Authored by Debasish Mukherjee, Vice President, Regional Sales APJ at SonicWall Inc.
With employees, vendors, and partners working remotely, the traditional network perimeter is gone. Businesses must secure access to resources without slowing operations or relying on outdated VPNs.
Modern remote access methods are replacing VPNs as organizations adapt to distributed workforces, cloud apps, and growing security threats.
Gartner forecasts that by 2025, up to 70% of new remote access setups will use zero trust network access (ZTNA) instead of VPNs.
Another report states that the Zero Trust Network Access market is expected to rise from USD 38.89 billion in 2024 to USD 48.26 billion in 2025 with a sustained growth at a CAGR of 23.67% with a bullish growth of USD 139.15 billion by 2030.
This momentum signals widespread enterprise commitment to advanced security models that enable adaptive, context-aware access, supporting strategic investments across multiple industries and regions.
Why Traditional VPNs Are Failing
As cybersecurity threats evolve, traditional tools like firewalls and VPNs are no longer sufficient. More breaches are occurring, especially as remote and digital workforces grow, requiring organizations to update their security strategies.
Innovations in generative AI, automation, and IoT/OT are transforming industries and also creating new cybersecurity risks. Attackers can now automate phishing, develop evasive malware, leverage AI for faster threats, and provide Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS).
With rising cybersecurity concerns, focus has turned to VPN vulnerabilities that may allow unauthorized access. *Data shows that almost 70% of VPN providers fail to meaningfully comply with privacy regulations..
In this environment, other remote access alternatives are both more secure and come with fewer privacy-related inconveniences.
Legacy VPNs were built for office-bound workforces and static networks. Once connected, users often gained broad access to the network—making lateral movement easy for attackers.
As cloud adoption and remote work become the norm, VPNs are increasingly inadequate:
They create a flat network that increases breach risk.
They lack visibility in user behavior and device health.
They assume trust, rather than verifying it continuously.
ZTNA: A Modern Approach to Access
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is a security model that uses identity and context to protect hybrid environments. It offers flexible, granular access controls tailored for modern needs
Zero Trust flips the outdated "trust but verify" model. Instead, it follows the principle: “never trust, always verify.” Every access request is authenticated and authorized based on user identity, device posture, location, and behavior—before access is granted.
According to a Gartner forecast, by 2027, 40% of large organizations will apply universal Zero Trust policies, up from less than 10% in 2024.
Zero Trust: Principles & Benefits
Zero Trust assumes no implicit trust—inside or outside the corporate LAN. Instead, every request to access data or an application undergoes the following:
1. User Authentication (e.g., strong MFA tied to role-based policies)
2. Device Verification (posture checks, certificates, OS patch level)
3. Continuous Authorization (session-based risk scoring, anomaly detection)
Let’s look at some Benefits
Reduced Attack Surface: Attackers cannot freely move once inside.
Stronger MFA: This minimizes the success of credential theft or phishing.
Comprehensive Visibility: IT can see—and control—who is accessing what, from where, and on which device.
But how does ZTNA work:
Access to specific applications: ZTNA restricts users to only the applications and resources they're authorized for, significantly reducing the attack surface.
Zero Trust Controls: Each connection request is assessed in real time based on device posture, user identity, location, and risk factors prior to granting access. This approach follows the Zero Trust security model, where trust is not automatically assigned, including for internal users.
Cloud & Hybrid Environment optimization: Whether applications live in the cloud, on-prem, or a mix of both, ZTNA can securely broker connections without forcing traffic through inefficient VPN tunnels.
Improved User Experience with Passwordless Authentication: Users are granted access to resources through secure, certificate-based authentication, enabling a streamlined, passwordless connection. This approach addresses common issues associated with traditional VPNs, such as forgotten passwords, connectivity interruptions, reduced speeds, and session drops.
Cloud-native solutions: Moving remote access to the cloud eliminates the need to manage hardware required by traditional VPNs or on-prem ZTNA.
Recommendations & Best Practices
Adopt a “Breach Mindset”
Assume attackers already have initial access. Build micro-segmentation to minimize damage.
Enforce Strong MFA & Device Posture
Eliminate reliance on static passwords and check device health (patch, AV/EDR running).
Monitor & Analyze User Behavior
Detect anomalies like MFA fatigue approvals or suspicious PowerShell usage.
Regular Patch Management
Close known vulnerabilities quickly, especially on internet-facing services.
Comprehensive Backup Strategy
Ransomware thrives on unprotected backups.
Secure offline or read-only copies are essential.
Leverage Threat Intelligence
Use real-time data feeds (like SonicWall’s) to block emerging threats.
Educate Your Workforce
Frequent security awareness training prevents phishing, especially BEC.
Conclusion: Zero Trust Is No Longer Optional
Organizations are increasingly moving away from traditional perimeter-based security models due to changes in technological environments, such as the rise of cloud computing and remote work. Modern security threats, including insider attacks, social engineering, and credential theft, can bypass perimeter defenses and allow movement within networks. Current cybersecurity approaches focus on verifying all access attempts rather than relying solely on perimeter defenses.
In such a scenario, Zero Trust Network Access with continuous verification at every step is the proven strategy to mitigate these risks and address security gaps of traditional networking solutions. By combining strong identity management, device posture, network segmentation, and real-time threat intelligence, organizations can dramatically reduce the chance of a catastrophic breach.
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