Beyond VPN: Modern Remote Access Solutions for NC Businesses in 2026

Modern remote access solutions beyond VPN include Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), cloud security service edges (SASE), identity-aware proxies, and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). For North Carolina businesses supporting hybrid workforces, these alternatives address VPN limitations including excessive network access, poor performance, and vulnerability to exploitation, while providing granular application-level security.

Key takeaway: According to Verizon's 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report analysis, zero-day exploits targeting edge devices and VPNs grew almost eightfold in the last year, while 56% of organizations experienced at least one VPN-related cyberattack. 65% of enterprises now report plans to replace their VPNs with ZTNA solutions, making the transition from VPN to zero trust one of the defining security shifts of 2025-2026.

For North Carolina manufacturers, professional services firms, and construction companies across the Piedmont Triad, Charlotte, and Research Triangle, the pandemic permanently expanded remote access requirements. But the VPN solutions deployed during the rush to remote work in 2020 were never designed for permanent, large-scale remote access. Modern alternatives provide better security, better performance, and better user experience.

Ready to move beyond VPN? Preferred Data Corporation implements modern remote access solutions for North Carolina businesses. Call (336) 886-3282 or schedule your security assessment.

Why VPNs Are No Longer Sufficient

VPN Limitation 1: Excessive Network Access

Traditional VPNs grant authenticated users broad access to the entire corporate network. Once connected, a remote user (or an attacker using stolen credentials) can reach any system on the network, just as if they were physically in the office.

This "castle-and-moat" approach means:

• Compromised VPN credentials expose everything
• Lateral movement is easy for attackers
• Insider threats have unlimited scope
• No distinction between accessing email and accessing sensitive databases

VPN Limitation 2: Performance Bottlenecks

VPN architecture creates performance problems:

• All traffic routes through a central VPN concentrator
• Cloud application traffic backhauled through headquarters adds latency
• Bandwidth limited by VPN appliance capacity
• Split-tunnel configurations improve performance but reduce security visibility
• Remote users competing for limited VPN capacity during peak hours

VPN Limitation 3: Attack Surface

VPNs create a visible, always-available attack target:

• VPN concentrators must be internet-facing
• Known vulnerability exploits regularly published (CVEs in Fortinet, Pulse Secure, Cisco VPN products)
• Brute-force credential attacks against VPN login portals
• Once compromised, VPN provides direct network access

According to Fortinet's analysis, MPLS and VPN networks lack built-in encryption and integrated security features. While VPNs require open ports on the internet, ZTNA limits access to specific resources and does not require open ports, meaning resources remain invisible to unauthorized users.

VPN Limitation 4: Operational Complexity

Managing VPN at scale creates ongoing challenges:

• Client software installation and updates across all devices
• Certificate management and renewal
• Troubleshooting connectivity issues across diverse home networks
• Capacity planning for concurrent connection limits
• Compatibility issues with varying operating systems and devices

Alternative 1: Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

How ZTNA Works

ZTNA applies the zero trust principle of "never trust, always verify" to remote access. Instead of granting network-level access, ZTNA provides access to specific applications only, after verifying identity, device health, and contextual factors.

Key principles:

• Access decisions based on identity and context, not location
• Application-specific access (not network-level)
• Continuous verification throughout the session
• Minimal attack surface (applications invisible until authenticated)

ZTNA Architecture

1. User attempts to access an application
2. ZTNA agent verifies user identity (MFA required)
3. Device health checks confirm security posture (patched, compliant)
4. Context evaluation (location, time, behavior patterns)
5. If all checks pass, broker connects user to specific application only
6. Continuous monitoring for anomalies during session
7. Access revoked if any condition changes

ZTNA Solutions for NC Businesses

Key takeaway: According to Gartner predictions, 65% of SD-WAN purchases between now and 2027 will be bundled with a SASE offering (compared with 20% in 2024), indicating that ZTNA and SD-WAN are converging into unified platforms for both remote access and site connectivity.

Alternative 2: Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

What SASE Provides

SASE combines SD-WAN networking with cloud-delivered security services:

• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
• Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)
• Secure Web Gateway (SWG)
• Firewall as a Service (FWaaS)
• Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

When SASE Makes Sense

SASE is appropriate for North Carolina businesses that:

• Have multiple office locations plus remote workers
• Use primarily cloud/SaaS applications
• Want to consolidate network and security vendors
• Need consistent policy enforcement regardless of user location
• Plan to replace both VPN and traditional network security

SASE Providers

• Zscaler: Cloud-native, strongest for pure security
• Palo Alto (Prisma SASE): Comprehensive, enterprise-focused
• Fortinet (FortiSASE): Combined with FortiGate SD-WAN
• Cato Networks: Single-pass processing, mid-market focus
• Netskope: CASB leadership, data-centric security

Alternative 3: Identity-Aware Proxies

How Identity-Aware Proxies Work

Identity-aware proxies sit between users and applications, authenticating each request against an identity provider before forwarding traffic. No VPN client is needed; users access applications through standard web browsers.

Advantages:

• No client software installation required
• Works from any device with a modern browser
• Granular per-application access policies
• Full audit trail of application access
• Easy to deploy for web-based applications

Limitations:

• Best suited for web applications (HTTP/HTTPS)
• Non-web applications require additional tunneling
• May add latency for latency-sensitive applications
• Limited support for legacy protocols

Best for: Charlotte and Raleigh professional services firms accessing cloud applications, SaaS-based workflows, and internal web portals from any device.

Alternative 4: Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

How VDI Provides Secure Access

VDI hosts desktop environments in the data center or cloud. Remote users connect to virtual desktops rather than using VPN to access the corporate network directly.

Security advantages:

• Data never leaves the data center/cloud
• Users work on managed, secured virtual machines
• Lost/stolen devices do not expose corporate data
• Consistent security controls regardless of endpoint
• Easy to provision and deprovision access

Performance considerations:

• Requires low-latency, reliable connectivity
• Graphics-intensive applications (CAD, design) need GPU-enabled VDI
• User experience depends on display protocol quality
• Bandwidth requirements: 5-15 Mbps per concurrent user

VDI Options

Best for: North Carolina manufacturers with sensitive IP (CAD files, proprietary designs) that must remain on corporate infrastructure, and organizations in High Point and the Piedmont Triad with CMMC/CUI protection requirements.

Choosing the Right Approach

Decision Framework

Migration Approach: Phased Transition

According to industry best practices, most organizations benefit from a phased VPN-to-ZTNA migration:

Phase 1: Parallel Deployment (Months 1-3)

• Deploy ZTNA alongside existing VPN
• Migrate cloud application access to ZTNA first
• Maintain VPN for legacy applications and network-level access
• Train users on new access methods

Phase 2: Application Migration (Months 3-6)

• Move additional applications to ZTNA
• Configure identity-based policies per application
• Reduce VPN use to legacy-only scenarios
• Monitor and optimize ZTNA performance

Phase 3: VPN Retirement (Months 6-12)

• Migrate remaining applications to ZTNA or alternative
• Decommission VPN infrastructure
• Implement full zero trust policies
• Continuous monitoring and policy refinement

Preferred Data Insight: For Piedmont Triad manufacturers with both cloud applications and on-premises production systems, we typically recommend ZTNA for business applications combined with tightly controlled, monitored VPN access for specific OT management functions that require network-level connectivity.

Security Comparison: VPN vs. Modern Alternatives

Cost Comparison for NC Small Businesses

While modern solutions cost more per-user than basic VPN, they eliminate the capital cost of VPN appliances, reduce breach risk (average breach cost: $4.88M per IBM), and improve productivity through better application performance.

How Preferred Data Modernizes Remote Access for NC Businesses

With 37 years serving North Carolina businesses and a BBB A+ rating, Preferred Data Corporation helps organizations throughout High Point, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, and the Piedmont Triad transition from legacy VPN to modern secure access solutions.

Our remote access services include:

• Remote access security assessment and planning
• ZTNA implementation with zero trust policies
• Network architecture for hybrid work
• Identity management and MFA deployment
• Cloud security for SaaS access
• Managed security monitoring for remote access
• VPN-to-ZTNA migration planning and execution
• Ongoing policy optimization and user support

Secure your remote workforce. Call (336) 886-3282 or contact us online to modernize your remote access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I completely eliminate VPN if I adopt ZTNA?

Most organizations can eliminate VPN for 80-95% of remote access use cases. The remaining cases (legacy applications requiring network-level access, OT system management, specific administrative functions) may still benefit from tightly controlled VPN connections. A phased approach that migrates application-by-application provides the smoothest transition.

Is ZTNA more expensive than VPN for a small NC business?

Per-user costs for ZTNA ($8-$30/month) are typically higher than basic VPN ($5-$15/month), but total cost of ownership often favors ZTNA when factoring in reduced breach risk, eliminated VPN appliance hardware costs, simplified management, and improved user productivity. For a 50-person business, the monthly premium is $200-$750 for significantly better security.

How does ZTNA handle manufacturing applications that require local network access?

For manufacturing applications requiring local OT network connectivity (SCADA clients, PLC programming tools), ZTNA can provide access to jump servers or remote desktop sessions rather than direct network access. This maintains zero trust principles while enabling necessary OT management. Sensitive production systems should never be directly accessible from remote locations.

What happens to remote access if the ZTNA cloud service goes down?

Enterprise ZTNA providers maintain globally distributed infrastructure with 99.99%+ availability SLAs. However, any cloud dependency introduces availability risk. Mitigation strategies include: maintaining emergency VPN access for critical scenarios, selecting providers with geographic redundancy, and ensuring on-premises applications remain accessible from the local network during cloud outages.

How long does it take to migrate from VPN to ZTNA for a 50-person business?

A typical VPN-to-ZTNA migration for a 50-person North Carolina business takes 3-6 months for full transition. Phase 1 (deploying ZTNA alongside VPN) takes 2-4 weeks. Application migration occurs over 2-4 months. VPN retirement happens once all applications are successfully migrated. During the transition, both systems operate in parallel to ensure zero disruption.