By Kent Lawson, CEO, Private Communications Corporation
For years, replacing legacy VPNs was treated as a routine infrastructure task. A quiet, background IT refresh to enhance network speeds, replace hardware, support hybrid work, and enable cloud adoption. Security was rarely part of the conversation.
As cyber threats grow exponentially more sophisticated and workforces remain distributed, replacing legacy VPNs is no longer a technical chore. It’s a non-negotiable for a strong security posture. While risk management and security controls are always top priorities for IT teams, in 2027, outside influences will pressure them to modernize remote access.
Remote Access is a Business Risk
Traditional VPNs were built for a world that no longer exists. Employees no longer sit in corporate headquarters five days a week and access resources behind a well-defined network perimeter. The operational realities today could not be more different.
Employees, third-party vendors, and contractors log in using both managed and unmanaged devices. On any given workday, they move between Microsoft 365, Teams, Salesforce, accounting systems, CRM platforms, file repositories, remote management tools, and other services. They log on from their home office, the coffee shop, an airplane, even a different continent than the rest of their team. Every connection outside of a defined network perimeter expands the attack surface and increases organizational risk.
Compromised remote access can leak sensitive customer data and personally identifiable information (PII), significantly disrupt business operations, and jeopardize trust with customers and partners. This is more than maintaining IT infrastructure. Businesses must monitor and control remote access to effectively manage risk.
Insurers and Customers Raise the Bar
Cyber insurers are increasing scrutiny around perimeter-based security. They want stronger access controls, and they’re raising expectations around multifactor authentication, endpoint protection, and remote access.
Customer security requirements areas also making cybersecurity a condition of doing business. Enterprises recognize that a security incident at a smaller vendor can create significant exposure to their own business. They want confidence that third parties accessing their systems are not introducing unnecessary risk.
The scrutiny is warranted. Traditional VPNs can grant authenticated users broad perimeter-wide access to your network. If a threat actor steals a single set of credentials, the VPN doesn’t keep them out. Instead, it grants unrestricted lateral movement across the entire organization. One compromised account can quickly escalate into a catastrophic breach. Businesses want visibility into who is accessing their resources, from what devices, and whether those connections meet security requirements.
Network Connectivity to Controlled Access
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) offers a more targeted security approach. Instead of granting wide-open network access, ZTNA enforces strict, application-specific access based on what the user needs for their role. Access can be granted based on user identity, device posture, and specific permissions. The network remains invisible to those without authorization, effectively reducing the attack surface.
Small and medium-sized businesses must also rethink how they approach remote access. With the support of managed service providers (MSPs), the priority has shifted from ensuring employees can connect from anywhere to ensuring they can access only what they need and when they need it. Plus, demonstrating that these controls are in place is becoming critical to securing insurance coverage, maintaining customer relationships, and competing for larger business opportunities. Managed service providers (MSPs) can also help clients maintain continuous compliance, strengthen their security posture, and adapt their defenses as threats evolve.
As the lines between internal networks, cloud environments, and third-party access continue to blur, businesses need a more deliberate approach to securing remote access. In 2027, the organizations that rethink remote access will be better positioned to manage risk, meet evolving security requirements, and protect the critical resources their business relies on. Remote access will be measured by the control and visibility it provides. For SMBs in particular, modernizing access isn’t just about keeping up with changing technologies. It’s about building a security foundation that supports growth without introducing risk.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kent Lawson is the CEO of Private Communications Corporation, a cybersecurity company he founded in 2012 to deliver fast, reliable, and private VPN connectivity for businesses and consumers alike. Today, PCC’s flagship products include Private WiFi, a consumer-facing VPN platform, and Remote WorkForce Enhanced VPN, a cloud-native solution built for the MSP channel that offers The Glide Path to ZTNA™, giving partners a proven, margin-rich framework for modernizing client security without disruption.
