VPN vs zero-trust: which is right for your team

Most small teams in Malta still give staff a VPN, tick “remote access” off the list, and move on — until one compromised laptop turns that VPN tunnel into a highway straight into the office network.

VPN vs zero-trust is no longer a theoretical debate; it decides how much damage one stolen password or infected device can do to your business.

#VPN vs zero-trust: what’s the real difference?

Let’s strip away vendor jargon and look at how each model behaves in your actual workday.

A VPN:

• Creates an encrypted tunnel from the user’s device to your internal network.
• Authenticates once, then usually grants broad access to internal systems.
• Assumes that “inside the network” is generally safe.

Zero-trust (usually implemented as Zero Trust Network Access – ZTNA):

• Works on “never trust, always verify” — every access request is checked, every time.
• Grants access per application or resource, not to the whole network.
• Assesses identity, device health and context before allowing access.

Gartner has estimated that around 70% of new remote access deployments by 2025 would be ZTNA rather than traditional VPN — up from under 10% in 2021. That shift is driven by a simple reality: more staff on laptops, more SaaS, more hybrid work, and more attacks that start with a single compromised endpoint.

For a Malta SME, the practical difference is this: a VPN is like giving someone a master key to the office; zero-trust is like issuing a key that only opens the specific room they need, only while they’re meant to be there.

#Pros and cons of VPN for small business teams

VPNs still have a place, especially for smaller or more traditional setups. But they come with trade-offs you should be honest about.

Where VPN still works well:

• You have a mostly on-premise environment with a few office-based staff connecting from home.
• You only expose a limited set of internal systems and can keep them patched and monitored.
• Your IT team is small and needs simple, familiar tools.

Main advantages of VPN:

• Simple concept and widely supported.
• Good at encrypting traffic across untrusted networks like home Wi-Fi or public hotspots.
• Often bundled with firewalls or existing infrastructure, so upfront cost can be low.

Main risks and limitations:

• Once a user is “in”, they can often see and reach far more than they actually need.
• If a laptop is compromised, attackers can move laterally across your network.
• Traditional VPNs don’t continuously check device health or behaviour.
• Performance suffers when you push all traffic through a central tunnel, especially with cloud apps.

Several recent ransomware and Business Email Compromise incidents start with stolen credentials or a compromised remote device. When that device has a wide-open VPN into your internal systems, the attack escalates quickly. If you’re already thinking about a proper backup system or have read our post on how ransomware actually gets into small businesses, your remote access setup is the next thing to review.

#Zero-trust for SMEs: benefits, challenges and EU context

Zero-trust is no longer just for large enterprises. Vendors now bundle ZTNA into cloud security suites, and EU guidance increasingly references zero-trust principles for secure remote access and supplier access.

Key benefits for a Malta SME:

• Granular access: Users get access only to the specific apps they need, not the whole network.
• Continuous verification: Identity, device posture and context (location, time, behaviour) are checked on each request.
• Better fit for cloud: Works natively with SaaS apps and hybrid infrastructure.
• Reduced blast radius: A stolen password or compromised device is less likely to expose your full environment.

ENISA has described zero-trust as particularly relevant for remote access, service provider access and network segmentation — exactly the pressure points for smaller businesses that depend on external IT, accountants, and suppliers connecting into their systems.

Challenges to be realistic about:

• You need a clear picture of who should access what (role-based access isn’t optional anymore).
• Legacy, on-premise apps may need extra work, gateways or even replacement.
• Staff will notice if you tighten access; you must explain the “why”, not just switch tools.

The biggest gain from zero-trust in a small business isn’t fancy technology — it’s forcing you to define who genuinely needs access to each system and cutting everything else.

For Malta teams with hybrid offices, shared SaaS tools, and maybe a small on-premise server, zero-trust can align nicely with a broader move to modern cloud setups, similar to the decisions you’d make when choosing between Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace or on-premise vs cloud.

#VPN vs zero-trust: key differences for your team (comparison table)

Here’s how VPN vs zero-trust compare on the things your staff will actually feel day to day.

Aspect	Traditional VPN	Zero-trust (ZTNA)
Trust model	Trust after login; inside network seen as safer	Never trust by default; each request is verified
Access scope	Broad network-level access	Per-app or per-resource access only
Security focus	Encrypts the connection	Controls who can access what, when and from which device
Risk if device compromised	Attacker may reach many internal systems	Attacker is limited to specific apps, and can be blocked quickly
Fit for cloud/SaaS	Often clunky; routes traffic back to office	Designed to work directly with cloud apps
User experience	One login, but can be slow; full network visible	May prompt more often, but typically faster per app
Typical use case	Simple remote access to office network	Hybrid work, contractors, mixed on-prem and cloud apps

#Which is right for your team: scenarios and decision checklist

Most Malta SMEs don’t need to “go full zero-trust” overnight. You need a realistic path that matches your actual environment and budget.

#When VPN alone is probably enough

VPN can be a sensible choice if:

• You have fewer than 10–15 remote users.
• Most systems are still inside your office, with minimal external SaaS.
• You have strong endpoint security (EDR), regular patching and basic network segmentation.
• You’re not under sector-specific regulations pushing for more granular control.

In this scenario, invest in:

• Strong MFA for VPN access.
• Tight firewall rules limiting what VPN users can reach.
• Clear offboarding processes to remove access quickly.

#When you should seriously consider zero-trust

Zero-trust (or at least ZTNA for remote access) becomes the better fit when:

• A significant part of your workload is in cloud services.
• You have contractors, external IT, or suppliers regularly accessing your systems.
• Staff work from multiple locations and devices, including personal ones.
• You’ve already experienced, or are worried about, lateral movement in attacks.

In particular, teams preparing for NIS2-style obligations or looking at cyber insurance will find insurers and auditors increasingly asking about access control, device posture and segmentation — areas where a zero-trust approach scores higher than a basic VPN.

#Practical steps: how to move from VPN to zero-trust without chaos

Here’s a simple checklist to use whether you stick with VPN for now or start introducing zero-trust:

1. Map your critical apps and data List your key systems: accounting, CRM, email, file storage, ERP, industry portals. Mark which ones are on-premise and which are cloud.

2. Define who needs access to what Group staff by role (accounts, sales, operations, management) and document which apps each group truly needs. Remove “nice to have” access.

3. Tighten your VPN configuration If you keep using VPN, restrict access to only the necessary internal subnets and services. Enable MFA and enforce modern encryption and secure ciphers.

4. Pilot a zero-trust / ZTNA solution for one or two apps Start with a high-risk, high-value system (for example, remote access to an internal finance app or an admin portal). Route access through a ZTNA tool and test user experience.

5. Introduce device posture checks Require basic health checks before access: up-to-date antivirus, OS patches, disk encryption, and no known malware alerts on the device.

6. Segment your network and admin access Even with VPN, create separate zones for servers, admin tools and user workstations. Never give remote users direct access to domain controllers or core infrastructure.

7. Review incident response for remote access abuse Define how you’ll react if a VPN account is compromised: revoke tokens, disable accounts, cut specific access policies, and review logs for lateral movement.

8. Revisit the model yearly As more systems move to the cloud, revisit whether VPN is still the right central tool or whether more of your access should be moved into a zero-trust pattern.

If you want to stop worrying about remote access and who can see what, get in touch — we work with Malta businesses to make IT one less thing on your list.