A legacy VPN architecture can create performance bottlenecks, introduce security vulnerabilities, and frustrate users. If your business still depends heavily on this model, it's time to ask if you're truly built for modern work.
The Hidden Costs of a Traditional VPN
Although a proven technology, the traditional VPN model introduces significant challenges when scaled to a modern, distributed workforce.
The Performance Bottleneck
VPNs typically funnel all remote traffic through a single central point, which is often an on-premise firewall. This appliance was never designed to handle an entire workforce connecting simultaneously. The result is an over-utilized, degraded network that leads to slow applications and poor user experiences.
The Security Risk of Implied Trust
The biggest inherent risk of a VPN is that it operates on an outdated "castle-and-moat" security model. Once a user is authenticated, the VPN effectively places their device inside the secure network perimeter. This "implied trust" is a major security vulnerability. If a user's device is compromised, an attacker has a direct path to your entire internal network.
The User Experience Problem
For employees, VPNs are often cumbersome. They require separate software and face frequent connection issues. For IT teams, managing hundreds of client configurations, wrestling with licensing limitations, and troubleshooting connectivity problems is a tedious and time-consuming task.
The Modern Philosophy of Zero Trust Security
The clear limitations of the VPN model have driven a fundamental shift in cybersecurity strategy known as Zero Trust.
As defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)1, a Zero Trust architecture operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify." It assumes there is no traditional network edge and networks can be local, in the cloud, or a hybrid. It authenticates and authorizes each individual connection to a specific application rather than granting broad access to the entire network. This is the new standard for secure access.
Three Pillars of a Post-VPN Strategy
Moving beyond the VPN does not happen overnight. It requires a strategic approach built on three key pillars.
1. Adopt a Zero Trust Mindset
The first step is a philosophical one. It involves mapping out how users access specific applications and implementing modern, identity-based security controls. This ensures that users can only access the specific resources they need to do their job and nothing more from any location.
2. Embrace Cloud-Native Applications
The fastest way to reduce reliance on your VPN is to reduce the number of applications hosted inside your private network. Migrating legacy applications to modern Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) alternatives like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace means your data is born in the cloud and designed for secure access from anywhere by any authorized user.
3. Modernise Your Network and Security
For applications that must remain private, the solution is not a better VPN but a new architecture. According to industry analysis from firms like Gartner, businesses are moving towards a cloud-delivered Secure Access Service Edge (SASE).2 This combines network and security functions into a single, integrated service and provides secure, seamless access without the performance and security drawbacks of a traditional VPN.
Building Your Path Forward
Moving from a traditional VPN to a modern, Zero Trust architecture is a critical step in building a secure and productive modern workplace. This is not just an IT upgrade but a strategic business transformation that enhances security, improves employee experience, and enables greater agility.
Navigating this shift requires deep expertise across cloud platforms, cybersecurity, and network engineering. If you're ready to design a strategy that moves your business beyond the limitations of the VPN, our experts in Digital Consultancy, Cloud Services, and Cybersecurity are here to help guide the way.
References
1 Rose, S., Borchert, O., Mitchell, S., and Connelly, S., NIST Special Publication 800-207, Zero Trust Architecture (National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce, 2020).
2 Cisco, "Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) For Dummies".