VPNs Begin to Lose Their Relevance, Even as They Remain Difficult to Shed

March 1, 2021

SC Magazine

Virtual private networks have been around for decades, but the past year forced many organizations to expand their use to keep up with growing telework trends. In response, criminal and state-backed hacking groups stepped up their own exploitation of the technology as well.

A recent report from Zscaler found that VPNs are still overwhelmingly popular: 93% of companies surveyed reported that they have used them in some capacity. The flip side of that coin is a similarly broad recognition of the dangers and tradeoffs involved, with 94% saying they are also aware of the security risks associated with using VPNs and two-thirds (67%) acknowledging that they are considering alternative options for secure remote access.