messages and video calls.
In other words, you can provide your account information, but Twingate will never leak the data it stores, as stated in its privacy policy.
However, since Twingate is headquartered in the US and is part of the 5 Eyes Alliance, many users worry that any member country could request their data.
Read Also our Full reviews:
Twingate Performance
Twingate earned a high score on all my tests, including its performance. When it comes to speed, It stands out with personal high-speed traffic.
I found out that Twingate could have faster speed than most traditional VPNs. It uses split-tunneling to segregate your business and personal traffic, allowing Twingate to grant access to only the items specifically allocated as a business resource.
With this, Twingate does not access anything that doesn’t require access controlled by your organization is not routed. So, if gaming, video calling, or streaming is not part of your organization, it won’t be routed. Plus, Twingate won’t impact your speed.
When I used a traditional VPN, only server locations closer to my local network boosted my speed. I could not access a smoother network from a farther server location. It took a long time for my data to be encrypted and transmitted.
Twingate eradicates the need for far server connections and disconnects for several operations. But, this security platform doesn’t offer additional benefits like bypassing geo-blocked content, including certain streaming sites for torrenting.
Honestly, It’s not possible to measure the speed-test result from regular sites like Okta when accessing its business resources through Twingate. This is because such websites don’t allocate your business resources.
Generally, Twingate has reliable performance because while regular encryption lowers speed, this might not affect users on this platform unless the data you’re downloading is enormous.
It doesn’t connect like a traditional VPN network. Instead, it allows users to access their business resources through proxies. Twingate connects through servers, files, or a gateway.
So, when it comes to performance and speed, Twingate won’t significantly slow you down. The network configuration on your private domain provides you with an on-premise experience. You will be working the same way you would have worked in the office.
If your connection is likely to cause latency issues, Twingate uses a split tunneling feature to make sure everything works for you.
Customer Support
Twingate offers support, but when you need them, they are sometimes unavailable. When I tested them, it took a long time to get the response I required.
Twingate uses messaging, a ticketing system, and emails to assist its customers. However, when I tested these contact channels, messaging was offline even though it should be available on “live”. So, I kept trying until I connected to a representative.
This was a little disappointing, and if you have a query and your business hours are not in symmetry with Twingate’s customer support, this could be a problem.
However, Twingate still offers impressive guides, and its FAQ section is incredible. When I tried this option, I found them more helpful and intuitive.
They also offer priority support, which is only available to Enterprise plan subscribers. So, if your package is at this level, you can gain access to Twingate phone support.
Do I recommend Twingate?
I would recommend Twingate confidently. From my analysis, It relieves the burden of setting up secure remote access for organizations and their employees.
Twingate generally improves the security network of any given organization, and I like the fact that it reduces bandwidth usage and streamlines deployment and support for end-users.
Sometimes, you could entrust your sensitive information to a third-party network without knowing. A security breach is becoming common, and when you grant such access, you expose yourself. So, you get hacked if your third-party network gets hacked.
Twingate is a security solution that has stepped in to resolve all your security issues. So, if your organization has a complicated security need, you need to build a remote access solution to maintain your network visibility.
An excellent function of Twingate is its wide range of integration, which makes implementation straightforward at the beginning by enabling many organizations to install and implement Twingate without making changes to their existing security infrastructure.
Aside from providing you with security solutions and easy access, it lifts the stress of working from home for individuals and businesses. It is also easier to set up than a conventional VPN server. Therefore, I highly recommend it.
What platforms does Twingate work on?
Twingate works perfectly with all the popular platforms you must have come across, including Mac, Chrome OS, Windows, Android, Linux, and iOS.
Read Also our Full reviews:
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Twingate function in China?
Yes, Twingate works well in China, which is good for you if you have employees located in this region. They can seamlessly access important business resources, and it will seem as though they are physically present in the office.
Does Twingate have a traditional VPN network?
No, Twingate doesn’t have or use a virtual private network. Instead, it permits users to access their business using a proxy connection. This includes servers, gateway, and files.
Will Twingate save my data?
Yes, Twingate collects some of your data but integrates personal traffic. They only need your standard information to help you with your account setup or for diagnostic use. Twingate has a strict no-log policy, as stated in their privacy policy.
Is Twingate safe?
Yes, Twingate is safe, and it uses a lot of features to safeguard your business infrastructure. They hide your resources from unauthorized third-party individuals and protect you from malicious internet threats. They also use TLS and SSL to safeguard your transmitted information and AES-256 encryption to protect static data.
How can I connect to Twingate?
You can connect to Twingate after an initial set-up. It only requires some steps to connect. Afterward, you’ll be given a domain name and admin access. Finally, your Twingate’s 2FA and your SSO will be your means of signing in.
Conclusion
Twingate is a valid zero-trust network access solution that allows individuals and organizations to have remote access to their business without creating variance within a user’s login experience. This is an excellent platform for institutions operating within highly managed industries, as it offers access policy setups and explicit activities for user logging. It is also perfect for SMB or mid-sized companies looking to deliver remote end users with secure, remote access to business resources. You should consider shortlisting Twingate if you’re in this category.
