ZTNA vs VPN: A Practical Buyer’s Guide for Global Teams

Zero trust network access (ZTNA) and virtual private networks (VPNs) both secure remote access, but they work differently. A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel into your network. ZTNA grants least-privilege, app-level access based on identity and device posture. For distributed, SaaS-heavy teams, ZTNA is usually the better VPN replacement, while VPNs still fit certain legacy use cases.

Choosing between ZTNA and VPN is not just a security decision. It affects employee experience, support load, and how quickly you can onboard and offboard people across countries. This guide gives you a practical, vendor-agnostic way to decide when to keep VPN, when to go hybrid, and when to replace VPN with zero trust.

What is a VPN?

A virtual private network (VPN) is a technology that creates an encrypted tunnel between a user’s device and a private network. It’s been the default way for employees to reach internal apps and files when working remotely for decades.

Where VPNs are still useful

• Legacy applications: Many older tools are bound to an internal network and can’t easily be exposed through modern identity-based systems
• Quick, temporary access: VPNs can be set up relatively fast and work across almost any operating system
• Single-region teams: If you operate mostly from one office and only occasionally need remote access, a VPN can be pragmatic

Limitations of VPNs

• Broad access: Once connected, users often have reach across the entire network, increasing lateral movement risk
• Performance drag: Routing all traffic through VPN concentrators can slow SaaS access and frustrate users in other regions
• Scaling problems: Global teams often deal with inconsistent performance, complex split-tunnel setups, and heavy admin overhead
• Visibility gaps: Logs show network flows, not specific app usage, which makes compliance reporting harder

What is ZTNA?

Zero trust network access (ZTNA) is a security model that grants users access only to the specific applications or services they need, not the entire network. Unlike a VPN, which trusts users once they are connected, ZTNA follows the principle of “never trust, always verify.”

Access decisions are made continuously, based on identity, device posture, and context. If a device becomes noncompliant or behavior looks risky, access can be revoked or re-authenticated immediately.

Why ZTNA matters for distributed teams

• Least privilege access: Users connect only to authorized applications, reducing lateral movement risk in case of compromise
• Cloud and SaaS friendly: ZTNA is built for internet-first environments, avoiding the backhaul routing common with VPNs
• Continuous verification: Each access request is evaluated in real time against factors like device health, location, or unusual activity
• Audit-ready logs: Access logs are app-specific with user, time, and action details, simplifying compliance for standards like SOC 2 or GDPR

Challenges with ZTNA adoption

• Application discovery: Teams need visibility into what apps exist and who uses them before enforcing policies
• Device posture integration: Without enforced MDM or endpoint checks, ZTNA’s enforcement can be incomplete
• Phased migration: Legacy systems often are not designed for zero trust, so migrations need planning and temporary hybrid setups

Industry momentum

ZTNA is rapidly replacing VPN. According to Gartner, by 2025, at least 70 percent of new remote access deployments will rely predominantly on ZTNA instead of VPN. That is a major shift from under 10 percent in 2021

Government guidance supports this shift too. CISA’s Zero Trust Maturity Model highlights ZTNA as a core path for modernizing remote access. Many organizations adopt ZTNA primarily for risk reduction, not just cost savings, which aligns with Gartner’s Market Guide findings.

See also: 4 Reasons to Use Zero Touch Deployment to Supply Devices to Remote Workers

ZTNA vs VPN: Key differences

When comparing zero trust network access (ZTNA) with virtual private networks (VPNs), the key differences come down to security scope, performance, and scalability. VPNs connect users to a private network, while ZTNA connects users directly to specific apps and services.

VPNs still have a place in environments that depend on legacy applications or require quick, broad network access. ZTNA is better suited for organizations that are scaling globally, using SaaS, and seeking stronger security with less administrative overhead.

VPN alternatives for business in 2025

For years, the default answer to “how do we secure remote access?” was simple: set up a VPN. But as companies expand globally and move workloads to the cloud, many are now asking a different question: what is better than a VPN?

The most common alternatives

• Zero trust network access (ZTNA): App-level access brokered by identity and device posture. This is the most direct VPN replacement and now the dominant model for distributed and SaaS-first organizations.
• Software-defined perimeter (SDP): A design pattern that makes applications invisible until users and devices are verified. Some vendors use “SDP” as the architectural term that underpins their ZTNA offerings.
• Secure access service edge (SASE): A broader, cloud-delivered framework that combines ZTNA with secure web gateways, firewalls, and CASB (cloud access security brokers). If you are evaluating “SASE vs VPN,” the shift is about more than access, it is about converging networking and security into one model.
• Zero trust as a service (ZTaaS): Emerging providers now offer ZTNA as a managed service. This can be attractive for SMBs that want the benefits of zero trust but lack in-house expertise.

See also: Device as a Service: How DaaS is Revolutionizing IT Management

Hybrid models still matter

Even if your long-term plan is to replace VPN with zero trust, hybrid models are often the most realistic step. For example:

• ZTNA can secure SaaS and most web apps
• A slim VPN can remain in place for network-bound legacy systems until they are modernized or retired

Decision framework: keep VPN, go hybrid, or replace with ZTNA

Deciding between VPN and ZTNA is not a purely technical question. It comes down to where your applications live, how distributed your workforce is, and what level of security and compliance you need to demonstrate. Broadly, companies fall into three scenarios: keeping VPN, running a hybrid model, or replacing VPN entirely with ZTNA.

When it makes sense to keep VPN

A VPN is still useful if most of your infrastructure is on-premises and your team operates in a single region. It remains the simplest way to give people access to legacy applications that cannot be modernized or exposed through identity-aware tools. For small companies with limited budgets and a relatively low risk profile, a VPN can be a pragmatic short-term choice.

When hybrid VPN + ZTNA is the right path

Many organizations find that hybrid is the most realistic step. In this model, SaaS and modern web apps are moved onto ZTNA, while a smaller VPN footprint is kept for legacy systems. This approach allows companies to reduce risk without cutting off critical tools. It is also a natural fit for phased rollouts, where IT teams want to move department by department and learn as they go.

When to replace VPN with ZTNA

Replacing VPN entirely becomes the right decision once most critical applications are cloud-based and the workforce is global. At that stage, VPN performance issues outweigh its usefulness, and the detailed logging, continuous verification, and least-privilege policies of ZTNA provide clear security and compliance advantages. For regulated industries, ZTNA is often not just the better option but the required one.

ZTNA in action: step by step

Instead of putting users on a private network, ZTNA connects them directly to the applications they need. A broker verifies identity, device health, and context before granting access, and continues monitoring throughout the session.

1. Authenticate the user: Confirm identity through your identity provider before granting access
2. Check device posture: Ensure the device meets security policies via MDM or endpoint checks
3. Evaluate policy: Apply real-time rules based on role, app sensitivity, location, and context
4. Broker access: Connect the user only to the approved app or service, leaving everything else invisible
5. Monitor continuously: Reassess risk throughout the session and revoke or step up access if conditions change

ZTNA policies only work if device posture and access data are accurate. Deel IT supports this by shipping pre-enrolled, compliant devices worldwide and automating app provisioning and revocation during onboarding and offboarding.

How to replace VPN with zero trust in 90 days

Moving from VPN to ZTNA does not need to be a rip-and-replace project. Most organizations find success by phasing in ZTNA over a few months, starting with easy wins and keeping a slim VPN footprint for legacy systems until they are retired. A 90-day rollout is achievable with a clear sequence.

Phase 0: Readiness and scope (weeks 0–2)

Start by taking inventory of the applications your workforce uses and mapping which groups need access. At the same time, baseline device posture. If devices are unmanaged, enroll them in MDM and set minimum security policies. With Deel IT, this step can be accelerated by shipping pre-enrolled, compliant devices to every region.

Phase 1: Pilot with a small cohort (weeks 2–5)

Select 30–50 users across different departments and geographies. Give them ZTNA access to a handful of SaaS and internal apps. Enforce device posture checks so you see how real-world exceptions surface. Any gaps can be resolved with managed loaners or repair support.

Phase 2: Expand to core applications (weeks 5–9)

Roll out ZTNA for your high-usage apps, department by department. Automate app provisioning and revocation so that onboarding and offboarding are tied directly to HR events, not IT tickets. This is where Deel IT’s integration with onboarding flows makes it easy to scale without slowing down.

Phase 3: De-risk legacy and shrink VPN (weeks 9–12)

Once most SaaS and web apps are under ZTNA, reduce VPN to the bare minimum for legacy applications that cannot be modernized yet. Document retirement timelines for those systems and update your runbooks to make ZTNA the default access method.

By the end of this process, VPN becomes the exception rather than the rule. Employees enjoy faster, simpler access, and IT teams gain more precise control over who has access to what.

Cost, performance, and user experience

When comparing VPN and ZTNA, the differences extend beyond security. Cost structures, performance, and the employee experience all play a role in deciding which approach is best for your organization.

How Deel IT helps you get to zero trust faster

ZTNA is the future of secure remote access, but only if the basics are in place: compliant devices, accurate app provisioning, and reliable offboarding. Deel IT provides this operational backbone so zero trust policies are not just theory but daily reality.

• Devices are shipped pre-enrolled in MDM and secured from day one
• App access is granted and revoked automatically during onboarding and offboarding
• Hardware is repaired, replaced, or recovered in 130+ countries with 24/7 support
• Certified data erasure ensures exits are fully secure and compliant

With Deel IT, IT and HR teams can move toward zero trust without worrying about the logistics. Instead of juggling vendors or manual processes, you get one platform to run IT operations globally while making ZTNA policies stick.

Book a demo to see how Deel IT pairs with your ZTNA stack and start planning your VPN phase-down today.