Why your VPN might be the next thing on the chopping block

The traditional VPN — connect to the corporate network, get broad access, trust established at login and rarely re-checked — is having its “why do we still do it this way” moment. Gartner's tracking, cited across multiple 2026 industry reports, puts more than 65% of enterprises as either fully migrated to SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) or actively rolling it out.

The core complaint about VPNs isn't that they're insecure by design, it's that they grant too much by default. A user connecting through a traditional VPN typically gets access to the broader network segment, which means a compromised laptop or stolen credential can move laterally in ways that are hard to detect. SASE and Zero Trust Network Access flip the model — a user only gets access to the specific application they're authorized for, based on identity, device posture, and real-time risk signals, not network location.

This has historically felt like an enterprise-scale problem with enterprise-scale tooling, but that's shifted. Platforms built specifically for small and midsize teams — with guided setup and per-user pricing rather than dedicated network engineers — have made this a realistic project for an “IT department of one” in a way it wasn't a few years ago.

This isn't an urgent rip-and-replace for every business. But if your VPN license is coming up for renewal, or you're setting up remote access for the first time, it's worth evaluating a Zero Trust option alongside the traditional VPN quote — the pricing gap has narrowed enough that it's a fair comparison now, not just a security upgrade with a big price tag attached.