Remote access is now a core requirement for almost every business. Employees expect to work from home, on the road and across different devices while still accessing internal systems and data. Traditionally companies relied on VPNs to provide secure remote connectivity. In recent years a newer model called Zero Trust Network Access has emerged as an alternative.
This article explains how VPN and ZTNA work, their pros and cons and how to decide which approach better fits your business.
What is a VPN
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates an encrypted tunnel between a user device and your internal network. Once connected, the remote device becomes part of the internal network and can usually access resources as if it were in the office.
Key characteristics:
– Network level access
– One secure tunnel into the corporate network
– Often full or broad access to internal IP ranges
– Usually protected by a username, password and sometimes MFA
VPNs are common, widely supported and familiar to most IT teams.
What is Zero Trust Network Access
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is an application centric approach to remote access. Instead of giving the user device broad network access, ZTNA grants access to specific applications based on identity, device posture and context.
Key characteristics:
– Application level access instead of full network access
– Every request is authenticated and authorized individually
– Policies can include user role, device health, location and risk level
– Internal applications are not directly exposed to the public internet
ZTNA is built on Zero Trust principles: never trust, always verify.
How VPN works in practice
Typical flow:
1. User launches VPN client and connects using credentials (and ideally MFA).
2. After connection the device receives an internal IP address.
3. All or most traffic is routed through the VPN into the office network.
4. User reaches internal services using private IPs or internal DNS.
Advantages:
– Simple concept and broad vendor support
– Good for accessing many internal resources over one tunnel
– Can be cost effective for small environments
Drawbacks:
– Once connected, compromised devices may see more of the network than necessary.
– VPN performance can degrade when all traffic is forced through central gateways.
– Management complexity increases as the number of users, sites and applications grows.
– Difficult to enforce granular per application policies.
How ZTNA works in practice
Typical flow:
1. User authenticates through an identity provider with MFA.
2. ZTNA service verifies user identity and checks device posture (OS version, antivirus, encryption etc., depending on implementation).
3. User is presented with a portal or client listing allowed applications.
4. When user opens an app, ZTNA broker creates a secure, policy controlled connection only to that specific application.
Advantages:
– Least privilege access: users see only the applications they are allowed to use.
– Internal apps remain hidden; inbound ports on your network can stay closed.
– Good user experience; often integrated with Single Sign On.
– Easier to apply and change granular policies per user, group, device and app.
Drawbacks:
– More modern and sometimes more complex to implement initially.
– Legacy protocols or very old applications may not be supported.
– Licensing can be per user or per application and may be higher than basic VPN in small deployments.
Security comparison
1. Attack surface
VPN
– Exposes a single entry point into the network.
– If credentials are stolen and MFA is absent or weak, attackers may gain broad access.
– Flat internal networks combined with VPN increase lateral movement risk.
ZTNA
– Does not expose internal IP ranges or ports publicly.
– Access is granted per application, reducing lateral movement possibilities.
– Better suited to modern threat models that include compromised devices and accounts.
2. Access control granularity
VPN
– Commonly works with network based rules (subnets, ports).
– Role based limitations often require additional firewall rules or complex ACLs.
ZTNA
– Works with identity and application based policies.
– Easier to say “this group can access these three applications only from compliant devices”.
3. Device trust and posture
VPN
– Many implementations do not check device health beyond basic OS support.
– A malware infected laptop can still connect if credentials are valid.
ZTNA
– Frequently checks device posture before granting or maintaining access.
– Can block non compliant or unmanaged devices automatically.
Performance and user experience
VPN
– When all user traffic is forced through the corporate VPN, bandwidth and latency can become issues, especially for cloud applications.
– Split tunneling can improve performance but may reduce security if not carefully configured.
– Users must remember to start and stop the VPN client.
ZTNA
– Often routes only application traffic through the ZTNA broker while allowing the rest to go directly to the internet.
– This usually improves performance for SaaS and cloud apps.
– With integrated clients or browser based portals access can feel seamless.
Cost considerations
VPN
– Lower licensing costs for basic solutions.
– Requires investment in VPN gateways, firewalls and their maintenance.
– As remote workforce grows, you may need to upgrade hardware and bandwidth.
– Indirect costs include the risk of broader breaches and longer incident response times if an account or device is compromised.
ZTNA
– Typically sold as cloud based service with per user or per device pricing.
– Reduces need for heavy VPN gateways and simplifies network architecture.
– Can lower incident response and security operation costs due to better visibility and containment capabilities.
– For very small teams the licensing might be higher than a simple VPN, but scales more predictably as you grow.
Which is right for your business
Choose VPN when:
– You are a very small company with simple requirements and just a few remote users.
– You primarily need to provide access to a small number of internal systems located in a single office.
– Budget is extremely limited and you already have VPN infrastructure in place.
– Security requirements are modest and data is not highly regulated.
Choose ZTNA when:
– You rely heavily on cloud and SaaS applications and have a distributed workforce.
– You want to minimize the risk of lateral movement in case of compromised credentials or devices.
– Your clients or regulators expect strong security controls and detailed access policies.
– You are planning long term architecture and want something that scales better than traditional VPN.
Consider a hybrid approach when:
– You have some legacy applications that work best over VPN but want modern security controls for new systems.
– You are migrating gradually to cloud and need both models during the transition.
– Different user groups have different needs (for example developers with VPN for low level access and business users with ZTNA for apps).
Practical migration path from VPN to ZTNA
1. Start with identity
Make sure you use a central identity provider with strong MFA for all remote access.
2. Identify key applications
List the internal and cloud applications that remote users access most frequently.
3. Implement ZTNA for a pilot group
Begin with a small group of users and a few applications. Fine tune policies and user experience.
4. Gradually move standard users to ZTNA
Keep VPN only for legacy use cases that cannot yet migrate.
5. Reduce VPN dependence
As more applications move behind ZTNA, tighten VPN access, restrict it to specific roles and eventually phase it out if possible.
Both VPN and Zero Trust Network Access aim to solve the same problem: secure remote access. VPN offers a traditional, network oriented model that still fits small, simple environments. ZTNA delivers a more modern, identity centered approach that aligns with Zero Trust principles and better reflects how people work today – from many locations, devices and networks.
If you are building or redesigning remote access in 2026 it makes sense to evaluate ZTNA first and keep VPN only where it is truly necessary. By choosing the right model for your business you reduce risk, improve user experience and create a more scalable foundation for future growth.
