For decades, VPNs were the default gatekeepers of business networks. They worked—sort of. Secure tunnels, masked IPs, remote access from anywhere. But the digital world has changed, and VPNs are starting to show their age. Think clunky connections, outdated trust models, and endless IT headaches. So now the question is not whether VPNs are good enough—it is what is better.
Enter Zero Trust Network Access
This is not just another security buzzword. Zero Trust Network Access, or ZTNA, flips the entire model. Instead of assuming everyone inside your network can be trusted, it assumes the opposite—trust nothing by default. Every request is verified, every user is continuously authenticated, every session monitored.
ZTNA gives granular control. You do not get access to the whole network. You only get access to what you need—and only after proving who you are. That is a major shift from the VPN world, where once you are in, you are in. The rise of ZTNA is not a maybe—it is the future. Analysts predict it will replace VPNs entirely by 2025. Not evolve. Replace.
Other Alternatives? Yes. Plenty.
- Identity and Access Management (IAM): This is the backbone of Zero Trust. IAM solutions verify who you are, what you can access, and whether your device is healthy enough to get in.
- Privileged Access Management (PAM): Not everyone should have admin rights. PAM locks down high-level access and watches it like a hawk.
- Secure Web Gateway (SWG): Filters internet traffic, stops threats, and enforces browsing policies in real time. No VPN required.
- Cloud VPN: Traditional VPN, but born in the cloud. Easier to deploy, easier to scale. Still has limitations, but less clunky than on-prem options.
- Virtual Private Gateways: A cloud-native approach that securely connects remote offices or cloud environments without dragging legacy tech into the mix.
- Network Segmentation: Break your network into zones. If something gets compromised, it does not spread.
- Security Service Edge (SSE): Combines SWG, ZTNA, and CASB into one unified framework. Cloud-first. Mobile-friendly. Born for the modern enterprise.
Are Proxies Better than VPNs?
No. Not really. They might hide your IP, but that is where the comparison ends. VPNs encrypt traffic. Proxies do not. VPNs work at the network layer. Proxies only work on specific applications. VPNs can protect your data. Proxies mostly reroute it. So if security matters—and it always should—VPNs win. Or better yet, skip them and go ZTNA.
Do You Still Need a Proxy If You Have a VPN?
Not unless you are chasing a specific use case. VPNs already mask your IP and encrypt everything from your device to the destination. If you are already running a secure VPN, adding a proxy might just slow things down or complicate the stack. Exceptions exist, like bypassing regional restrictions, but for most businesses, the VPN covers more ground.
So What Is Replacing VPN?
Zero Trust. Software-Defined Perimeters (SDP). Cloud-native gateways. These tools are built for a world that is no longer tied to office buildings or centralized data centers. They focus on user identity, device posture, and context. And they work in real time. VPNs were built for connecting road warriors to file servers. That era is over.
What About Business vs. Consumer VPNs?
Big difference. Consumer VPNs usually share IP addresses among users. You and a dozen strangers could be using the same IP at once. Business VPNs give you dedicated IPs, private gateways, and enterprise-grade controls. That means fewer blocklists, better performance, and tighter security for the data that matters.
The Risk of Proxies
Proxies can help with basic privacy. But let us be honest—they are not bulletproof. Most do not encrypt anything. If you are moving sensitive data through a proxy, you are rolling the dice. Anyone sniffing the traffic can potentially grab credentials, session tokens, or worse. You need to know what you are using and why. Otherwise, you are just patching holes with duct tape.
Why Some Still Use Proxies—Legally
Proxies do have legitimate uses. They can cache web content to save bandwidth. They can filter websites for schools or offices. They can route traffic through specific geolocations for testing. But use them with a clear strategy—and never as your only line of defense.
What Kind of Proxy Is Best?
Residential proxies take the crown. They come from real devices and real ISPs, making them harder to detect or block. Datacenter proxies, on the other hand, are fast but easier to flag. If you need to blend in online—say for scraping data without raising red flags—residential proxies are the way to go. Just do not abuse them. That gets expensive and ugly fast.
Why VPN Feels Outdated
VPNs were built for a different time. Back when people worked from a single office, accessed a central server, and used the same laptop every day. Today? People use five devices, work from three cities a week, and jump between cloud apps like popcorn. VPNs cannot keep up. They slow things down. They break connections. They introduce risk. ZTNA fixes all of that—and more.
Final Thought
If your business is still relying on VPNs as the backbone of remote security, it is time for a hard look. The internet is faster. Smarter. More complex. Your security needs to be the same. Whether it is Zero Trust, identity-based access, or something in between—make the switch. Your future network will thank you.