VPNs Are Falling Short—What Comes Next?

For years, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have been the go-to solution for securing remote access. But cracks in this aging technology are becoming impossible to ignore. As cyber threats escalate, businesses relying on VPNs face mounting security risks, operational headaches, and frustrated users.

Recent developments paint a clear picture of VPNs reaching the end of their usefulness:

• Major VPN services are shutting down, and even tech giants like Google are abandoning VPN solutions. Google One VPN's phase-out is a sign that consumer-focused VPNs are struggling to justify their existence.
• Enterprise VPNs are being exploited at alarming rates. Attackers recently targeted a critical vulnerability in Cisco’s VPN solutions, leaving organizations scrambling to mitigate the threat.
• Governments are cracking down on VPN use. Myanmar’s new cybersecurity law specifically targets VPN users, demonstrating how these networks have become a liability in certain regions.
• VPN security vulnerabilities are on the rise. A new wave of attacks has exposed critical flaws in Ivanti VPN products, further proving that legacy VPN technology cannot keep pace with modern cybersecurity threats.
• VPN privacy is under fire. Security researchers continue to uncover flaws in enterprise VPN solutions from major providers like Palo Alto Networks and SonicWall, allowing attackers to exploit remote access pathways.

These developments all point to one conclusion: VPNs were built for a different era and are no longer capable of securing today’s cloud-first, hybrid workplaces.

Why VPNs Are No Longer Enough

VPNs were designed in the late 1990s to securely connect remote employees to corporate networks. But back then, corporate applications and data were housed on-premises, and VPNs functioned as a secure tunnel into that centralized environment. Today, businesses no longer operate within the walls of a single network perimeter. Applications, data, and workflows have moved to the cloud, users work across multiple devices from anywhere, and hybrid collaboration is the norm. Yet, VPNs still operate under the outdated assumption that all traffic should be funneled through a central network—a model that creates bottlenecks, security gaps, and performance issues in today’s decentralized, cloud-first world.

The Key Issues with VPNs Today:

• VPNs are a liability for security. They grant broad access to entire network segments. If an attacker compromises one device, they can move laterally across the network, gaining access to critical systems.
• They weren’t built for cloud-based applications. As enterprises migrate to SaaS and hybrid cloud environments, VPNs struggle to keep up, often slowing connections and increasing IT complexity.
• AI-driven attacks are making them more vulnerable. Cybercriminals use artificial intelligence to automate VPN exploits, bypass outdated authentication methods, and identify security gaps at scale.
• They frustrate users and encourage bad security habits. VPNs are notorious for causing performance slowdowns, and employees often bypass them entirely, exposing the organization to even greater risk.
• VPN connections are expensive and labor-intensive to maintain. IT teams spend significant time patching, updating, and troubleshooting them, resources that could be better allocated elsewhere.

Given all these challenges, VPNs are no longer the best option for securing remote access. So, what’s the alternative?

A Modern Approach: Zero Trust with Primary Secure Enterprise Browser

Rather than relying on outdated, network-centric security models, enterprises need a Zero Trust approach that secures individual applications, not entire network segments.

That’s where the Primary Secure Enterprise Browser comes in. Built from the ground up with Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) baked into its architecture, Primary eliminates the need for VPNs altogether. Here’s how it works:

• Granular, Application-Specific Access: Unlike VPNs, which grant broad access to entire networks, Primary ensures users can only access the specific applications they need—nothing more.
• Stronger Security Against AI-driven Threats: Primary continuously verifies user identity, device posture, and session integrity before granting access, blocking sophisticated automated attacks.
• Seamless Cloud and SaaS Integration: Employees get direct, secure access to business-critical applications without the bottlenecks and sluggish performance of a VPN.
• Enhanced User Experience: Say goodbye to slow VPN connections. With Primary, users enjoy fast, frictionless access to their work, no matter where they are.
• Simplified IT Management: No more VPN patching or troubleshooting. Primary eliminates the overhead of managing network tunnels and access controls.

The Death Knell for VPNs

With increasing cyber threats, growing cloud adoption, and a shift toward hybrid work, VPNs are quickly becoming obsolete. Organizations must move beyond legacy network security models and embrace a Zero Trust approach that secures access at the application level.

Primary Secure Enterprise Browser provides a modern, secure, and scalable alternative to VPNs, delivering Zero Trust access without the complexity.