VPN Replacement: Why VPN Falls Short and 7 VPN Alternatives

Several technologies are emerging as viable alternatives to traditional VPNs for secure remote access, particularly in cloud-first environments. These include Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP), Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN), and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). These alternatives offer improved security, performance, and flexibility compared to VPNs, especially in handling the complexities of modern remote work and cloud-based applications.

Here’s a look at why these alternatives are gaining traction:

• Secure enterprise browser platform: Secure enterprise browser platforms extend security controls to the browser, enabling secure access to applications without relying on trusted devices or networks. They isolate sessions at the browser level, allowing enforcement of security policies like copy-paste restrictions, download blocking, and session recording.
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): ZTNA moves away from the “castle and moat” approach of VPNs, which grant network-level access. Instead, ZTNA verifies users and devices for each session, granting access only to the specific resources needed based on the principle of least privilege. This significantly reduces the attack surface and limits the impact of potential breaches. 
• Secure Access Service Edge (SASE): SASE combines network and security services into a cloud-delivered platform, offering a comprehensive solution for secure remote access. It leverages a zero-trust approach and integrates with SIEM solutions for enhanced security.
• Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN): SD-WANs offer improved performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness compared to VPNs, especially in remote access scenarios. They can handle multiple connection types, prioritize traffic, and integrate with other security tools. 
• Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP): SDP solutions use software to define a secure network boundary, often incorporating multi-factor authentication and micro-segmentation. This allows for granular access control and makes it easier to isolate threats and maintain productivity. 
• Identity and Access Management (IAM): Identity and access management (IAM) centralizes control over who can access which systems, when, and under what conditions. It provides core capabilities like authentication, authorization, role-based access control, and audit logging. 
• Unified Endpoint Management (UEM): Unified endpoint management (UEM) consolidates device management across operating systems into a single platform. It ensures devices meet security standards before access is granted, pushing updates, monitoring compliance, and supporting remote wipe or lock actions.
• Secure Web Gateways (SWG): Secure web gateways (SWG) filter and monitor web traffic to block access to malicious or unauthorized content. They enforce security policies such as URL filtering, anti-malware scanning, and data leak prevention. 

Considerations for choosing an alternative:

• Legacy systems: Careful consideration should be given to the compatibility of VPN alternatives with existing legacy systems and compliance requirements. 
• Specific use cases: The optimal choice of alternative depends on the specific needs of the organization, including the types of applications used, the number of remote users, and the desired level of security. 
• Integration with existing security tools: It’s important to assess how well the chosen alternative integrates with existing security infrastructure, such as SIEM solutions.

While VPNs still have their place, particularly for certain legacy systems or situations requiring simple remote access, the emergence of these alternatives provides more robust and future-proof solutions for secure remote access in today’s dynamic IT landscape.

What Is VPN? 

A virtual private network (VPN) establishes an encrypted connection between a user’s device and a remote server. This connection enables secure data transmission over public networks, such as the internet, masking the user’s IP address and safeguarding sensitive information from interception. Traditionally, VPNs have been used by businesses to allow remote employees to access internal resources as if they were on the corporate network, and by individuals to evade online censorship or secure their web browsing activities.

VPN protocols like OpenVPN, IPSec, and L2TP encapsulate user traffic and transmit it through an encrypted tunnel, providing confidentiality and integrity for data in transit. However, while VPNs offer a layer of protection against eavesdropping, they originate from a time when perimeter-based security was the norm and internal resources were tightly controlled. As organizations migrate to cloud-based infrastructure and users connect from diverse, distributed locations, the efficacy and suitability of traditional VPNs have come increasingly into question.

In this article:

• Why Traditional VPNs Fall Short
• Leading Technologies to Replace VPN
• Considerations for Choosing a VPN Alternative

Why Traditional VPNs Fall Short

1. Security Vulnerabilities and Exploits

VPNs create a wide network tunnel that, once accessed, can provide entry into the broader corporate network. This “castle-and-moat” approach assumes everyone inside the VPN is trustworthy, granting lateral movement to authenticated users. Attackers who compromise VPN credentials can exploit unrestricted access to internal systems, escalate privileges, and exfiltrate data without easily being detected.

Moreover, VPN servers themselves are popular targets for attackers. Vulnerabilities in VPN software or weak authentication mechanisms are routinely exploited in ransomware and advanced persistent threat campaigns. Despite security patches, managing distributed VPN endpoints and keeping them up to date is a logistical challenge, leaving many organizations exposed to known exploits or zero-day vulnerabilities.

2. Performance and Scalability Bottlenecks

Traditional VPNs route all traffic through centralized gateways, often causing congestion as more users connect remotely. This architecture introduces latency, degrading the user experience for cloud applications and real-time communications. Bandwidth constraints at the VPN concentrator can lead to slow file transfers and laggy video calls. Scalability is another challenge as organizations grow or shift to hybrid work models.

Adding capacity to handle more users or higher throughput typically requires costly hardware upgrades or complex reconfiguration. This increases operational overhead and poses challenges during peak usage, such as sudden increases in remote work or disaster recovery scenarios. The rigid, centralized nature of VPN infrastructure does not align well with modern, agile enterprise IT needs.

3. Privacy Shortcomings and Trust Issues

Although VPNs encrypt traffic from endpoint to gateway, they do not offer true end-to-end encryption. Once data reaches the VPN server, it is decrypted before being forwarded to its final destination, meaning sensitive information can be exposed if the server infrastructure is compromised. Additionally, the VPN provider itself (whether internal or third-party) can view traffic metadata and, depending on policies, even inspect unencrypted content.

Trust is increasingly a concern as users and clients question who controls VPN servers and how privacy is maintained. Some consumer VPN services have faced scrutiny for logging activities or sharing user data with third parties. Within enterprises, reliance on a single point of trust can undermine compliance with data protection regulations, presenting legal and reputational risks in the event of a breach or misuse.

4. Limited Visibility and Endpoint Control

VPNs do not natively provide granular visibility into user activity or device posture. Administrators may see that a device is connected, but typically lack insight into its security health or what resources are being accessed. This blind spot makes it difficult to spot anomalous behavior, enforce least privilege policies, or respond quickly to compromised credentials.

Many VPN solutions are also platform-dependent, struggle with integration into modern device management frameworks, or lack the controls necessary to enforce security policies on mobile or unmanaged endpoints. As more devices connect from unmanaged home networks or public spaces, the inability to verify endpoint compliance creates new attack surfaces, further weakening security posture.

Leading Technologies to Replace VPN

Here are some of the primary technology options organizations use to replace VPN.

1. Secure Enterprise Browser (SEB) Platforms

Secure enterprise browser platforms add security controls to the browser layer, enabling safe application access without requiring trusted endpoints. They can enforce corporate access and content policies and integrate data loss prevention (DLP) mechanisms. Unlike VPNs, they isolate users at the application layer, minimizing risks of lateral movement inside networks.

Some enterprise browser security solutions require the adoption of a dedicated enterprise browser, which can hurt user experience and reduce productivity. However, platforms like Seraphic Security augment existing browsers with security functionality, solving this problem.

Pros:

• Provides secure application access without endpoint trust
• Enforces granular controls at the browser level
• Ideal for contractors, partners, and unmanaged devices
• Reduces the risk of lateral movement inside the network

Limitations:

• Some solutions require users to switch to a dedicated enterprise browser
• Limited scope outside browser-based sessions

2. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

Zero trust network access (ZTNA) restructures remote access by assuming no user or device is inherently trusted, whether inside or outside the network perimeter. Instead of granting broad network-level access, ZTNA enforces per-session, least-privilege access based on dynamic assessments of identity, device posture, and context (such as time, location, and behavior). 

Since access is brokered through a cloud-delivered control plane, ZTNA eliminates the need for congested, centralized VPN gateways, boosting performance and scalability, especially for cloud-native applications.

Pros:

• Enforces least-privilege, per-application access to reduce attack surface
• Eliminates need for centralized VPN gateways, improving performance
• Enhances visibility and logging of access activity
• Supports remote and hybrid work with scalable, cloud-native architecture

Limitations:

• Complex to implement, especially in legacy environments
• Requires strong identity and device posture systems
• Application access must be ZTNA-compatible
• Centralized control plane becomes a critical dependency

3. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

Secure access service edge (SASE) combines networking and security functions into a single cloud-delivered service. It integrates ZTNA, secure web gateways, firewall-as-a-service, and cloud access security brokers with SD-WAN to provide secure, optimized access regardless of user location. 

By converging these capabilities, SASE eliminates the need for multiple point solutions and reduces reliance on centralized VPN gateways. Traffic is routed through the nearest point of presence, improving performance while enforcing consistent security policies.

Pros:

• Provides integrated networking and security in a unified platform
• Improves performance with globally distributed points of presence
• Delivers consistent policies for all users and devices
• Reduces complexity by consolidating multiple tools

Limitations:

• Migration from legacy infrastructure can be disruptive
• Relies on vendor maturity and global presence
• Can introduce vendor lock-in risks
• Requires re-architecting of existing environments

Learn more in our detailed guide to SASE solutions

4. Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN)

Software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) uses software-based controls to optimize traffic routing across multiple connections, such as broadband, LTE, and MPLS. Unlike VPNs, which centralize traffic through gateways, SD-WAN routes traffic dynamically based on application needs and network conditions. This improves performance for cloud and SaaS applications, reduces dependency on costly MPLS circuits, and enhances reliability for distributed teams.

Pros:

• Optimizes application performance with dynamic routing
• Reduces costs by replacing or augmenting MPLS
• Improves connectivity for remote and branch locations
• Enhances resiliency with multi-path routing

Limitations:

• Not a complete security solution on its own
• Often requires integration with SASE or ZTNA
• Can increase complexity if multiple vendors are involved

5. Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP)

Software-defined perimeter (SDP) abstracts network access through a “need-to-know” model, making services invisible to unauthorized users. It authenticates users and devices before establishing a one-to-one encrypted connection to specific resources. SDP often uses a combination of identity verification, device posture checks, and micro-segmentation to isolate access paths and reduce the network attack surface.

Pros:

• Makes internal services invisible to unauthorized users
• Enforces strong authentication before granting access
• Uses micro-segmentation to minimize lateral movement
• Scales easily through software-defined architecture
  

Limitations:

• Not widely supported across all legacy applications
• Integration complexity with existing network infrastructure
• Requires strong identity and policy frameworks to be effective

6. Identity and Access Management Solutions

Identity and access management (IAM) centralizes authentication and authorization to ensure that only verified users access applications and resources. By enforcing multi-factor authentication, single sign-on, and adaptive access policies, IAM reduces reliance on broad network-level trust models. IAM serves as a foundation for zero trust, integrating with other security layers like ZTNA and UEM.

Pros:

• Centralizes identity management across applications and services
• Strengthens authentication with MFA and adaptive controls
• Forms the basis of zero trust strategies
• Improves user experience with single sign-on

Limitations:

• Not a standalone access solution, requires secure connectivity layers
• Complex to manage in hybrid or multi-cloud environments
• Misconfigurations and identity sprawl can create risks

7. Unified Endpoint Management Tools

Unified endpoint management (UEM) provides centralized visibility and control over devices such as laptops, mobiles, and IoT endpoints. UEM enforces compliance with security policies, ensures devices are patched, and integrates with IAM to enable conditional access. Unlike VPNs, which assume the endpoint is secure once connected, UEM validates device posture before and during access.

Pros:

• Provides centralized control and visibility into endpoints
• Enforces compliance before granting access to resources
• Integrates with IAM and ZTNA for conditional access
• Helps protect against risks from unmanaged devices

Limitations:

• Requires continuous maintenance and policy updates
• Can be complex to deploy across diverse device ecosystems
• May raise privacy concerns if monitoring feels intrusive

8. Secure Web Gateways

Secure web gateways (SWG) protect users from threats when accessing the internet and SaaS applications. They enforce policies like URL filtering, malware scanning, and data loss prevention, blocking harmful or unauthorized content. Cloud-based SWGs inspect outbound traffic at nearby points of presence, reducing latency while ensuring consistent security for distributed workforces.

Pros:

• Protects users against web-based threats and data leaks
• Applies consistent policies for remote and distributed workers
• Scales through cloud-native delivery with reduced latency
• Provides visibility into user web activity

Limitations:

• Primarily secures web and SaaS traffic, not internal apps
• Requires integration with ZTNA or SDP for full coverage
• Traffic inspection may impact performance if not optimized

Considerations for Choosing a VPN Alternative

When evaluating alternatives to traditional VPNs, organizations should consider both technical and operational requirements. The right choice depends on factors such as the type of applications in use, the distribution of the workforce, regulatory constraints, and integration with existing infrastructure. 

Key considerations include:

• Security model: Does the solution support zero trust principles, enforce least-privilege access, and minimize lateral movement risks?
• Integration with identity: Can it integrate with IAM systems for strong authentication, adaptive access, and centralized policy enforcement?
• Scalability and performance: Does the architecture scale with user demand and optimize performance for cloud and SaaS applications without relying on centralized gateways?
• Visibility and control: Does it provide granular insight into user activity, device posture, and access patterns, enabling effective monitoring and response?
• Device and endpoint coverage: Can it manage or validate diverse device types, including unmanaged and mobile endpoints, without introducing security gaps?
• Deployment complexity: What level of effort is required to migrate from VPN, integrate with existing systems, and maintain the solution long-term?
• Regulatory and compliance needs: Does it help meet data protection, privacy, and industry-specific compliance requirements?
• User experience: Will it reduce friction for remote and hybrid workers by simplifying access while maintaining strong security controls?

Replacing VPN with Seraphic Security’s Browser Security Platform

VPNs have served as a cornerstone of remote access security, but the evolving threat landscape has exposed their limitations. Seraphic’s Secure Enterprise Browser Platform addresses these challenges by shifting security directly into the browser, the primary vector for modern attacks. Unlike VPNs, Seraphic enforces granular policies, monitors activity in real time, and blocks malicious content before it can reach users or the network. This approach reduces the need for proxies, endpoint agents, or network rewrites, simplifying deployment and ongoing management.

By replacing VPNs with browser-native security, organizations gain more than just protection. They gain insight and control over the most critical point of interaction with the web. Users experience faster, safer browsing, while security teams benefit from actionable telemetry and seamless integration with existing tools like SIEM and SOAR. The result is a modern, streamlined approach to remote access that keeps both users and enterprise data secure without the friction of traditional VPNs.

Visit Seraphic Security to learn more.