UK's GCHQ intelligence agency has issued comprehensive new guidance for businesses using VPN services, marking the most significant update to corporate cybersecurity recommendations since 2019.

The guidance, released this morning, specifically recommends businesses avoid VPN providers with data centers in countries subject to foreign intelligence laws that could compromise UK business data. GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) highlighted concerns about VPN services based in jurisdictions with mandatory data retention laws.

Key Recommendations Include:

• Use only VPN providers with independently audited no-logs policies
• Require AES-256 encryption as minimum standard
• Verify VPN providers maintain servers within UK or Five Eyes alliance countries
• Implement multi-factor authentication alongside VPN access

The guidance comes as UK businesses increasingly rely on remote work arrangements, with 65% of companies now using VPN services for employee access to sensitive systems.

"UK businesses must carefully evaluate their VPN providers to ensure compliance with data protection requirements," said NCSC Director Sarah Chen. "Not all VPN services meet the security standards required for protecting British commercial interests."

The warning specifically mentions concerns about free VPN applications and services that offer unusually low pricing, suggesting these may compromise security through inadequate encryption or data sharing with third parties.