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VPN (Virtual Private Network) software provides secure, private network connections — encrypting traffic and enabling secure remote access to networks and resources, protecting privacy and security over untrusted networks. This guide explains what VPN software is, how it works, the features that matter, and how to choose the right solution.
VPN (Virtual Private Network) software provides secure, private network connections — encrypting traffic and enabling secure remote access to networks and resources, protecting privacy and security over untrusted networks. This guide explains what VPN software is, how it works, the features that matter, and how to choose the right solution.
VPN (Virtual Private Network) software creates secure, encrypted network connections over the internet or other networks, enabling private, secure communication and access. Business VPNs provide secure remote access to corporate networks and resources for employees, while protecting traffic with encryption, securing connections over untrusted networks.
The purpose is to provide secure, private network access and connections — enabling remote workers to securely access corporate resources, protecting traffic from interception, and connecting networks securely, since accessing resources and transmitting data securely over the internet and untrusted networks is essential for security and remote work. It secures connectivity.
The category spans business/remote-access VPNs, site-to-site VPNs (connecting networks), and increasingly modern secure access approaches like Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) that are evolving or replacing traditional VPNs. It serves IT and security teams providing secure network access, especially for remote and distributed work.
A VPN creates an encrypted 'tunnel' between the user (or site) and the VPN endpoint (like the corporate network), through which traffic passes securely, encrypted and protected from interception. Remote users connect via VPN to securely access corporate resources as if on the network, with their traffic encrypted over the internet.
Core components include VPN clients/connections (establishing secure tunnels), encryption (protecting traffic), authentication (verifying users), and access to resources. Modern approaches like ZTNA shift toward identity-based, least-privilege access to specific resources rather than broad network access.
For example, a remote employee connects to the corporate VPN, establishing an encrypted tunnel that securely connects them to the corporate network, so they can access corporate resources securely with their traffic encrypted and protected over the internet, enabling secure remote access to the resources they need to work.
Encrypting traffic over secure tunnels. Encryption protects traffic from interception over untrusted networks, the core of VPN security and privacy.
Enabling secure remote access to networks and resources. Remote access lets remote and distributed workers securely access corporate resources, essential for secure remote work.
Verifying users connecting via VPN. Authentication ensures only authorized users access via VPN, important for security, ideally with strong authentication like MFA.
Controlling access to resources. Access control determines what VPN users can access, with modern approaches emphasizing least-privilege access to specific resources.
Securely connecting networks/sites. Site-to-site VPNs securely connect networks or sites, useful for connecting locations or to cloud securely.
Providing secure access, evolving toward ZTNA. Security capabilities and modern secure-access approaches like ZTNA provide secure access aligned with current security thinking.
VPNs enable secure remote access to corporate resources, essential for remote and distributed work.
Encryption protects traffic from interception, providing privacy and security over untrusted networks.
VPNs and modern secure access provide secure connectivity to resources and between networks.
Secure remote access enables remote and distributed work by securely connecting workers to resources.
Secure access protects resources and traffic, contributing to security.
| Type | Best for | Ideal size | Pros | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remote-access VPN | Secure remote access for employees | SMB to enterprise | Secure remote access to resources | Traditional model has limitations |
| Site-to-site VPN | Connecting networks/sites securely | SMB to enterprise | Secure network connectivity | For network connectivity, not user access |
| Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) | Modern identity-based secure access | Mid-market to enterprise | Least-privilege, identity-based secure access | Newer model to adopt |
| Secure access platforms (SASE) | Converged secure access and networking | Mid-market to enterprise | Comprehensive modern secure access | Broader and more involved |
SaaS & Technology: Tech companies use VPN software to scale go-to-market motions, align teams, and operate efficiently as they grow.
Manufacturing: Manufacturers apply VPN software to manage complex, multi-stakeholder processes across long cycles and distributed operations.
Healthcare: Healthcare and life-sciences organizations use VPN software where accuracy, security, and compliance are non-negotiable.
Retail: Retailers use VPN software to manage high volumes, personalize engagement, and react quickly to demand.
Financial Services: Banks, insurers, and fintechs rely on VPN software for control, auditability, and regulatory compliance.
Education: Institutions and edtech firms use VPN software to manage stakeholders and scale programs efficiently.
Real Estate: Real-estate and property teams use VPN software to manage long cycles and high-value relationships.
Professional Services: Agencies and consultancies use VPN software to deliver client work profitably and forecast accurately.
E-commerce: Online retailers use VPN software to unify data across channels and grow customer lifetime value.
Identify your secure access needs — remote access, site-to-site, or modern secure access — for your remote/distributed work and resources.
Consider traditional VPN versus modern Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), which provides more secure, least-privilege access.
Ensure strong security and authentication (including MFA) for secure access.
Evaluate performance and user experience, since VPN affects how users access resources.
Ensure it scales to your users and access needs, especially for large remote workforces.
Consider modern secure access approaches (ZTNA, SASE) that are evolving beyond traditional VPNs.
Check integration with your identity and security systems.
Understand pricing, often per user, and how it scales.
AI improves security with adaptive, risk-based access.
AI detects threats and anomalous access.
Modern secure access (ZTNA/SASE) increasingly incorporates AI-driven security.
Expect a shift toward AI-enhanced Zero Trust secure access; prioritize strong, modern secure access, since securing remote access requires more than traditional VPNs in the current threat landscape.
VPN (Virtual Private Network) software creates secure, encrypted network connections over the internet or other networks, enabling private, secure communication and access. Business VPNs provide secure remote access to corporate networks and resources for employees, while protecting traffic with encryption, securing connections over untrusted networks. The purpose is to provide secure, private network access and connections — enabling remote workers to securely access corporate resources, protecting traffic from interception, and connecting networks securely, since accessing resources and transmitting data securely over the internet and untrusted networks is essential for security and remote work. It secures connectivity. The category spans business/remote-access VPNs, site-to-site VPNs (connecting networks), and increasingly modern secure access approaches like Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) that are evolving or replacing traditional VPNs. It serves IT and security teams providing secure network access, especially for remote and distributed work, making VPN and secure access important for enabling secure remote access to resources and protecting traffic, which is essential for remote and distributed work and for securing connectivity over untrusted networks, though the approach is evolving from traditional VPNs toward modern Zero Trust secure access that addresses the limitations of traditional VPNs in the current security landscape.
A VPN works by creating an encrypted 'tunnel' between the user (or site) and the VPN endpoint, through which traffic passes securely. When a remote user connects to a corporate VPN, the VPN software establishes an encrypted connection (tunnel) between the user's device and the corporate network's VPN endpoint, and the user's traffic to corporate resources passes through this tunnel, encrypted and protected from interception over the internet. This makes the remote user's connection to corporate resources secure and effectively connects them to the corporate network as if they were local, while their traffic is encrypted. The encryption protects the traffic from being intercepted or read over untrusted networks like the internet, providing privacy and security. Authentication verifies the user before granting access. For site-to-site VPNs, the tunnel connects two networks securely. The core mechanism is the encrypted tunnel that secures traffic and connections. Traditional VPNs typically grant connected users access to the corporate network (broad access), which is part of the security limitation that modern approaches address by providing more granular, least-privilege access. When using a VPN, it works by creating an encrypted tunnel that securely connects users or sites and protects their traffic over untrusted networks. A VPN works by creating an encrypted tunnel between the user (or site) and the VPN endpoint, through which traffic passes securely, so when a remote user connects to a corporate VPN, an encrypted connection is established between their device and the corporate network's VPN endpoint, and their traffic passes through this tunnel encrypted and protected from interception over the internet, making their connection to corporate resources secure and connecting them to the corporate network while their traffic is encrypted, with the encryption protecting traffic from interception over untrusted networks and authentication verifying the user, making the encrypted tunnel the core mechanism that secures traffic and connections, though traditional VPNs typically grant broad network access (a security limitation that modern approaches address with granular, least-privilege access), so a VPN secures connectivity through an encrypted tunnel that protects traffic and enables secure access, which is how VPNs provide the secure remote access and traffic protection that make them useful for secure remote work and connectivity over untrusted networks.
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is a modern approach to secure access that's evolving beyond and often replacing traditional VPNs, based on Zero Trust security principles. Unlike traditional VPNs, which typically grant connected users broad access to the corporate network (trusting them once connected), ZTNA provides granular, identity-based, least-privilege access to specific resources rather than the whole network — verifying identity and context and granting access only to the specific resources a user is authorized for, following the Zero Trust principle of 'never trust, always verify.' This addresses key limitations of traditional VPNs: VPNs' broad network access means a compromised VPN connection or credential can access much of the network, a significant security risk, whereas ZTNA limits access to specific authorized resources, reducing the attack surface and risk. ZTNA also often provides better user experience and scalability than traditional VPNs. ZTNA is part of the broader shift toward Zero Trust security and modern secure access (including SASE, which converges secure access and networking). Many organizations are moving from traditional VPNs to ZTNA for more secure, granular remote access. ZTNA reflects modern security thinking that the broad-access VPN model is inadequate. When considering secure access, ZTNA is a modern, more secure alternative to traditional VPNs, providing identity-based, least-privilege access to specific resources. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is a modern secure access approach evolving beyond and often replacing traditional VPNs, based on Zero Trust principles, providing granular, identity-based, least-privilege access to specific resources rather than broad network access — verifying identity and context and granting access only to authorized resources following 'never trust, always verify' — which addresses traditional VPNs' limitations, since VPNs' broad network access means a compromised connection or credential can access much of the network (a significant risk), whereas ZTNA limits access to specific authorized resources, reducing the attack surface, and often provides better user experience and scalability, making ZTNA part of the broader shift toward Zero Trust security and modern secure access (including SASE), with many organizations moving from traditional VPNs to ZTNA for more secure, granular remote access, reflecting modern security thinking that the broad-access VPN model is inadequate, making ZTNA a modern, more secure alternative to traditional VPNs that provides identity-based, least-privilege access aligned with current security best practices for securing remote access in a way that reduces the risk inherent in traditional VPNs' broad network access.
Traditional VPNs have several limitations that have driven the shift toward modern secure access approaches like ZTNA. The main security limitation is broad network access: traditional VPNs typically grant a connected user access to the corporate network (or a large part of it), trusting them once connected, which means a compromised VPN credential or connection can access much of the network — a significant security risk, since attackers who obtain VPN access can move broadly. This conflicts with modern Zero Trust principles of least-privilege, granular access. Other limitations include performance and user experience issues (VPNs can be slow and cumbersome, affecting remote work), scalability challenges (scaling VPNs to large remote workforces can be difficult), and the model being designed for a traditional perimeter that has eroded with cloud and remote work. As remote work has grown and security thinking has shifted to Zero Trust, the limitations of the traditional VPN model — especially broad access — have become more apparent, driving adoption of ZTNA and modern secure access that provide more secure, granular, identity-based access. While VPNs still serve secure access needs, the trend is toward modern approaches that address these limitations. When considering secure access, awareness of traditional VPNs' limitations — especially broad network access creating security risk — and modern alternatives is important. Traditional VPNs have limitations including, most significantly, broad network access — typically granting connected users access to the corporate network or much of it, so a compromised credential or connection can access much of the network, a significant security risk conflicting with Zero Trust least-privilege principles — as well as performance and user experience issues, scalability challenges for large remote workforces, and being designed for a traditional perimeter that has eroded with cloud and remote work, so as remote work has grown and security has shifted to Zero Trust, these limitations, especially broad access, have driven adoption of ZTNA and modern secure access that provide more secure, granular, identity-based access, making awareness of traditional VPNs' limitations and modern alternatives important when considering secure access, since the traditional VPN model's broad network access and other limitations make it increasingly inadequate for securing remote access in the current threat landscape, driving the shift toward modern Zero Trust secure access that addresses these limitations with granular, least-privilege, identity-based access.
Secure remote access is important because remote and distributed work has become common, and workers need to access corporate resources from outside the office securely, while accessing resources over the internet and untrusted networks creates security risks that secure access addresses. As organizations have embraced remote and hybrid work, employees increasingly work from home, while traveling, or from various locations, needing to access corporate applications, data, and resources remotely. Doing this securely is essential, since accessing resources over the internet exposes traffic to interception and creates access security concerns, and remote access is a target for attackers. Secure remote access — through VPNs, ZTNA, or modern secure access — provides the secure connectivity that lets remote workers access corporate resources safely, protecting traffic and controlling access. Without secure remote access, remote work would expose organizations to significant security risks. The growth of remote work has made secure remote access increasingly important and a focus of security, with the approach evolving from traditional VPNs toward modern Zero Trust secure access. Securing remote access well is essential to enabling remote work securely and protecting against the risks of remote access. When enabling remote work, secure remote access is essential for letting remote workers access resources safely. The importance of secure remote access is that remote and distributed work has become common, requiring workers to access corporate resources from outside the office securely, while accessing resources over the internet and untrusted networks creates security risks that secure access addresses, so as organizations embrace remote and hybrid work and employees increasingly work remotely needing to access corporate resources, doing this securely is essential, since remote access over the internet exposes traffic and creates access security concerns and is a target for attackers, making secure remote access — through VPNs, ZTNA, or modern secure access — important for letting remote workers access corporate resources safely, protecting traffic and controlling access, without which remote work would expose organizations to significant security risks, making secure remote access increasingly important and a security focus as remote work has grown, with the approach evolving toward modern Zero Trust secure access, so securing remote access well is essential to enabling remote work securely and protecting against the risks of accessing resources remotely over untrusted networks, which is why secure remote access has become an important security capability as remote and distributed work has become prevalent.
SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) is a modern architecture that converges network security and networking capabilities into a unified, cloud-delivered service, representing an evolution in secure access and networking. SASE combines secure access (including ZTNA), network security functions, and networking (like SD-WAN) into an integrated, cloud-based service that provides secure access and connectivity for users and resources wherever they are. The concept reflects the shift toward cloud, remote work, and distributed resources, where the traditional model of routing traffic through a central data center for security is inadequate, and a cloud-delivered, integrated approach to secure access and networking better fits the modern, distributed environment. SASE incorporates Zero Trust principles (including ZTNA) for secure access, along with security and networking capabilities, delivered as a cloud service. It's part of the broader evolution toward modern secure access that addresses the limitations of traditional approaches (like VPNs and central-data-center security) in the cloud and remote-work era. SASE is a more comprehensive, architectural approach than just ZTNA, converging secure access and networking. Organizations adopting modern secure access may consider SASE as a comprehensive framework. When considering modern secure access, SASE is a converged, cloud-delivered architecture for secure access and networking that incorporates Zero Trust. SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) is a modern architecture converging network security and networking capabilities into a unified, cloud-delivered service, combining secure access (including ZTNA), network security functions, and networking like SD-WAN into an integrated cloud-based service providing secure access and connectivity for users and resources wherever they are, reflecting the shift toward cloud, remote work, and distributed resources where the traditional model of routing traffic through a central data center for security is inadequate and a cloud-delivered, integrated approach better fits the modern distributed environment, incorporating Zero Trust principles for secure access along with security and networking delivered as a cloud service, making SASE part of the broader evolution toward modern secure access that addresses the limitations of traditional approaches in the cloud and remote-work era, a more comprehensive architectural approach than just ZTNA that converges secure access and networking, so organizations adopting modern secure access may consider SASE as a comprehensive framework, making SASE a converged, cloud-delivered architecture for secure access and networking incorporating Zero Trust that represents the modern evolution of secure access and networking for the cloud and remote-work era beyond traditional VPNs and central-data-center security.
AI increasingly affects secure access and the modern secure access approaches (ZTNA, SASE) that are evolving beyond traditional VPNs. AI improves security with adaptive, risk-based access — analyzing context, behavior, and risk to make access decisions adaptively (for example, requiring additional verification or restricting access for risky or anomalous access attempts), strengthening security while balancing user experience. AI detects threats and anomalous access — identifying suspicious access, compromised credentials, and threats by analyzing access patterns. Modern secure access (ZTNA/SASE) increasingly incorporates AI-driven security as part of providing secure, adaptive access aligned with Zero Trust. These capabilities make secure access more adaptive, intelligent, and secure. Because securing remote access requires more than traditional VPNs in the current threat landscape, AI-enhanced modern secure access (Zero Trust) is part of the evolution toward stronger, more adaptive secure access, but strong, modern secure access fundamentals remain important, with AI augmenting them. When considering secure access, expect a shift toward AI-enhanced Zero Trust secure access, and prioritize strong, modern secure access, since securing remote access requires more than traditional VPNs in the current threat landscape. AI affects secure access by improving security with adaptive, risk-based access that analyzes context and behavior to make access decisions adaptively, detecting threats and anomalous access by analyzing access patterns, and increasingly being incorporated into modern secure access (ZTNA/SASE) as part of providing secure, adaptive access aligned with Zero Trust, making secure access more adaptive, intelligent, and secure, with AI-enhanced modern secure access part of the evolution toward stronger, more adaptive secure access beyond traditional VPNs, but strong, modern secure access fundamentals remain important with AI augmenting them, making the shift toward AI-enhanced Zero Trust secure access an expected direction, so prioritizing strong, modern secure access is important since securing remote access requires more than traditional VPNs in the current threat landscape, with AI strengthening the adaptive, identity-based, risk-aware secure access that modern approaches provide, making AI a valuable enhancement to the modern secure access that is evolving beyond traditional VPNs to better secure remote access in the current environment of cloud, remote work, and sophisticated threats.
VPN and secure access costs are commonly priced per user per month, so cost scales with the number of users needing secure access, with pricing varying by the solution and capabilities. Traditional business VPNs, ZTNA solutions, and SASE platforms have different pricing, often per user, with modern secure access (ZTNA/SASE) and comprehensive platforms potentially costing more than basic VPNs but providing more capability. Total cost depends on the number of users, the solution and capabilities (traditional VPN vs. modern secure access), and the scope. When budgeting, count the users needing secure access, consider whether you want traditional VPN or modern secure access (ZTNA/SASE), and the capabilities needed. Weigh the cost against the value of secure remote access and the security benefits, especially modern secure access's stronger security, which is important given remote work and the security risks of remote access. Because per-user pricing scales with users, model the cost at your user count. Map your secure access needs, user count, and choice of traditional or modern secure access to the solutions and their pricing. VPN and secure access costs are commonly per user, scaling with the number of users needing secure access, with traditional VPNs, ZTNA, and SASE priced per user and modern secure access potentially costing more but providing more capability and security, so the total depends on your user count, the solution and capabilities, and scope, with the value being significant given remote work and the security risks of remote access, making appropriate investment in secure access — increasingly modern Zero Trust secure access for stronger security — worthwhile, with the cost scaling with users and the right choice balancing the secure access capabilities and security you need against cost, recognizing that securing remote access well, increasingly through modern secure access approaches that provide stronger security than traditional VPNs, is important for enabling remote work securely, justifying appropriate investment scaled to the number of users needing secure access and the choice between traditional VPN and modern secure access that better addresses the security needs of remote access in the current threat landscape.
VPN and secure access software is used by IT and security teams in organizations to provide secure network access, especially for remote and distributed work, across industries and sizes, since most organizations have remote or distributed workers needing secure access. IT and security teams deploy and manage VPN or modern secure access (ZTNA/SASE) to provide employees secure remote access to corporate resources and to secure connectivity. Remote and distributed employees use VPN or secure access to securely access corporate applications, data, and resources from outside the office. Security teams are concerned with the security of remote access and increasingly with adopting modern Zero Trust secure access for stronger security. IT teams may use site-to-site VPNs to connect networks or sites securely. It serves organizations from small businesses providing remote access through large enterprises securing access for large remote and distributed workforces, increasingly adopting modern secure access. The common need is to provide secure remote access to resources and secure connectivity, which is essential given remote and distributed work and the security risks of remote access. As remote work has grown and security has shifted toward Zero Trust, secure access has become important, with the approach evolving from traditional VPNs toward modern secure access. Because most organizations have remote or distributed workers needing secure access, and securing remote access is important, VPN and secure access software is broadly used. VPN and secure access software is used by IT and security teams across organizations to provide secure network access, especially for remote and distributed work, with IT and security teams deploying VPN or modern secure access (ZTNA/SASE) for employees' secure remote access and connectivity, remote employees using it to securely access corporate resources, and security teams adopting modern Zero Trust secure access for stronger security, scaled from small businesses to large enterprises securing access for large remote workforces, making secure access broadly used wherever organizations have remote or distributed workers needing secure access, which is increasingly common, making VPN and modern secure access important for the IT and security teams providing the secure remote access and connectivity that remote and distributed work require, with the approach evolving from traditional VPNs toward modern Zero Trust secure access that better secures remote access in the current environment of widespread remote work and sophisticated threats.
