VPN replacement: are your controls keeping up with hybrid work?

TL;DR: Legacy VPNs are increasingly a poor default for secure remote access because they add complexity, backhaul latency and flat-network risk while granting broader network reach than many users need, according to DNSFilter. The practical shift is toward policy-driven access that separates private-application access, encrypted internet traffic and continuous policy enforcement.

Editorial analysis by NHI Mgmt Group, based on content published by DNSFilter: “VPN Replacement Guide: How to Choose the Right VPN Alternative”.

Key questions

Q: What breaks when legacy VPNs are used as the default remote access model?

A: Legacy VPNs break down when they are asked to do too much.

Q: Why do broad VPN sessions increase lateral movement risk?

A: Broad VPN sessions increase risk because authentication often places the user onto a network segment rather than a single resource.

Q: How do security teams know whether remote admin access is too broad?

A: Look for accounts that can reach servers, stop services, or manage recovery tooling without task-specific approval or expiry.

Practitioner guidance

• Define access by use case first Separate private-application access, internet traffic protection and DNS-layer policy enforcement before selecting replacement controls.
• Remove broad network placement from remote sessions Limit remote users to the specific applications or services they need, rather than placing them onto a larger internal network segment.
• Make device posture part of the access decision Check operating system status, endpoint protection and management state before and during access so that identity alone does not open the session.

Bottom line: Legacy VPNs are increasingly a poor fit for hybrid work because they grant broad network reach where application-scoped access is usually enough.

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