Is zero-trust access better than a VPN?
For most small teams, yes. Zero trust checks identity and device on every request and limits access to specific apps.
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For most small teams, yes. Zero-trust access checks identity and device on every request and grants access to specific applications. A traditional VPN typically puts the user on the whole network once they’ve signed in.
Where VPNs fall short
A VPN is a tunnel. Once inside, a user, or an attacker holding their password, can often see far more than they need. VPN appliances exposed to the internet are also a frequent target, so they must be patched promptly.
What zero trust changes
- No implicit trust because someone is “inside”.
- Every connection requires strong authentication, usually MFA.
- Device health is part of the decision.
- Access is scoped to the app, so the rest of the network stays hidden.
When a VPN still makes sense
Some older software expects a direct network connection. A tightly restricted VPN can serve that case while everything else moves to per-app access. It’s a migration, not a switch-flip.
See how we set up remote access, or read what a device check is.