Experts in cybersecurity caution that Zero Trust should take the place of VPNs since they are becoming ineffective
VPNs are not currently the best option for protecting privacy, at least not for businesses, according to security firm Zscaler. Given that the company sells... zero-trust products, let us examine their somewhat biased justifications for selecting Zero Trust. How do they operate?
A growing number of home users and businesses are utilizing virtual private networks (VPNs), which conceal users' identities and encrypt internet access, in response to ongoing online spying, tracking, malware, and other security breaches.
In its 2025 report, security firm Zscaler criticized them harshly and advocated for zero-trust systems through Edge9.
Zscaler conducted interviews with more than 300 system administrators from various industries to gather their opinions on VPNs.
According to the survey, 54% of these experts believe that VPNs pose a security and regulatory compliance risk, and 65% plan to abandon them in the next year.
51% criticize the poor user experience of VPNs, and 37% criticize their high cost. 29% believe they offer little flexibility and scalability.
Zscaler also criticizes vulnerabilities and bugs in VPNs. Reports indicate that by 2025, 60% of reported VPN vulnerabilities will have a CVSS score of high or critical, meaning they could potentially allow cybercriminals to access them.
The truth is that bugs are inherent in any software, including Zero Trust solutions. The key is the time it takes to fix them.
The security company suggests using Zero Trust solutions instead, claiming that 81% of IT professionals surveyed plan to do so in the future. It's worth noting that Zscaler sells Zero Trust products, so the report should be treated with caution.
The war between VPNs and Zero Trust platforms is heating up, but it's a battle focused on the security of businesses whose employees work from home or have many external connections.