Powering the Distributed Workforce Beyond VPNs
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Businesses large and small have embraced remote and hybrid models for today‘s digital world. Offering secure access for employees, partners, and customers located anywhere while keeping corporate assets safe has become table stakes.
However, the virtual private networks (VPNs) that served as remote work enablers over the last 30 years have proven inadequate to meet many modern demands.
In this comprehensive guide, we explore the limitations of VPNs for secure connectivity along with the emerging alternatives purpose-built for the distributed organization – zero trust network access platforms and remote access tools.
The Gradual Shift to Remote Collaboration
Work from home and remote collaboration capabilities have been steadily gaining traction for the past decade. More affordable, high-speed broadband and growth of cloud-based apps set the foundation.
The events of 2020/2021 then triggered a seismic shift:
- 70% of white-collar employees now working remotely at least 5 days per month
- 90% of IT leaders reporting increased spend on remote work enablement over past year
- 2X bandwidth demands on corporate networks from video, bandwidth-heavy apps
Early on, companies turned to virtual private networks (VPNs) as a quick solution to link off-site users into internal networks and resources.
VPNs provide an encrypted tunnel that essentially stretches the corporate LAN to authorize users across the internet. Remote users gain access through VPN client software on their devices.
VPNs helped connect initial remote workers but posed security, complexity, and scale challenges
However, even prior to mass remote work adoption, VPNs exhibited significant shortcomings:
- Complex to set up and manage with high admin overhead
- Resource access is all or nothing once users connect
- Performance impacted by routing traffic through corporate network
- Support limited for modern device platforms and operating systems
The exponential increase in the remote and mobile workforce population has exacerbated VPN limitations even further.
Addressing these gaps requires a modern approach that aligns to the zero trust philosophy while providing simple, secure application access.
The Zero Trust Revolution
Zero trust network architecture represents a full paradigm shift in enterprise security.
Instead of implicit trust granted through network perimeters, zero trust mandates:
"Verify explicitly, Never trust automatically"
In other words, strict identity verification and authorization occurs before anyone connects to applications and resources – every single time.
This minimized exposure and blast radius by limiting access to only what is needed. Breaches or compromised accounts become vastly harder to exploit.
Zero trust networks provide identity-based secure application access
Key principles that define zero trust include:
- Least privilege access: Users only granted access to specific resources required for their role
- Multi-factor authentication: Additional factors like biometrics used to validate identities
- Continuous authorization: Access periodically re-evaluated instead of indefinitely maintained
- Microsegmentation: Strict network segmentation to restrict lateral movement
- End-to-end encryption: Traffic encrypted between user device and application
This framework contained in a set of standards known as Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA).
Leading zero trust vendors now deliver these capabilities as Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions via cloud platforms. Benefits over VPN include:
- Stronger security posture: Limited trust zones, difficult to exploit breaches
- Simplified architecture: No network changes required, easy to manage users/policies
- Better performance: Direct app access rather than network backhauling
- Reduced cost: No hardware required, consumed as cloud service
- Flexible access: Broad device and OS support, compatible with legacy apps
Forrester predicts that 30% of firms will adopt zero trust networks by 2023.
Top Zero Trust Platforms for SMBs
Many vendors have emerged offering zero trust secure access solutions. Here we profile the top options suited for SMB environments:
– Perimeter 81 simplifies cloud-delivered zero trust network connectivity. The SASE-based service offers user-centric secure application access backed by machine learning-powered authorization.
Ideal for SMBs, Perimeter 81 provides:
- Rapid set-up and simplified management
- Detailed visibility into all network activity
- 99.95% uptime SLA
- Responsive customer support
Pricing starts at $8 per user/month.
– Cloudflare for Teams brings together Access for Zero Trust application access and Gateway for browser isolation and DNS filtering.
Key advantages:
- Built-in DDoS protection
- Fast performance via 100+ data centers
- Free version for up to 50 users
- Integrates with popular identity providers
Pricing starts at $5 per user/month.
– Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) uses microsegmentation and proxy-based access to hide applications from unauthorized access.
Benefits include:
- No hardware or software required
- Detailed traffic logs provide audit trail
- Advanced threat prevention capabilities
- Primarily focused on web app access
ZPA licensing starts at $35 per user/month.
Remote Access Tools – VPN Alternative for Limited Use Cases
For some SMBs, deploying a full zero trust platform may be overkill depending on access requirements and scale. In these cases, a secure remote access tool can serve as a simpler VPN alternative.
TeamViewer stands above other options as the industry leader in remote connectivity software with over 2 billion worldwide device connections.
Unlike VPNs, benefits include:
- Higher connection speeds and stability
- Simple remote control and access capability
- End-to-end encrypted connections
- Support for wide variety of platforms and operating systems
- Available free for non-commercial use
- Significantly lower cost at scale
TeamViewer shines for ad hoc remote support connections, training sessions, quick file transfers, and the like.
Key Decision Factors for VPN Alternatives
With the range of emerging alternatives disrupting traditional secure remote access, how should SMB IT decision makers approach evaluating options?
multiple factors to consider:
Access Profile
- Number of users
- Locations
- Access types – Web apps? Desktop apps? Network file shares?
- Device types
Infrastructure
- Cloud vs. on-prem applications
- Authentication systems
- Network topology and segmentation
Culture
- Executive support
- IT and Security team skill sets
- Acceptance of change
Budget
- Capital vs. subscription costs
- Feature needs
- Growth trajectory
Key factors for VPN alternative evaluation
Organizations optimizing for security while enabling workforce mobility lean towards zero trust network access solutions. Those with targeted use cases find remote access tools provide targeted capabilities.
In all cases, take a services-based approach – access should align to user identity and context rather than network location.
Rising Threats to Distributed Infrastructure
While supporting remote/mobile productivity has taken center stage, the distributed workforce also introduces new cyber risks. Verizon‘s 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report revealed:
- 70% of breaches targeted web apps accessible externally
- 80% of hacking-related breaches leveraged stolen credentials
- 85% of breaches within 1 day
Workers off the VPN also often let their guard down. Surfshark‘s 2021 Consumer Security Report found:
- 57% connect to public WiFi on the regular
- 65% use unsecured home WiFi
- Only 33% use a VPN consistently
These statistics highlight two factors:
- Expanded attack surface exposed by remote workers and cloud expansion
- Lower security awareness outside the corporate perimeter
Together they mandate tighter controls and enhanced protections.
Zero trust networks and remote tools address the first concern. The second comes down to user education and developing a culture focused on cyber safety.
Just 9% of SMB leadership report formal security awareness training initiatives in place.
Prioritizing secure access AND increasing security IQ across the workforce together enable distributed organizations to thrive.
The remote workforce faces elevated and evolving threats
Best Practices for Secure Remote Access
Transitioning to a zero trust or remote access model from traditional VPN infrastructure requires both technology change management and a policy-driven approach.
Follow these best practices in your pursuit of enabling broader secure remote connectivity:
Step 1: Audit Access Needs
- Profile users, devices, and locations
- Catalog connectivity requirements
- Assess network topology and vulnerabilities
Step 2: Review Solutions
- Determine must-have vs. nice-to-have capabilities
- Compare platform alignment to infrastructure
- Validate support for users, devices, and apps
Step 3: Calculate ROI
- Estimate TCO including licenses, maintenance, support
- Factor in flexibility for change and growth
- Validate security, productivity, and efficiencies gains
Step 4: Start Small, Scale Fast
- Pilot solution with targeted users and applications
- Establish access policies tied to roles and data sensitivity
- Expand deployment across broader employee and app footprint
Attempting a full VPN replacement in one motion usually fails. Taking an iterative, step-by-step approach ensures smooth adoption.
Regularly revisiting policies and controls is also key to a mature approach in the ever-evolving threatscape.
What worked weeks ago may enable vulnerabilities today. Keep zero trust principles top of mind.
The Future of Secure Remote Connectivity
Early remote collaboration relied on VPNs out of necessity, not due to inherent strengths as a platform.
As working from anywhere becomes standard, so have options purpose-built for the distributed organization. According to Gartner, enterprise adoption of zero trust network access solutions will grow from less than 10% in 2020 to over 60% by 2025.
Forrester also predicts that 30% of firms will implement zero trust models by 2023.
Beyond enhanced security, properly deployed zero trust frameworks drastically simplify IT environments. Use of the cloud, support for bring-your-own-devices (BYOD), and emphasis on user identity over network location all position SMBs for growth and agility.
While VPNs served their purpose for 30 years, the future demands a new paradigm. By following leading practices for zero trust evaluation and deployment, businesses can confidently embrace secure remote connectivity.
Prioritizing user productivity without compromising safety sits at the heart of this transformation. With solutions like zero trust networks and managed remote access tools now readily available, the possibilities of work beyond physical barriers are endless.
