Cybersecurity · Remote access
How traditional VPNs and zero-trust network access differ, where each fits a 25 to 100 person business, and how to move without disrupting work.
Network access versus app access
Why VPN appliances are targeted
A decision rule you can use
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A VPN connects a remote user to your network. Once connected, that person, or anyone who steals their login, can usually reach much of what is on that network. ZTNA (zero-trust network access) connects a user only to the specific applications they are allowed to use, after checking who they are and the health of their device, every session.
For most small businesses in 2026, ZTNA is the stronger model for remote staff, especially if your apps are already in the cloud. A well-run VPN with multi-factor authentication is still acceptable for a small office with a few on-premises systems, as long as the appliance is patched promptly and access is narrow. The rest of this article explains the trade-offs and how to decide.
A remote-access VPN creates an encrypted tunnel from a laptop to a device at your office or in the cloud, usually your firewall. Traffic inside the tunnel looks as if it came from inside the building. SSL VPNs run over the same port as secure websites; IPsec VPNs use their own protocols. For the user, both feel the same: connect, then work.
ZTNA follows the zero trust idea described in NIST Special Publication 800-207: no user or device is trusted just because of where it is on the network. Instead, each request is checked against identity, device and context, and access is granted to a specific resource rather than to the whole network.
In practice, a small agent on the laptop (or a browser portal) talks to a cloud broker. Your applications sit behind connectors that only make outbound connections, so nothing at the office has to listen on the internet. When a user opens the accounting system, the broker checks their sign-in, multi-factor authentication and device status, then connects them to that one app.
Internet-facing devices such as VPN gateways and firewalls are a favorite entry point for attackers because they are reachable from anywhere and often sit unpatched. CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog lists many flaws in remote-access products from mainstream vendors. In February 2026 CISA issued Binding Operational Directive 26-02, ordering federal agencies to remove end-of-support edge devices, noting that edge devices are attractive targets because of their extensive reach into an organization’s network.
The directive only binds federal agencies, but the lesson applies to any business: if you keep a VPN, it must be on a supported model and patched quickly when the vendor releases a fix.
VPN: usually the network segment. ZTNA: only the named applications for that user.
VPN: a gateway listening on the internet. ZTNA: apps hidden behind outbound-only connectors.
VPN: limited or add-on. ZTNA: built in, such as requiring encryption and current updates.
VPN: often bundled with the firewall plus support time. ZTNA: per-user subscription.
VPN: works with almost anything. ZTNA: most apps work; some need testing.
VPN: remove the account and any shared credentials. ZTNA: disable the identity and access ends everywhere.
Not sure how exposed your remote access is today? Our free Technology Health Assessment takes about 30 minutes of data collection. The next day you get a plain-language report rating your IT operations, cybersecurity, business continuity and more as controlled, needs attention, significant exposure or unknown, with a short list of next steps in order. It is yours to keep, with no obligation. Book your assessment.
Work through these questions in order.
Rule of thumb: keep a VPN if you have few remote users, one or two internal systems, a supported and patched appliance, and MFA on every connection. Choose ZTNA if you have contractors, several internal apps, a mixed workforce, or an aging VPN box.
We do not have a reliable published price range to quote, and vendors package ZTNA very differently. These factors drive the total either way.
If you are also replacing the office firewall, our guide to new office IT setup covers the network side.
JLB USA’s cybersecurity services cover multi-factor authentication, access reviews, same-day removal of leavers, endpoint protection and updates, and help with cyber-insurance questionnaires. Through managed IT, we support businesses with roughly 25 to 100 employees, remotely everywhere and on-site in Atlanta, Birmingham and Chattanooga.
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A VPN connects a user to a network, which usually exposes many systems once they log in. ZTNA connects a user only to specific applications after checking identity and device health each session.
In most cases, yes. ZTNA limits each user to the apps they need and removes the internet-facing gateway attackers target. A well-patched VPN with multi-factor authentication and narrow access can still be acceptable for a very small setup.
Often not for most staff. If your apps are Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and web services, strong sign-in security and device management matter more. You may still need private access for one or two internal systems.
Both are VPNs and share the same network-level access model. The protocol matters less than how access is scoped, how quickly the appliance is patched, and whether multi-factor authentication is enforced.
Yes. Many businesses move apps to ZTNA in stages and keep a restricted VPN for a few admins or legacy systems until the migration is done.
