VPN limitations in the modern IT landscape
VPN served its purpose well, but Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is now transforming the definition of remote access solutions.
It answered the IT architectures and business challenges of its time. Employees needed to access centralized data centers hosting enterprise applications when they were off-site, and these connections had to be encrypted and work over any internet connection. And while they were able to handle these tasks for decades, the landscape that it serves has changed.
VPN’s goal was not to secure cloud applications. Designers did not intend it to be elastically scalable. And the creators never intended to provide complete visibility into user activity and traffic..
The emergence of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
As this year’s tidal shift to remote work swept across the globe, the cracks in the veneer of VPN became gaping holes with real productivity and security risks to the business. As these gaps were exposed, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) emerged as the best way to provide the same functionality of VPN but with a greatly improved security posture that can be applied consistently across modern IT ecosystems.
ZTNA (also sometimes referred to as “software-defined perimeter” or “SDP”) is a networking approach that enables enterprises to provide access to all the applications and services an employee needs regardless of their physical location. It does this by providing micro-segmented network access to individual applications instead of access to the wider corporate network. ZTNA bases all connectivity on a user’s identity and the context around a user’s request.
This tightening of access coupled with increased visibility, control, and integration with security applications leaves few excuses for IT administrations to remain with dated VPN technologies.
The need to transition from VPN to ZTNA
It is time to kill the VPN. It has served its purpose well, but just as the cloud transformed the way that applications and services are delivered, ZTNA is now transforming the definition of remote access solutions.
This blog is an abstract of Trustgrid Chief Product Officer, Joe Gleinser’s, article on Network Computing. Continue reading the full article here
CEO
Joe Gleinser is the Co-Founder and CEO of Trustgrid, where he leads the teams building networking solutions that enable secure connectivity for distributed applications across FinTech, HealthTech, SaaS, and enterprise environments. Prior to Trustgrid he co-founded and led GCS Technologies for over 20 years, earning recognition on the Inc 5000, Austin Business Journal Fast 50, and as a ChannelPro 20/20 Visionary.
Leadership at Trustgrid
As Co-Founder and CEO, Joe assists with the product vision, R&D direction, and business strategy for the company. His work focuses on networking architectures that integrate cloud and edge computing to bridge connectivity and security gaps for distributed applications. The Trustgrid platform, under his guidance, serves core verticals including FinTech, HealthTech, and SaaS providers that require scalable, secure connections to hard-to-reach data silos and customer environments.
Joe’s Professional background
Joe began his entrepreneurial career by founding GCS Technologies in 2000, growing it into one of Austin’s largest IT service providers specializing in cloud and data center technologies. He served as President for over two decades before transitioning to his current role at Trustgrid. In addition to his executive work, he has serves on the Board of Directors for TEXSAR (Texas Search and Rescue).
Building the Future of Connectivity
Joe’s vision at Trustgrid drives the advancement of network-as-a-service solutions that combine software-defined networking, edge computing, and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) into a unified platform. This approach enables SaaS and cloud applications to connect to customer environments with a public cloud-like experience, simplifying the deployment, monitoring, and support of thousands of connections from a single portal. His focus remains on eliminating the complexity of managing hybrid cloud integrations and secure data exchange.
About Joe Gleinser
Joe is a seasoned entrepreneur and technology executive based in Austin, Texas, committed to solving complex connectivity challenges through innovative software. His leadership philosophy emphasizes democratizing advanced networking technology—making it accessible and easy to deploy so enterprises can operate securely and efficiently across cloud, data center, and on-premise boundaries.
Connect with Joe
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joegleinser/
Or
Contact him at trustgrid.io