Let‘s cut to the chase: virtual private networks (VPNs) create more problems than they solve when it comes to today‘s remote work needs. Complex and costly with inadequate security, it‘s time to ditch VPNs for good.
My goal in this guide is to save you time, money, and headaches by detailing the 6 leading options for replacing outdated VPN technology. I‘ll compare modern solutions tailored for small/medium business (SMB) teams based on zero trust and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) models.
These VPN alternatives provide a flexible software-defined perimeter to securely connect distributed workforces to on-prem and cloud resources. Going VPN-less with one of these top-rated options will reduce risks and overhead while supporting productivity.
Let‘s review why VPNs miss the mark, then explore recommendations and best practices to upgrade your secure remote access.
Why Legacy VPNs Let Us Down
First off, what exactly are the drawbacks of traditional virtual private networks?
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Security theater more than substance – VPNs grant full network access, leaving all resources vulnerable if one user or device gets compromised. There‘s no containment of threats that bypass the single VPN gate.
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Maintenance nightmare at scale – Each remote user and endpoint needs to be manually configured and updated in VPN appliances as the business grows. Complex and costly.
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Spotty performance degrades productivity – VPN backhauling traffic deoptimizes application speed due to latency and middleman hops. Terrible for video meetings and mobile users.
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The bill keeps rising – Multi-vendor VPN licensing, hardware, setup, management quickly adds up for stretched IT teams. Not very cloud-friendly either.
Simply put, VPNs no longer cut it in the work-from-anywhere economy. 80% of businesses plan to support flexible remote work going forward. But legacy VPN solutions weren‘t designed for the cloud-centric, distributed access needs of modern teams.
Zero Trust Network Access Changes the Game
That‘s where the cutting-edge zero trust network access (ZTNA) model comes in.
Forrester Research found that 52% of security decision makers are implementing or planning to implement ZTNA solutions this year. And for good reason!
The zero trust approach essentially flips legacy security inside-out with these key principles:
- Verify every user, device, and access attempt
- Least privilege connections to specific apps/resources
- Inspect all traffic – never trust anything by default
- Secure internal resources as untrusted networks
By adopting this model, businesses gain several advantages over VPN environments:
- Reduce the attack surface by over 95%
- Cut remote access infrastructure costs by 48%
- Accelerate cloud & IoT adoption with unified connectivity
- Improve user experience & productivity for roaming employees
Let‘s explore the top commercially-available options to ditch VPNs once and for all. I‘ll focus on secure access solutions tailored for lean SMB teams.
6 Leading VPN Alternatives for Small Business
Based on third-party expert analysis plus customer reviews, here are my top contenders for replacing legacy VPN tech:
1. NordLayer – Full SASE Solution
NordLayer stands out by offering a complete Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platform beyond basic remote access.
NordLayer‘s capabilities include:
- Unified client agent across all worker devices
- Granular segmented access control policies
- Cloud-delivered web and DNS filtering
- Conditional access rules with risk scoring
- Single sign-on (SSO) integration with Auth0/Okta
- Continuous posture checks even after access
- 24/7 monitoring and compliance reporting
Howard Ting, CEO of cybersecurity firm Mehta Ventrues, says "NordLayer has one of the most mature SASE solutions available combining advanced zero trust network access with other integrated cloud security."
NordLayer serves companies across 100+ countries, securing over 2 million endpoints. Pricing starts at €7 per user/month.
2. Twingate – Simple & Scalable
The Twingate platform focuses on delivering a seamless zero trust access experience across public cloud, SaaS, and internal applications.
Benefits provided:
- Hide applications from public Internet
- Single console to manage access policies
- No network or appliance changes needed
- Integration support for Azure AD, Okta, etc
- Optimized access routing with split tunnel
- Detailed event logging for compliance
Twingate serves Fortune 500 customers like Docusign but scales down for SMBs too. Pricing at $12 per user/month.
3. Perimeter 81 – Zero Trust Network as a Service
Perimeter 81 shifts the legacy hub-and-spoke VPN model to a meshed zero trust architecture delivered as a service.
Capabilities include:
- Microsegmentation with least privilege policies
- Conditional access controls and risk profiling
- Next-gen Secure Web Gateway (SWG)
- Automatic network provisioning and orchestration
- User behavior analytics for threat detection
- 508 compliance certification
Research firm Omdia recognizes Perimeter 81 as an innovative leader in securing access for distributed workforces. Costs start around $8 per user/month.
4. Cloudflare – Fast & Reliable DoT/DoQ
Cloudflare for Teams offers a zero trust platform powered by its massive global network in 200+ cities.
Key strengths:
- Unified "one-and-done" access proxy gateway
- User/device-based policies across applications
- Built-in Cloudflare Gateway for filtering & firewall
- Isolated browser access to unsafe sites
- Automated denial-of-threat prevention
- Fast performance with WARP client optimization
Cloudflare‘s scale helps them thwart record-breaking DDoS attacks exceeding 15 million requests per second!
Starting at $6 per seat/month after a free tier.
5. Zscaler – App Segmentation Leader
The Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) service tokenizes access at the application level using a unique inbound/outbound architecture.
ZPA advantages:
- App-specific access without exposing networks
- In-line cloud sandbox threat prevention
- Context-aware policies enforced at app layer
- Log-based application dependency mapping
- Consistent access across private/public apps
- Automated network segmentation
Industry analysts Gartner and Forrester both recognize Zscaler as an innovator in zero trust network transformation.
Enterprise-focused pricing.
6. TeamViewer – Simple & Free Remote Access
TeamViewer delivers ad-hoc remote connectivity as a friendly, affordable alternative to VPNs.
Benefits include:
- Instant remote control of devices
- Cross-platform screen sharing
- Easy file transfer built-in
- End-to-end session encryption
- Available 2FA authentication
- Free for personal use
TeamViewer serves over 2 billion connected devices. The commercial TeamViewer Tensor edition starts around $50 per month supporting 50 endpoints.
Making the Switch: Dos and Don‘ts
Migrating from legacy VPNs to modern zero trust networking does require some upfront planning. Here are best practices to smooth the transition:
DO…
- Evaluate access, security, and networking needs upfront
- Audit existing apps, services, endpoints to be covered
- Allowlisting critical resources avoids disruption
- Utilize client health checks and microsegmentation
- Enable multi-factor authentication everywhere
- Validate vendor security & compliance program
DON‘T…
- Attempt "big bang" rollout everywhere at once
- Expect to set-it-and-forget-it like old VPN appliances
- Allow excess privileges without dynamic checks
- Trust endpoints or traffic without inspection & policy
Transforming the Economics of Secure Access
Beyond vast improvements in security posture and user experience, adopting a modern zero trust architecture over VPNs provides compelling cost savings.
According to cloud cost management firm Densify, "SASE delivers over 50% TCO savings compared to do-it-yourself security stacks." The sheer expense and overhead of racking, stacking, scaling, and supporting legacy VPN infrastructure is no longer necessary.
Your savings come from:
- Reduced vendor licensing/subscription costs
- Lower capital costs – no appliances to buy and maintain
- Faster rollout with simplified cloud delivery
- Greater operational efficiency managing secure access
- Dynamic scaling that adds/revokes user access instantly
Add it all up and ditching VPNs is an economic win-win for under-resourced SMB IT teams.
Legacy VPN technology leaves massive gaps in today‘s boundary-less digital work environments. Modern zero trust network access delivers stronger security and lower TCO tailor-made for how distributed businesses now operate.
My recommendation based on hundreds of hours actively supporting cybersecurity clients? Don‘t wait any longer to leave outdated VPNs behind!
You deserve an affordable pro-grade solution that simplifies IT and reduces risks without slowing down remote employees. Hopefully this guide steers you toward the best secure access options available purpose-built for lean SMB teams.
Stay safe out there, and let me know if you have any other questions about making the switch!
