In the evolving landscape of remote and hybrid work, many organizations are asking whether the classic VPN model still holds up. The answer increasingly is: no. According to recent industry research and vendor commentary, companies are moving away from traditional virtual private networks (VPNs) and toward identity-driven, application-centric models under the umbrella of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). The shift is powered by the need for greater security, flexibility, and user experience — and the statistics back it up. For instance, a CIO survey found that 81% of organizations plan to adopt Zero Trust frameworks by 2026, reflecting a broad strategic pivot.
In this article, we’ll explore why firms are retiring VPNs in favour of Zero Trust, what the benefits and challenges are, and how this trend is reshaping remote access architectures for the future.
Why VPNs are showing their age
VPNs have served companies well for decades: remote workers authenticated into a tunnel, reached internal resources, the job done. However, several factors now challenge that model:
Security & access issues
VPNs grant broad – often overly broad – access to a network once the user connects. As one vendor puts it:
“VPNs were built for a different era. Today, Zero Trust is the future of remote access.”
Because once a user is inside via VPN, lateral movement risks increase, and attackers exploit that. According to a Zscaler/Cybersecurity Insiders report: 56% of organizations reported VPN-exploited breaches.
Performance, complexity and cloud reality
Remote workers increasingly access cloud-based SaaS applications rather than on-premise servers. VPNs often route traffic inefficiently (so-called “trombone effect”), adding latency and bottlenecks. For example, Akamai noted that migrating to ZTNA improved performance by reducing backhaul via central data-centres. (Akamai)
Scalability and management burden
As workforces become distributed, endpoints proliferate, and device types multiply, managing multiple VPN gateways, configurations and patches becomes cumbersome. “65% of organisations have 3 or more VPN gateways” was cited in one analysis.
What Zero Trust brings to the table
Zero Trust isn’t just a replacement for VPN – it’s a shift in the foundational model of access.
Identity-centric access
Instead of granting network access, ZTNA grants application-specific access based on user identity, device posture, location and context. (WatchGuard)
Minimized attack surface
Rather than opening a tunnel into the network, ZTNA restricts access to only what a user needs, thereby reducing lateral movement opportunities and exposure of internal resources.
Better user experience & performance
With edge networks, application-specific routing and fewer network bottlenecks, ZTNA can deliver faster, more seamless access. One enterprise migration study showed a 45% improvement in application performance after switching. (Telefónica Tech)
Simplified architecture
By reducing reliance on multiple VPN gateways, tunnels and legacy hardware, organisations can streamline access infrastructure, shift to cloud-native models, and reduce operational overhead.
Industry traction & data
The momentum behind Zero Trust is clear:
81% of organisations plan to deploy Zero Trust by 2026.
65% are actively planning to replace VPNs within the next year.
Vendor case studies show notable improvements: in one example, migration to ZTNA reduced security incidents by 60% and boosted performance by 45%.
These stats highlight both the urgency and the perceived benefit: firms recognise that sticking with legacy VPNs carries risk and cost.
Considerations: migrating from VPN to Zero Trust
While compelling, this transition isn’t without challenges.
Legacy systems & gradual migration
Many organisations still use on-premise applications, legacy protocols or devices that rely on broad network access. A hybrid approach – running VPN and ZTNA in parallel – may be required. Akamai notes the migration can be done step-by-step rather than ripping out everything.
Cultural and process shifts
Zero Trust demands more than technology: identity management, device posture checks, continuous verification, policy enforcement become central. IT and security teams must adapt practices and skills accordingly.
Cost & vendor choice
New platforms, identity systems and policy engines require investment, and organisations must choose between many vendors. While the operational cost may drop over time, the short-term transition planning is critical.
Risk of mis-implementation
If ZTNA is implemented superficially — for example, giving broad access anyway — the benefits diminish. Proper least-privilege, segmentation and monitoring are still essential.
What this means for remote workers & enterprises
For enterprises, the shift means a move toward more flexible, secure and cloud-native access models — supporting hybrid work, multi-cloud environments and zero-perimeter thinking. For users, it means fewer VPN logins, fewer network constraints, and potentially smoother access to applications anywhere.
For IT and security professionals in markets like Egypt and the wider MENA region, this trend signals a need to evaluate whether existing VPN infrastructure remains fit-for-purpose. As remote work grows and cloud reliance increases, legacy architectures may increasingly become liabilities rather than enablers.
Learn more than Global report: VPN usage drops even as privacy concerns rise
Conclusion
The message is clear: legacy VPNs, once the backbone of remote access, are being overtaken by Zero Trust models. Driven by security threats, cloud adoption, user experience demands and scalability pressures, organisations are embracing identity-driven, application-centred access frameworks. While the shift costs effort and strategy, the long-term benefits – reduced attack surface, smoother performance and simpler management – make the move compelling. For any organisation still relying heavily on traditional VPNs, the path forward is no longer optional — it’s imperative.
Source references
WatchGuard blog — “The End of VPNs: Why Zero Trust Is the Future of Remote Access.” (WatchGuard)
Akamai blog — “From VPN to Zero Trust: Why It’s Time to Retire Traditional VPNs” (July 15 2025). (Akamai)
CIO.com — “Why 81% of organizations plan to adopt Zero Trust by 2026.” (CIO)
Telefónica Tech blog — “From VPN to Zero Trust: the future of secure remote access.” (Telefónica Tech)
