VPN vs ZTNA: Why Cato’s Zero Trust Approach Is the Future of Remote Access

The Legacy of VPNs in Remote Access

How VPNs Work: The “Trust Then Verify” Model

For over two decades, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have been the default remote access solution for enterprises. VPNs function by establishing an encrypted tunnel between a remote user’s device and the corporate network. Once authenticated, users are granted broad access to internal resources—often far beyond what is required for their role. This “trust then verify” model assumes that anyone who passes initial authentication can be trusted with extensive network access.
 

This architecture made sense in a world where most users and applications resided within a well-defined perimeter. However, as organizations have shifted to hybrid and remote work, and as applications have moved to the cloud, this legacy trust model has become increasingly inadequate.

VPN Performance and Scalability Challenges in Hybrid Work

The traditional VPN architecture was never designed for the scale and complexity of today’s distributed, cloud-first enterprises. VPNs route all remote user traffic through centralized gateways, which quickly become bottlenecks as user counts grow. This architecture introduces several challenges:
 

•  Performance Degradation:  As more users connect, VPN gateways become congested, resulting in high latency, slow application performance, and frequent disconnects.
•  Limited Scalability:  Scaling VPN infrastructure to support a global, hybrid workforce requires significant investment in hardware, licensing, and bandwidth.
•  Cloud Application Friction:  VPNs are optimized for on-premises access. When users access cloud or SaaS applications, traffic is often “hairpinned” through the data center, compounding latency and degrading user experience.
   

The result is a remote access solution that frustrates users, strains IT resources, and fails to meet the demands of modern work.

Security Risks: Lateral Movement and Over-Privileged Access

Perhaps the most critical limitation of VPNs is their security posture. Once a user authenticates, they typically receive broad access to the corporate network. This creates several risks:
 

•  Lateral Movement:  If an attacker compromises VPN credentials, they can move laterally within the network, exploring and exploiting other systems with minimal resistance.
•  Over-Privileged Access:  VPNs rarely enforce granular, role-based access controls. Users often see more of the network than necessary, increasing the potential impact of insider threats or credential compromise.
•  Lack of Contextual Awareness:  VPNs authenticate users at the point of entry, but do not continuously verify identity, device posture, or risk context during the session.
   

In an era of sophisticated threats and distributed workforces, these limitations expose organizations to unnecessary risk.

Zero Trust Network Access Explained

The “Never Trust, Always Verify” Principle

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) represents a fundamental shift from the legacy VPN model. ZTNA is built on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” Instead of assuming trust based on network location or initial authentication, ZTNA continuously evaluates every access request, regardless of where it originates.

This approach is designed for a world where users, devices, and applications are distributed across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. Trust is established dynamically, based on identity, device posture, and contextual risk factors.

Identity-Based, Context-Aware Access Control

ZTNA solutions enforce  least-privilege access  by granting users only the specific applications and data they need, and nothing more. Access decisions are made based on:

•  User Identity: Verified through integration with identity providers (IdPs) and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
•  Device Posture:  Assessing whether the device is managed, compliant, and free of known vulnerabilities.
•  Contextual Risk:  Evaluating factors such as location, time of access, and behavioral anomalies.

This identity-based, context-aware access control sharply reduces the attack surface and limits the potential impact of compromised credentials.

Continuous Verification and Micro-Segmentation

Unlike VPNs, which provide a single point of entry into the network, ZTNA employs micro-segmentation . Each application or resource is isolated, and users must be explicitly authorized to access each one. Trust is never assumed and is continuously reassessed throughout the session.

Continuous verification ensures that changes in user behavior, device status, or risk context can trigger re-authentication or session termination. This dynamic approach prevents lateral movement and contains breaches before they escalate.

VPN vs. ZTNA: A Technical and Business Comparison

Security Architecture: Broad Access vs. Least Privilege

The core difference between VPN and ZTNA lies in their security models:

VPNs grant authenticated users broad access, increasing the risk of insider threats and lateral movement. ZTNA enforces least-privilege access, minimizing exposure and aligning with modern security best practices.

User Experience and Performance

VPNs often degrade performance by routing all traffic through central gateways, leading to slowdowns and unreliable connections—especially for cloud applications. ZTNA connects users directly to the resources they need, improving speed, reliability, and overall user experience.
 

Key advantages of ZTNA for user experience:

•  Direct-to-Application Access:  No need to backhaul traffic through the data center.
•  Consistent Performance:  Users experience low latency and high availability, regardless of location.
•  Seamless Connectivity:  ZTNA adapts to changing user locations and devices without manual reconfiguration.

Operational Overhead and IT Efficiency

Maintaining VPN infrastructure is resource-intensive. IT teams must manage hardware, patch software, configure policies, and troubleshoot connectivity issues. As organizations grow, these tasks become increasingly complex.
 

ZTNA, especially when delivered as a cloud-native service, streamlines operations:

•  Centralized Policy Management:  Access policies are defined and enforced from a single console.
•  Automated Onboarding:  New users and devices can be provisioned rapidly, with minimal manual intervention.
•  Reduced Maintenance:  No need to patch or upgrade on-premises VPN appliances.

The result is a more agile, responsive IT organization that can focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine maintenance.

Beyond Basic ZTNA: The Cato Approach

Native SASE Integration: SWG, DLP, IPS, and More

Many ZTNA solutions operate as overlays, requiring separate management and integration with other security tools.  Cato’s ZTNA is natively built into its global SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) platform, which also includes:
 

•  Secure Web Gateway (SWG):  Protects users from web-based threats and enforces acceptable use policies.
•  Data Loss Prevention (DLP):  Prevents sensitive data from leaving the organization.
•  Intrusion Prevention System (IPS):  Detects and blocks network-based attacks.
•  Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS):  Provides granular control over network traffic.
   

This unified architecture simplifies policy enforcement, improves visibility, and accelerates incident response. Security teams can define and manage policies across all users, locations, and applications from a single interface.

Global Backbone for Consistent Performance

Cato’s ZTNA leverages a global private backbone, ensuring low-latency, high-performance access for users anywhere in the world. Unlike VPNs, which rely on public internet paths and centralized gateways, Cato delivers a consistent user experience regardless of location.

Benefits of Cato’s global backbone:
 

•  Optimized Routing:  Traffic is routed over Cato’s private network, avoiding internet congestion and reducing latency.
•  High Availability:  Built-in redundancy and failover ensure uninterrupted access.
•  Scalability: The platform scales elastically to support thousands of users without performance degradation.

Unified Policy and Visibility

With Cato, organizations manage access policies, security controls, and user activity from a single console. This  policy unification  reduces complexity, eliminates silos, and provides comprehensive visibility into user behavior and security events.

Key advantages include:
 

•  Consistent Enforcement:  Policies are applied uniformly across all users and locations.
•  Comprehensive Auditing:  Detailed logs support compliance and forensic investigations.
•  Rapid Troubleshooting:  Integrated visibility accelerates incident detection and response.

Real-World Scenarios: ZTNA in Action

Secure Access for a Mobile, Hybrid Workforce

Consider a global consulting firm with 5,000 employees working from client sites, home offices, and coworking spaces. With VPN, users experience slow connections and frequent disconnects, while IT struggles to enforce consistent security policies. After switching to Cato’s ZTNA, only authorized users can access specific project management tools, and compromised credentials can’t be used to pivot laterally. Employees enjoy seamless access to both cloud and internal applications, regardless of location or device.

Onboarding and Offboarding at Scale

A fast-growing SaaS company needs to onboard new hires and contractors quickly, granting them access to specific development and support tools. With VPN, provisioning is manual and error-prone, increasing the risk of over-privileged access. Cato’s cloud-delivered ZTNA enables rapid, automated onboarding and instant revocation of access when roles change or contracts end, reducing operational overhead and improving security.

Responding to Security Incidents and Compliance Audits

A healthcare provider must meet HIPAA requirements for remote access to patient records. ZTNA’s continuous verification and granular access controls ensure only clinicians can access sensitive data, and only from compliant devices. Detailed logs and real-time monitoring support compliance audits and accelerate incident investigations, reducing business risk and regulatory exposure.

Sunsetting VPNs: The Path Forward with Cato ZTNA

Migration Strategies

Transitioning from VPN to ZTNA does not require a disruptive “big bang” approach. Organizations can adopt a phased migration strategy:

1. Assess Current Access Patterns: Identify critical applications, user groups, and workflows that rely on VPN.

2. Deploy Cato ZTNA in Parallel: Roll out ZTNA for selected users or applications while maintaining VPN for legacy access.

3. Pilot and Optimize:  Gather feedback, fine-tune policies, and address edge cases.

4. Expand Coverage:  Gradually onboard additional users and applications to ZTNA.

5. Decommission VPN:  Once confidence is established, retire legacy VPN infrastructure.

This approach minimizes risk, ensures business continuity, and allows IT teams to address challenges incrementally.

Business and Security Outcomes

By adopting Cato’s ZTNA, enterprises realize tangible benefits:

•  Reduced Attack Surface:  Least-privilege, identity-based access minimizes the risk of lateral movement and insider threats.
•  Improved User Experience:  Direct-to-application access delivers consistent performance for remote and hybrid workers.
•  Simplified Operations:  Centralized policy management and cloud-native delivery reduce IT overhead.
•  Enhanced Compliance:  Granular controls and comprehensive logging support regulatory requirements.
•  Future-Proof Architecture:  Cato’s integrated SASE platform adapts to evolving business needs and threat landscapes.

VPN vs ZTNA: Key Differences at a Glance
 

Real-World Use Cases: ZTNA for the Hybrid Workforce

Example 1: Global Consulting Firm

A global consulting firm with thousands of consultants and project managers faces persistent VPN bottlenecks and frequent credential theft. After migrating to Cato ZTNA:

• Only authorized users can access specific project management tools.
• Compromised credentials cannot be used to pivot laterally.
• User experience improves, with faster, more reliable access to both cloud and on-premises resources.
• IT gains unified visibility and can respond to incidents faster.

Example 2: Healthcare Provider Meeting Compliance

A healthcare provider must comply with HIPAA for remote access to patient records. With Cato ZTNA:

• Clinicians access sensitive data only from compliant devices.
• Continuous verification ensures only authorized users can reach protected resources.
• Detailed access logs support compliance audits and incident investigations.
• The risk of data leakage and regulatory penalties is sharply reduced.

The Business Case for Replacing VPN with ZTNA

Security and Risk Reduction

ZTNA’s least-privilege, identity-based access model minimizes the risk of lateral movement, insider threats, and credential compromise. Continuous verification and micro-segmentation contain breaches before they escalate, reducing the likelihood and impact of security incidents.

Operational Efficiency

Cloud-native ZTNA solutions like Cato’s eliminate the need for hardware appliances, manual patching, and complex configuration. Centralized management and automated onboarding free IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives.

User Productivity

Direct-to-application access, optimized routing, and seamless connectivity improve user experience and productivity. Employees can work securely from anywhere, using any device, without the friction of legacy VPNs.

Compliance and Audit Readiness

Granular access controls, detailed logging, and unified policy enforcement support compliance with regulations such as HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR. Organizations can respond to audits and investigations with confidence.

Migration Checklist: Moving from VPN to Cato ZTNA

• Inventory all applications and user groups currently using VPN.
• Identify high-priority applications and users for initial ZTNA rollout.
• Integrate Cato ZTNA with existing identity providers (IdPs) and MFA solutions.
• Define granular access policies based on user roles, device posture, and context.
• Pilot ZTNA with a small group, gather feedback, and refine policies.
• Expand ZTNA coverage to additional users and applications.
• Monitor access logs and user experience, adjusting as needed.
• Decommission VPN infrastructure once full ZTNA adoption is achieved.

Expert Insights: Why Cato ZTNA Is the Future of Secure Remote Work

Security architects and IT leaders increasingly recognize that legacy VPNs cannot keep pace with the demands of the modern hybrid workforce. The shift to Zero Trust Network Access is not just a technical upgrade—it is a strategic imperative for organizations seeking to reduce risk, improve agility, and enable secure remote work at scale.

Cato’s integrated, cloud-native ZTNA platform stands out by delivering:
 

• Native integration with SWG, DLP, IPS, and other SASE components.
• A global private backbone for consistent, high-performance access.
• Unified policy management and comprehensive visibility.
• Rapid onboarding and simplified operations.
   

For enterprises looking to replace VPN with ZTNA, Cato offers a clear path to a more secure, scalable, and future-proof remote access architecture.

Conclusion: The Future of Remote Access Is Zero Trust

The limitations of VPNs—broad access, poor scalability, and operational complexity—are increasingly untenable in a world of hybrid work and cloud-first applications. Zero Trust Network Access, especially when delivered as part of an integrated SASE platform like Cato’s, offers a clear path forward.

By replacing VPN with ZTNA, organizations can:
 

• Reduce risk and contain breaches with least-privilege, identity-based access.
• Enable secure, high-performance remote work for a global, hybrid workforce.
• Simplify operations and accelerate digital transformation.
   

Cato ZTNA is purpose-built for the demands of modern enterprises, providing the security, agility, and user experience required to thrive in today’s dynamic environment. For CISOs, security architects, and IT leaders, the choice is clear: the future of remote access is Zero Trust, and Cato is leading the way.

FAQ

Why are VPNs considered risky for hybrid workforces?

VPNs grant broad network access after authentication, making it easier for attackers to move laterally if credentials are compromised. This over-privileged access model is especially dangerous in distributed, hybrid environments where users and devices operate outside traditional perimeters.
 

How does ZTNA improve security over VPNs?

ZTNA enforces least-privilege access, continuously verifies identity and device context, and restricts users to only the applications they need. This minimizes the attack surface and limits the potential impact of compromised credentials.
 

What makes Cato’s ZTNA different from other solutions?

Cato’s ZTNA is delivered as part of a unified SASE platform, integrating security functions such as SWG, DLP, and IPS, and leveraging a global backbone for better performance and simplified management. This native integration streamlines policy enforcement and enhances visibility.
 

Is ZTNA harder to deploy than VPNs?

While ZTNA requires a shift in access control philosophy, cloud-delivered solutions like Cato’s streamline deployment, onboarding, and ongoing management. Organizations can migrate incrementally, minimizing disruption.
 

Can ZTNA help with regulatory compliance?

Yes, ZTNA’s granular controls and continuous verification support compliance with regulations like HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR. Detailed logging and policy enforcement make it easier to demonstrate compliance during audits.
 

How does ZTNA support secure remote work for a hybrid workforce?

ZTNA enables secure, direct-to-application access for users regardless of location or device. Identity-based, context-aware policies ensure that only authorized users can access specific resources, supporting flexible work models without compromising security.
 

What operational benefits does Cato ZTNA provide over traditional VPNs?

Cato ZTNA reduces operational overhead by automating user onboarding, centralizing policy management, and eliminating the need for hardware maintenance and manual patching. IT teams can manage access and security from a single console.
 

How does Cato ZTNA improve user experience compared to VPNs?

Cato ZTNA leverages a global private backbone to deliver consistent, low-latency access to applications. Users experience faster, more reliable connections without the bottlenecks and disconnects common with VPNs.
 

What is the process for migrating from VPN to Cato ZTNA?

Organizations can start by identifying critical applications and user groups, deploying Cato ZTNA in parallel with existing VPNs, and gradually expanding coverage. Once all users and applications are onboarded, legacy VPN infrastructure can be decommissioned.
 

How does Cato ZTNA handle onboarding and offboarding at scale?

Cato’s cloud-native ZTNA enables rapid, automated onboarding of new users and devices, with granular access controls based on role and context. Offboarding is equally efficient—access can be revoked instantly when roles change or users leave the organization.