VPNs are major breach targets. New data shows 56% of orgs exploited via VPNs. Shift to Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) for secure, efficient remote work.
Imagine waking to an alert at 2 AM: unauthorized access detected in your corporate network. Hours later, systems are down, data encrypted, and operations halted. Investigations reveal the attacker’s entry point—your trusted VPN. This is no isolated incident. Virtual Private Networks, long the cornerstone of remote work security, have increasingly become favored targets for attackers seeking easy entry points into enterprise networks.
The Hidden Cost of a Remote Revolution
The dramatic shift to remote and hybrid work has greatly stressed traditional VPN infrastructure. Employees are logging in from everywhere—home offices, bustling coffee shops, and busy airports—generating unprecedented traffic. VPN concentrators, built for more predictable loads, buckle under this strain. Slow connections, frequent drops, and frustrating authentication experiences are now commonplace, undermining productivity and creating vulnerabilities that cybercriminals readily exploit.
Cybercriminals Exploit VPNs as Entry Points
VPNs aren’t just frustrating—they’ve become actively dangerous. The 2025 Zscaler ThreatLabz VPN Risk Report reveals a startling statistic: 56% of organizations suffered breaches through exploited VPN vulnerabilities in the past year. Worse yet, 92% of cybersecurity leaders are concerned about unpatched VPN vulnerabilities paving the way for ransomware attacks. Cybercriminals are exploiting VPNs to gain initial footholds, moving laterally across networks, exfiltrating sensitive data, corrupting critical systems, and deploying devastating ransomware.
AI-driven automation exacerbates these threats, enabling attackers to swiftly scan, identify, and exploit VPN weaknesses before enterprises can react.
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Operational Chaos and Wasted Resources
Security concerns aside, VPNs demand constant attention and consume substantial IT resources. Teams spend countless hours patching outdated infrastructure, troubleshooting connectivity issues, and managing user frustrations rather than focusing on strategic initiatives. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, traditional VPN management becomes an untenable drain on IT teams already stretched thin.
The Strategic Shift: Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
Fortunately, a powerful and secure alternative is emerging—Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) combined with Security Service Edge (SSE). Unlike traditional VPNs, Zero Trust models rely on granular, identity-driven access controls, ensuring users connect directly to applications without broad network access. Continuous authentication and real-time threat monitoring prevent attackers from gaining footholds and moving laterally within the network, significantly shrinking the attack surface.
Real-World Results: Rapid, Secure Transformation
Consider ManpowerGroup, a global workforce solutions company. Within just 18 days, they successfully transitioned 30,000 employees from traditional VPN infrastructure to a Zero Trust model. The results were immediate and impressive—a 97% drop in help-desk requests, enhanced security, significantly improved performance, and boosted productivity. Such examples underscore that the shift from VPN to Zero Trust is practical, swift, and demonstrably beneficial.
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The Imperative to Act Now
The evidence is clear—VPNs have become too risky and operationally burdensome to maintain. Organizations that continue relying on legacy VPNs are gambling with their security and productivity, increasingly vulnerable to costly breaches. The transition to Zero Trust architectures is no longer just a smart move—it is an essential strategy to safeguard businesses in today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape.
To protect your enterprise, the time to act is now. Move beyond VPNs, embrace Zero Trust, and build a secure, resilient future for your organization.
