The End of VPNs : Why Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is Winning in 2026

For over two decades, the Virtual Private Network (VPN) was the "gold standard" for remote access.

But as we move further into 2026, the industry is witnessing a mass evacuation.

New data suggests that 65% of enterprises are planning to ditch their VPN services entirely by the end of the year, pivoting toward Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).

At Hacklido, we’ve seen plenty of "secure" technologies come and go, but the shift from VPN to ZTNA isn’t just a trend, it’s a survival tactic.

The "Castle-and-Moat" Fallacy

Traditional VPNs operate on an Implicit Trust model.

Once a user (or an attacker with stolen credentials) bypasses the perimeter, they are "inside the castle."

From there, they can move laterally scanning servers, dumping databases, and planting ransomware across the entire network.

ZTNA flips the script.

It assumes the network is already compromised ("Assume Breach").

Instead of a tunnel to the network, ZTNA provides a secure connection to a specific application.

Why 2026 is the Breaking Point

Several factors have turned the "reliable" VPN into a massive security liability:

  • The 0-Day Surge: VPN appliances have become the #1 target for state-sponsored actors and ransomware gangs. In the last year, 58% of major breaches started at a legacy VPN gateway.
  • Performance Bottlenecks: Modern hybrid teams hate the "VPN lag." ZTNA connects users directly to cloud apps without "hairpinning" traffic through a central data center, making it faster and more scalable.
  • Identity is the New Perimeter: With 70% of today’s attacks targeting Identity, ZTNA’s ability to continuously verify device health and user context (not just a password) is essential.

Hacklido Pro-Tips: Making the Switch

If your org is still "tunneling" like it’s 2015, it’s time for a Root-Level Reset:

  1. Kill the Broad Access: Start by migrating your most "pwnable" high-value assets (like HR or Finance portals) to ZTNA.
  2. Enforce Micro-segmentation: Ensure that even if a Script Kiddie grabs a credential, they are stuck in a "zone of one" with nowhere to go.
  3. Audit Your Shadow IT: Use ZTNA’s visibility to see which "Ghost" apps your team is using without permission.

Hacklido Note: Don't let your "secure" tunnel become a highway for hackers.

In 2026, if you aren't verifying every single packet, you're basically leaving the back door wide open.

Stay ahead. Stay dangerous.

Team Hacklido ❤️
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