In today’s hybrid work environment, businesses need reliable, secure ways for employees to connect to their tools and data. For years, traditional VPNs have been the go-to solution. But let’s be honest—VPNs are outdated, inefficient, and downright inadequate compared to modern solutions like Network as a Service (SASE).
It’s time to break up with your VPN and embrace the future of secure connectivity. Let’s explore why VPNs are holding your business back and how SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) can propel you forward.
7. VPNs Depend on Humans—and Humans Forget
The biggest weakness of traditional VPNs is their reliance on human action. For VPNs to work, employees must remember to activate them every time they connect remotely. Unfortunately, human error is unavoidable. Whether it’s a lapse in judgment, forgetfulness, or urgency, employees sometimes skip this step—leaving their connection unsecured and your network exposed to potential threats. This creates a significant vulnerability in your organization’s security posture, one that cybercriminals are eager to exploit.
The Solution: Always-On Security with SASE
Unlike traditional VPNs, a SASE solution delivers always-on security. Connections are automatically secured without requiring user intervention. Whether your employees are working in the office, at home, or on the go, SASE ensures that every connection is protected. By removing the human factor from the equation, SASE provides a more reliable and comprehensive approach to network security.
6. VPNs Struggle to Handle Modern Workloads
Today’s business world is more demanding than ever. Employees rely on a mix of SaaS platforms, cloud-based storage, and corporate applications to do their jobs. These data-intensive workloads require fast, reliable connections—something traditional VPNs simply aren’t equipped to deliver. Designed in an era when most traffic flowed between on-premises servers and local devices, VPNs now struggle under the weight of modern workloads. Routing all traffic through a central VPN server introduces latency, bottlenecks, and a host of performance issues that frustrate employees and IT teams alike.
The Solution: Cloud-Native Traffic Optimization
SASE leverages a cloud-native architecture that optimizes traffic routing through global points of presence (PoPs). Instead of forcing all traffic through a central server, SASE intelligently directs it along the fastest and most efficient path. The result? Faster, more reliable connections that keep your employees productive and happy, regardless of where they’re working.
5. VPNs Don’t Play Well with Cloud
The rise of cloud computing has revolutionized how businesses operate, but it has also exposed the shortcomings of traditional VPNs. Built to facilitate access to on-premises resources, VPNs are poorly suited for environments where cloud platforms like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Salesforce dominate. Employees often face frustratingly slow performance when accessing these tools through a VPN, leading to decreased productivity and an increased burden on IT support teams.
The Solution: Seamless Cloud Integration
SASE is purpose-built for the cloud era. By integrating directly with SaaS platforms, it provides seamless and secure access without the need for backhauling all traffic through a central server. Employees can access the tools they need quickly and securely, while IT teams gain better visibility and control over cloud usage. SASE eliminates the friction that VPNs introduce, allowing your business to fully embrace the benefits of cloud computing.
4. VPNs Create Security Gaps
One of the most alarming vulnerabilities of VPNs is the level of trust they extend once a user is connected. A VPN connection often grants broad access to the network, allowing bad actors to move laterally if they compromise an account. Additionally, VPNs do little to verify user or device identity beyond the initial connection, leaving your network exposed to evolving threats.
The Solution: Zero Trust with SASE
SASE incorporates Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), a security model that verifies every connection based on identity, context, and policy. Unlike VPNs, SASE enforces strict access controls, ensuring that users and devices can only access the resources they’re explicitly authorized to use. This granular approach to security reduces the risk of breaches and ensures that your network remains secure, even if one component is compromised.
3. VPNs Are a Headache for IT Teams
Managing VPNs is a time-consuming and complex process that becomes increasingly burdensome as your organization grows. IT teams must manually configure policies, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and address inconsistent performance—all while keeping the network secure. For businesses with limited IT resources, this can stretch teams thin and divert attention from strategic initiatives.
The Solution: Simplified IT Management
SASE streamlines IT operations by consolidating networking and security into a single platform. Policies are centrally managed and dynamically applied across all users and devices. This unified approach simplifies troubleshooting, reduces operational overhead, and frees up your IT team to focus on innovation rather than maintenance.
2. VPNs Don’t Integrate Well with Modern Security Tools
Modern cybersecurity relies on a multi-layered approach, with tools like SIEM (Security Information and Event Management), MXDR (Managed Extended Detection and Response), and EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) playing critical roles. However, traditional VPNs often operate in isolation, making it difficult to integrate them into your broader security stack. This lack of integration leaves blind spots that bad actors can exploit.
The Solution: Unified Security Integration
SASE unifies network and endpoint security, integrating seamlessly with tools like SIEM and MXDR. This ensures consistent monitoring, threat detection, and response across your entire IT ecosystem. By bridging the gap between your network and security tools, SASE provides a holistic approach to cybersecurity that VPNs simply can’t match.
1. VPNs Don’t Scale with Your Business
As your business grows, your IT infrastructure must grow with it. Unfortunately, scaling a VPN is neither simple nor cost-effective. Adding new users or locations requires additional hardware, licenses, and bandwidth, all of which drive up costs and complexity. For fast-growing businesses, these limitations can become a significant barrier to success.
The Solution: Effortless Scalability with SASE
SASE’s cloud-native architecture scales effortlessly to meet the needs of growing businesses. Whether you’re onboarding new employees, opening new offices, or adopting new technologies, SASE adapts without requiring costly infrastructure upgrades. This scalability ensures that your IT can keep pace with your business, no matter how quickly it evolves.
Why It’s Time to Ditch VPNs for Good
Traditional VPNs served their purpose in a pre-cloud, on-premises world. But as business needs have evolved, their limitations have become impossible to ignore. VPNs are slow, cumbersome, and ill-equipped to handle the demands of modern hybrid work environments.
By contrast, SASE offers a secure, scalable, and user-friendly solution that meets the needs of today’s businesses. With always-on security, optimized cloud performance, and simplified IT management, SASE represents the future of connectivity. It’s time to leave VPNs behind and embrace a solution that empowers your team to work smarter and more securely.
Take the Next Step
Don’t let an outdated VPN hold your business back. The future of secure connectivity is here, and it’s called SASE. Learn more about how Network as a Service can simplify your IT and protect your business:
- Download our Free Guide: The IT Leader’s Guide to Network as a Service.
- Visit our integrations page to see how we unify your network, cloud, and endpoint security tools.
- Schedule a free consultation to explore how SASE can transform your IT strategy.
The time for change is now. VPNs served their purpose in the past, but they are no longer enough to meet the demands of today’s fast-paced, cloud-first world. By transitioning to SASE, your business can enjoy improved performance, enhanced security, and greater flexibility. Are you ready to take the leap?
