Traditional VPNs face an existential crisis. 48% of organizations experienced a VPN related cyberattack in 2025, with 30% suffering multiple incidents. 61% of enterprises are actively exploring alternatives, with 79% planning to implement a ZTNA solution as a VPN replacement within the next two years. This isn’t just another security trend but a fundamental shift in how organizations protect remote access.
VPN Vulnerabilities Exposed
The problems with traditional VPNs are mounting. 72% of organizations maintain between two and five different VPN services, leading to fragmentation, high IT overhead, and increased attack surface. Attackers exploit stolen credentials, zero day vulnerabilities, and VPN misconfigurations to gain unauthorized access and establish persistence.
VPNs use an “all or nothing” perimeter focused approach that doesn’t provide the same visibility, authentication, and authorization principles to monitor endpoints. This security model was built for a different era when corporate networks had clear boundaries and users worked primarily from offices.
The hairpinning problem creates performance issues. VPNs transit data through several location points, from the data center to the cloud, before it reaches the end user. This adds latency and reduces efficiency, particularly as more applications move to cloud environments.
VPNs also fall short of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) protection, where unmanaged devices can access enterprise networks with unsecured personal devices. The perimeter model can’t adapt to modern work patterns where employees use multiple devices across various locations.
Zero Trust Network Access Changes Everything
ZTNA flips the VPN model on its head. Instead of giving users network access and hoping they’re trustworthy, ZTNA assumes no one and no device is trusted by default. Access is verified continuously based on identity, device posture, and context.
The benefits are transformative. 73% of organizations report enhanced security posture after transitioning to ZTNA, reinforcing the critical role VPN vulnerabilities play in driving adoption. ZTNA only grants access to the specific applications or services a user needs, and only after verifying identity, device posture, and risk level.
This contrasts with always on VPNs, which tunnel all traffic into the network and assume trust once connected. That outdated model exposes organizations to RDP security threats and lateral movement in ransomware attacks.
According to Gartner, 70% of new remote access implementations will be served primarily by ZTNA instead of VPN services by 2025, up from less than 10% at the end of 2021. The facts are clear and show the industry’s shift to Zero Trust.
ZTNA Technical Advantages
ZTNA connects users directly to the resources they require through micro tunnels. This leads to better performance and lower latency compared to traditional VPNs that require connection to a central server. ZTNA initiates secure connections using VPN tunneling protocols such as IPSec and WireGuard, adding higher security and privacy that cannot be obtained with a regular HTTPS connection.
Resource access depends on the role and device of the user, reducing the attack surface significantly and making it easy for IT to apply relevant policies to newly onboarded resources and employees. Agentless ZTNA supports a variety of protocols including RDP, HTTPS, VNC, and SSH, providing flexibility for different use cases.
Device Posture Check is a customized security policy that allows IT teams to ensure that company devices meet certain requirements before they access the network. Policies can include specific operating system versions, antivirus suites, custom security certificates or files, or full disk encryption.
SASE Unifies Network and Security
SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) is a cloud architecture that combines various networking and security functions into a single service. The networking portion includes SD WAN architecture, which enables distributed workers to connect to a secure network managed with a centralized management controller.
SASE brings together functions that were previously separate: SD WAN for optimized network connectivity, and security services including CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker), secure web gateway, application firewall, ZTNA, and more, all delivered from the cloud.
Companies no longer assemble a mosaic of tools themselves. They adopt a single SASE platform covering both secure connection needs for sites (replacing site to site VPNs with managed SD WAN) and Zero Trust remote access needs for mobile users.
ZTNA and SASE Convergence Benefits
The convergence brings several advantages. One SASE provider can replace several advanced solutions. Rather than managing a remote VPN, a cloud firewall, a CASB, and a ZTNA separately, the company deals with a one stop shop. This simplifies management of configurations and security policies through a single console and reduces operational costs.
Security rules are applied consistently regardless of the access vector. The same Zero Trust policy may require an up to date device and multi factor authentication, whether the user accesses via the internal network, via Wi Fi at a remote site (SD WAN), or via ZTNA access. This homogeneity strengthens overall security posture with no holes due to forgotten technological silos.
Large SASE providers have global networks of nodes (Points of Presence) to route traffic optimally. Mobile users connect to the nearest SASE node, then use the provider’s cloud infrastructure to reach the application. The result is integrated network acceleration, reducing latency compared with a traditional centralized VPN.
Implementation Reality
82% of teams reported having started incorporating a Zero Trust strategy in 2025. Most teams (30%) are currently in the implementation phase, while 26% are developing their Zero Trust strategies. Moving away from technologies like VPN is part of the broader trend toward advanced security strategies.
Adopting ZTNA is not a one click process. It means rethinking existing architecture, integrating strong authentication everywhere, deploying connectors on legacy applications, and more. However, for most technical decision makers, the equation is clear: the benefits in terms of security and agility far outweigh the initial efforts.
Market Leaders and Solutions
Harmony SASE from Check Point offers excellent VPN services for businesses of any size. Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) provides next generation ZTNA with least privileged access, global edge presence with 150+ cloud edge locations worldwide, and unified ZTNA platform capabilities.
Cloudflare’s SASE provides secure web gateway, Magic WAN for connecting branch offices and data centers, Magic Firewall for consistent security policies, and data loss prevention. Palo Alto Prisma Access, Absolute Secure Access, and Twingate are other major players delivering comprehensive SASE solutions.
When VPNs Still Make Sense
Despite the momentum toward ZTNA and SASE, VPNs aren’t dead. Research shows widespread use is dwindling, but enterprises continue using the technology for certain scenarios. Simple site to site connections, legacy application access, and situations requiring full network tunneling may still benefit from traditional VPN approaches.
The question is less “Is the VPN dead in enterprises?” and more “How are enterprises using VPN alternatives to support hybrid and remote work?” In 2025, the answer increasingly involves ZTNA and SASE as core components of a modern security architecture.
The Transition Path
Organizations shouldn’t rip out VPNs overnight. Successful transitions involve hybrid approaches where ZTNA handles most remote access while VPNs serve specific legacy needs. Over time, as applications modernize and cloud adoption increases, ZTNA coverage expands until VPNs become unnecessary.
For MSPs managing multiple clients, ZTNA offers modular, scalable, and simple network security without backhauling all traffic through a data center. When ZTNA is bundled into a broader SASE solution, it becomes even more powerful for delivering comprehensive security as a service.