Data as of Aug 25, 2026 · Based on 341 AI responses from ChatGPT Search and Google AI Mode · See how Parse measures this
For most remote-first companies replacing a legacy VPN, Zscaler Private Access is the best-fit: it’s cloud-native and connects users directly to apps, minimizing attack surface. If you’re heavily invested in Azure AD, choose
Microsoft Entra Private Access for tighter identity integration. Choose Cloudflare One for fastest, clientless setup and device posture checks; pick
when ease of deployment and granular controls are the priority. Palo Alto Prisma Access suits organizations wanting a broad SSE platform; Absolute emphasizes resilient connectivity, and Cisco Duo is recommended when the immediate need is stronger authentication rather than a full ZTNA swap.
Brands AI recommends here
Best for most remote-first teams replacing a legacy VPN: cloud-native ZPA connects users directly to apps (not the network), shrinking the attack surface and reducing lateral movement.
Best when your environment uses Azure AD: Entra Private Access provides identity-centric access to private apps without network-level access, but it’s most valuable if you’re already in the Microsoft ecosystem.
Best when speed and low-friction deployment matter: Cloudflare One offers fast, clientless access, device posture checks, and makes on‑prem apps behave like SaaS, easing remote access support.
Choose Twingate when fast, user-friendly deployment and granular access controls are top priorities: designed specifically to replace legacy VPNs quickly, though it may lack broader SSE features.
For a remote-first company, ditching the legacy VPN for a modern Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solution is one of the best moves you can make for both security and employee experience. Instead of dropping employees onto a flat corporate network, ZTNA grants least-privileged, context-aware access to specific applications on an individual basis.
The right choice depends heavily on your current tech stack, company size, and how technical your workforce is.
Top ZTNA Solutions for Remote-First Teams
To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:
For a remote-first company replacing a legacy VPN, I’d shortlist Cloudflare Access, Tailscale, and Zscaler Private Access (ZPA). My default recommendation for many mid-sized engineering-heavy companies would be Cloudflare Access; for a very developer/infrastructure-centric organization, Tailscale is particularly compelling.
| Solution | Best fit | Why I’d consider it | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare Access | Remote-first teams wanting simplicity | Identity/device/context-based access, granular per-app policies, strong SaaS/cloud integration, and relatively easy deployment | Can become more involved if you need very sophisticated enterprise security controls |
| Tailscale | Engineering/DevOps-heavy companies | Excellent developer experience, WireGuard-based connectivity, easy access to servers, Kubernetes, cloud resources and internal services | More of an identity-based networking platform than a full SSE/SASE security suite |
| **Zscaler Private Access | Large enterprises / complex environments | Mature enterprise ZTNA, granular user-to-app segmentation, strong security inspection and third-party access | More expensive and operationally heavyweight |
| **Microsoft Entra Private Access | Microsoft-centric organizations | Attractive if you're already deeply invested in Entra ID/Microsoft security | Less compelling if your identity/cloud stack is heterogeneous |
1. Cloudflare Access — best general-purpose choice.
Cloudflare explicitly positions Access as a VPN replacement, providing access to private applications based on identity, device posture and context rather than putting the employee on the corporate network. It also supports infrastructure access such as SSH/RDP.
The particularly nice part for a remote-first company is that you can make internal applications behave much more like SaaS: authenticate the user, evaluate policy, and give them access to only the application they need, rather than exposing an entire subnet.
2. Tailscale — my pick if engineers are the primary users.
Tailscale uses WireGuard-based encrypted connectivity and an identity-centric model. It's especially attractive when "VPN replacement" really means developers need secure access to servers, Kubernetes, databases and cloud infrastructure.
3. Zscaler Private Access — my enterprise pick.
If you have hundreds/thousands of employees, significant compliance requirements, lots of legacy applications, third-party access, or want ZTNA to become part of a broader SSE/SASE security architecture, I'd put ZPA at the top of the enterprise shortlist. ZPA brokers access directly to authorized applications rather than putting users on the network, with extensive segmentation and security controls.
Don't simply replace:
Laptop → VPN → corporate network → application
with another product that does essentially the same thing.
Aim for:
Laptop → identity/device verification → ZTNA policy → specific application
For example:
GitLab, Jira, an internal dashboard, SSH, etc.That's the fundamental security advantage over a conventional VPN: application access instead of network access.
If you told me only "we're remote-first and want to kill our VPN," I'd evaluate them in this order:
Cloudflare Access → Tailscale → Zscaler ZPA
But I'd switch the ordering if you told me:
One important point: ZTNA isn't automatically better just because the product has "zero trust" in its name. I'd run a proof of concept against your actual applications and test device posture, IdP integration, DNS, non-HTTP applications, SSH/RDP, BYOD, logging/SIEM integration, performance, and failure modes before committing.
Cloudflare explicitly positions Access as a VPN replacement, providing access to private applications based on identity, device posture and context rather than putting the employee on the corporate network. It also supports infrastructure access such as SSH/RDP.
The particularly nice part for a remote-first company is that you can make internal applications behave much more like SaaS: authenticate the user, evaluate policy, and give them access to only the application they need, rather than exposing an entire subnet.
2. Tailscale — my pick if engineers are the primary users.
Tailscale uses WireGuard-based encrypted connectivity and an identity-centric model. It's especially attractive when "VPN replacement" really means developers need secure access to servers, Kubernetes, databases and cloud infrastructure.
3. Zscaler Private Access — my enterprise pick.
If you have hundreds/thousands of employees, significant compliance requirements, lots of legacy applications, third-party access, or want ZTNA to become part of a broader SSE/SASE security architecture, I'd put ZPA at the top of the enterprise shortlist. ZPA brokers access directly to authorized applications rather than putting users on the network, with extensive segmentation and security controls.
Replacing a legacy VPN with Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is one of the best moves a remote-first company can make to improve both security and user experience. Instead of dropping employees onto the corporate network, ZTNA connects them securely and directly to individual applications based on identity and device posture.
The right ZTNA solution depends heavily on your current identity provider and company size:
If you want to narrow this down, let me know:
For a remote-first company replacing a legacy VPN, I’d shortlist ZTNA platforms based less on “who has the most features” and more on your identity stack, application mix, and security maturity. Modern ZTNA should give users access to specific applications, not put them “inside the network” like a VPN does.
A strong shortlist:
| Solution | Best fit | Why consider it | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare Access | Cloud-native, developer-heavy remote teams | Very fast deployment, strong browser-based access model, good for SaaS/internal web apps, contractors, and smaller IT teams. Cloudflare | Less ideal if you have lots of unusual legacy TCP/UDP applications or complex enterprise segmentation needs. iboss |
| Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) | Mid-size to large enterprises | Mature ZTNA model, strong app-level access controls, good global scale. CIOPages TechBag | Usually a larger enterprise investment; requires thoughtful connector and policy design. CIOPages |
| Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access | Organizations already using Palo Alto | Good if you want ZTNA combined with broader SASE/security controls. CIOPages | Can be complex if you are not already in the Palo Alto ecosystem. iboss |
| Netskope Private Access | Data-security-focused companies | Strong fit if you also need CASB, DLP, and SSE capabilities alongside ZTNA. CIOPages | May be more platform than you need for a simple VPN replacement. |
| Microsoft Entra Private Access | Microsoft 365 / Entra ID shops | Attractive if you already rely heavily on Microsoft identity and Conditional Access. Deepak Gupta | Best value comes when your environment is already Microsoft-centric. |
| Tailscale | Engineering teams needing simple private connectivity | Very developer-friendly for infrastructure access and smaller environments. Start with Identity | Not always a full enterprise ZTNA/SSE replacement. |
I’d start with:
I’d evaluate:
I’d look closely at:
These are often selected when ZTNA is part of a broader SSE/SASE strategy rather than just a VPN replacement.
If you’re a typical remote-first company with mostly SaaS, cloud infrastructure, and a modern identity provider, I would usually start a proof-of-concept with Cloudflare Access, Zscaler ZPA, and Microsoft Entra Private Access and pick based on operational fit rather than feature count.
For a remote-first company, replacing a legacy VPN with Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) depends heavily on your infrastructure makeup (cloud-native vs. hybrid) and how technical your workforce is. Moving away from a perimeter-centric model means connecting users directly to individual applications rather than placing them onto the corporate network.
The top ZTNA solutions break down into distinct categories based on organizational needs:
If your internal apps, dashboards, and tooling live in the cloud or SaaS environments, Cloudflare's edge-native platform is a seamless fit.
“The most practical ZTNA entry point for most organizations. Cloudflare Access lets you put identity-based access in front of internal applications without installing agents on user devices...”
If you want a clean, dedicated ZTNA tool that mirrors the simplicity of a VPN replacement without the bloat of a massive enterprise SASE suite.
Built on WireGuard mesh networking principles, Tailscale is a massive favorite among engineering-heavy and remote-first tech companies.
If your remote-first organization is scaling rapidly or faces strict compliance frameworks requiring full Secure Service Edge (SSE) convergence.
“Zscaler receives praise for "scalable zero trust access that outperforms legacy VPNs." Enterprises note "strong policy enforcement for remote users."”
What to Focus on During Your Evaluation
To help narrow down the right fit, tell me:
For a remote-first company replacing a legacy VPN, I’d shortlist Cloudflare Access, Microsoft Entra Private Access, Zscaler Private Access, and Tailscale. The right choice depends mostly on your identity stack, application mix, and how much security infrastructure you want ZTNA to absorb.
Cloudflare Access is probably the best general-purpose VPN replacement for a remote-first company.
Why I like it:
| Solution | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Cloudflare Access | Best overall for a modern remote-first company |
| Microsoft Entra Private Access | You're heavily invested in Microsoft 365/Entra ID/Intune |
| Zscaler Private Access | Large enterprise, complex security requirements, and you want a broader SSE/SASE platform |
| Tailscale | Engineering-heavy organization that prioritizes simplicity, developer experience, and direct connectivity |
| Twingate | SMB/mid-market wanting a relatively straightforward dedicated VPN replacement |
Microsoft Entra Private Access deserves particular attention if you're already a Microsoft shop. It extends Entra Conditional Access and MFA to private/on-prem applications and is explicitly designed to replace legacy VPNs.
Zscaler Private Access is the enterprise heavyweight: it brokers connections between authorized users and authorized applications rather than putting users onto the network.
Don't simply replace:
VPN → new ZTNA VPN
Instead aim for:
User → identity/device verification → specific application → least-privilege access
I'd migrate in roughly this order:
The key architectural question is whether you really need network-level connectivity. If most employees are accessing web apps, Git, SSH, RDP, internal APIs, databases, etc., ZTNA can usually give them the individual access they need without exposing the underlying network.
If you tell me your approximate company size, IdP (Microsoft/Google/Okta), where your apps live (AWS/Azure/on-prem), and whether employees need things like SSH/RDP/SMB, I can narrow this to 2–3 products and give you a concrete recommendation.
Replacing a legacy VPN with a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solution is a major step toward securing a remote-first workforce. Modern Ztna moves away from perimeter-based network access to continuous, identity- and context-aware verification.
Here are the top ZTNA solutions widely adopted by remote-first companies:
User Experiences
I found Cloudflare Access super easy to roll out for our remote team without needing a massive infrastructure overhaul.
Zscaler ZPA completely eliminated our reliance on traditional VPNs and made managing contractor access way less stressful.
If you'd like to narrow down the choices, let me know:
Okta
okta.com
Twingate
twingate.com
For a remote-first company, I’d shortlist Cloudflare Zero Trust, Twingate, Tailscale, and Zscaler Private Access. The right choice depends mostly on company size, how much internal infrastructure you have, and whether you want ZTNA alone or a broader security platform.
| Solution | Best fit | Why I’d consider it |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare Zero Trust | Most remote-first companies | Fast rollout, global edge, strong identity/app-based access, clientless options |
| Twingate | Small/mid-size companies | Very straightforward VPN replacement; application/resource-level access |
| Tailscale | Engineering-heavy companies | Extremely easy deployment and excellent developer experience |
| Zscaler Private Access | Large enterprises | Mature enterprise ZTNA and broader SSE/security ecosystem |
| Palo Alto Prisma Access | Existing Palo Alto shops | Good choice if you're consolidating around Palo Alto's SASE stack |
ZTNA's key advantage over a traditional VPN is that users don't simply get "onto the corporate network." Access is granted to particular applications/resources based on identity and other policy signals, reducing lateral-movement risk.
For a remote-first organization, Cloudflare is probably the best default to evaluate first. Its architecture is particularly well suited to distributed users, and it can provide browser-based/clientless access for appropriate applications as well as private-network access. Cloudflare also publishes a specific migration architecture for replacing VPN concentrators with ZTNA.
It's especially attractive if you want to eventually combine ZTNA with secure web access, DNS security, and other SSE capabilities rather than maintaining several separate products.
Twingate — My pick if your main goal is "get rid of the VPN without creating a giant security project." It is designed around resource-level access rather than putting users on a flat network. It's particularly compelling for small-to-mid-sized distributed organizations.
Tailscale — Excellent if your infrastructure is heavily developer-oriented and people need SSH, databases, Kubernetes, internal services, etc. It's more of an identity-aware mesh networking approach than a conventional enterprise ZTNA/SSE platform.
Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) — I'd move this to the top if you're a large organization with substantial compliance requirements, thousands of users, lots of private applications, or plans to consolidate ZTNA with a broader SSE deployment. It is one of the leading enterprise-scale options.
Prisma Access — Particularly compelling if you're already standardized on Palo Alto Networks and want ZTNA to become part of a broader SASE architecture.
Don't just test whether employees can connect. Test these scenarios:
Also make identity + device posture central to the design: your IdP/SSO, MFA, MDM, endpoint security, and ZTNA policy should work together rather than treating ZTNA as merely a new VPN client.
Bottom line: If you gave me no other information, I'd run a POC of Cloudflare Zero Trust vs. Twingate, with Zscaler added if you're enterprise-scale. If your workforce is primarily engineers accessing infrastructure, I'd substitute Tailscale for Twingate.
If you tell me your employee count, IdP (Microsoft Entra/Okta/etc.), where your apps live (AWS/Azure/on-prem), and whether you have MDM, I can narrow this to a 2–3 vendor shortlist and give you a migration architecture.
Twingate
twingate.com
Zscaler
zscaler.com
For a remote-first company, I’d shortlist Zscaler Private Access, Cloudflare One, Twingate, Netskope One Private Access, and Microsoft Entra Private Access. The right choice depends heavily on how much legacy/on-prem infrastructure you still have.
Zscaler Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) would be my first enterprise-grade evaluation. It is purpose-built to replace VPNs: users get access to specific applications rather than the underlying network, and applications can remain invisible to the public internet. ZPA also integrates with identity providers via SAML/SCIM and supports cloud and data-center applications.
Why I'd pick it: strong security model, mature enterprise controls, good fit for a distributed workforce, and particularly good if you have a mixture of AWS/Azure and legacy internal applications.
| Solution | Best fit | My take |
|---|---|---|
| Zscaler Private Access | Larger enterprise / security-heavy | ⭐ Best overall |
| Cloudflare One | Cloud-first, internet-heavy, cost-conscious | ⭐ Best value/modern stack |
| Twingate | SMB/mid-market, engineering-heavy | ⭐ Simplest VPN replacement |
| Netskope One Private Access | ZTNA + DLP/SSE/security consolidation | ⭐ Best security-platform option |
| Microsoft Entra Private Access | Microsoft 365/Entra/Intune shops | ⭐ Best if you're already Microsoft-centric |
Twingate is particularly attractive if your requirement is basically "make our internal resources securely reachable without maintaining a VPN." Its model binds connections to verified identity, device and resource, rather than putting the user onto a network.
Netskope One Private Access is worth serious consideration if you're also looking to consolidate ZTNA + DLP + broader SSE/security controls. It supports legacy protocols such as SSH/RDP and has agentless/browser access for unmanaged or third-party devices.
For a typical remote-first company, I'd run a 2–3 week pilot with Zscaler + Twingate + Cloudflare and test:
The key architectural test is "application access, not network access." If the product essentially recreates a VPN by giving users broad access to subnets, you're not getting the full benefit of ZTNA.
Bottom line:
If you tell me roughly employee count, IdP (Okta/Entra/etc.), AWS/Azure/on-prem mix, and whether you need SSH/RDP/database access, I can narrow this to a 2-vendor recommendation and give you a migration architecture.
Replacing a legacy VPN with Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is one of the highest-impact moves a remote-first company can make . Instead of placing remote employees "on the network" (which creates massive lateral movement risks if a laptop is compromised), modern ZTNA connects users exclusively to the specific applications they are authorized to see, verified via identity and device posture.
The best ZTNA solution depends heavily on your team's size, your current tech stack, and whether your engineering culture demands high speed and minimal friction. Top-tier options are categorized below by their strengths for remote-first organizations:
If you want to narrow this down, tell me:
I can give you a tailored recommendation and migration path.