As organizations continue to adapt to evolving digital work environments, the debate between Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) has become increasingly relevant. Both technologies aim to secure remote access and connect users to company resources, but they are built on fundamentally different architectures and serve different operational needs.
SASE is a converged framework that integrates networking and security functions, such as Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), firewall-as-a-service, secure web gateway (SWG), and, in most cases, software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN), into a single platform. It is designed to provide secure, reliable access to applications and data regardless of where users are located or where the services they need are hosted.
VPNs, on the other hand, are more traditional tools that create encrypted tunnels between a user’s device and the corporate network. This allows the user to access resources as if they were inside the organization’s perimeter. VPNs can be hardware-based or software-based and are commonly deployed to provide remote employees with a secure channel for accessing internal systems.
In the following sections of this article, we’ll break down how these two technologies function, compare their security models and performance impact, examine their ability to scale in enterprise environments, and assess how well they support remote and hybrid workforce scenarios. We’ll cover practical considerations around implementation and deployment, and explore whether SASE and VPNs can coexist in a complementary security strategy.
This foundational comparison aims to help IT leaders, security architects, and decision-makers understand which solution—or combination of solutions—best aligns with their organizational needs.
What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a technology that creates a secure, encrypted connection between a user’s device and a private network, allowing data to travel through a protected ‘tunnel’ across the internet. This encryption ensures privacy and shields transmitted data from interception by malicious actors or third parties. VPNs are primarily used to grant users access to internal corporate resources by masking their external IP addresses and simulating on-premises presence.
In traditional office environments, VPNs have been a cornerstone for remote connectivity, enabling employees to securely access email servers, intranet systems, databases, and file storage. As remote work has expanded, the role of VPNs remains crucial, particularly for organizations that continue to rely on perimeter-based security models.. They offer a familiar, straightforward method of extending internal network access to employees working from home or on the go.
However, while VPNs are effective at protecting data in transit, they were not originally designed for the scale and complexity of today’s cloud-centric, distributed work environments. As such, their limitations become more pronounced in hybrid and multi-cloud settings, laying the groundwork for more modern approaches like SASE.
What is SASE?
Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a modern architecture that combines network and security services into a unified, cloud-based framework, though some SASE solutions may support on-premises or hybrid deployments for specific use cases. Unlike traditional approaches that separate networking from security, SASE integrates both functions to deliver consistent, secure access to applications and resources from any location.
At its core, SASE brings together several components: Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) for optimized traffic routing, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) for identity-based access control, Secure Web Gateway (SWG) to protect against online threats, and Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) to monitor and secure the use of cloud services. These tools work in tandem within the SASE architecture to ensure security is applied as close to the user and the resource as possible, regardless of geographic distribution.
Designed to scale alongside cloud environments and distributed workforces, SASE is particularly well-suited for modern IT operations. It provides a scalable, flexible, and policy-driven way to protect users, devices, and data across a wide range of environments without the complexity of traditional perimeter-based solutions. As businesses continue to shift toward hybrid and remote work models, SASE offers a future-ready solution capable of securing today’s decentralized digital infrastructure.
Which from SASE or VPN is More Secure?
When comparing the security posture of SASE and VPN, the distinction begins with their foundational philosophies. VPNs rely on perimeter-based security, where users are granted broad access to the internal network once authenticated. This model assumes implicit trust within the network and lacks granular access control, which can create vulnerabilities, especially in complex, distributed environments. By contrast, SASE is built on a Zero Trust model, where no user or device is trusted by default. Every connection request is subject to strict identity verification, access controls, and continuous policy enforcement. This significantly reduces the risk of lateral movement by attackers, as users are only granted access to specific applications or resources based on predefined policies.
In addition to its Zero Trust foundation, SASE integrates advanced security features such as Secure Web Gateways (SWG), Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB), data loss prevention (DLP), and real-time traffic inspection. VPNs primarily focus on encrypting the connection, protecting data in transit, but offering limited visibility or threat detection capabilities once the connection is established.
Another key difference lies in how each solution manages validation. VPNs typically validate a user at the point of login, often referred to as static validation, while SASE applies continuous validation. This means that user behavior, session context, and security posture are monitored in real time, allowing for dynamic responses to threats.
Altogether, SASE offers a more robust and adaptive security model than VPNs, making it a superior choice for protecting modern and distributed environments.
Does SASE Offer Faster Performance Than VPN?
Yes, SASE generally offers faster performance than VPN, primarily due to its more modern architecture and traffic routing capabilities. One of the major drawbacks of traditional VPNs is their reliance on centralized routing. When a remote user connects via VPN, their traffic is typically routed through a central corporate server or data center before reaching its final destination—often the internet or a cloud-based application. This backhauling introduces significant latency and can degrade the user experience, particularly for cloud services.
SASE, by contrast, supports direct-to-cloud connections. It uses SD-WAN technology to intelligently route traffic over the most efficient paths, based on real-time conditions and performance metrics. This approach reduces latency and eliminates the inefficiencies of centralized routing, delivering a smoother and faster experience for end users. It’s important to note that while many SASE solutions are cloud-based, there are options that can be deployed at the edge. These edge-based deployments provide the same integrated security and networking benefits without requiring reliance on centralized cloud infrastructure, making them a suitable choice for organizations with strict data residency requirements or those operating in environments with limited cloud connectivity.
In addition, SASE avoids the bottlenecks commonly associated with traditional VPN infrastructure. As VPN gateways become congested, especially during high-demand periods, performance suffers. Because SASE distributes security and networking functions across multiple points and often leverages cloud-scale infrastructure, it can more easily handle surges in traffic without compromising speed or reliability.
For organizations with remote or hybrid workforces relying heavily on cloud services, SASE’s performance advantages make it a compelling alternative to VPN-based setups.
Can SASE Completely Replace a VPN?
Yes and no. In many scenarios, particularly in cloud-heavy environments or organizations embracing hybrid work models, SASE can entirely replace traditional VPN solutions. With its integrated security stack and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), SASE offers a more scalable, secure, and performance-optimized framework for managing remote access. For enterprises that have transitioned most of their applications to the cloud and require consistent policy enforcement across distributed users and devices, SASE presents a holistic replacement.
However, there are still cases where VPNs remain relevant. Some legacy applications and systems that reside in internal data centers and are not easily accessible via cloud-friendly protocols may still depend on VPN connectivity. Regulatory or operational requirements in certain industries necessitate the use of traditional VPNs for specific workloads.
As a result, many organizations adopt a hybrid approach using SASE as the primary access solution while retaining VPN access for select use cases. This strategy allows for a gradual transition and avoids disrupting workflows that are deeply reliant on existing VPN infrastructure.
Ultimately, whether SASE can fully replace a VPN depends on the organization’s specific infrastructure, application landscape, compliance obligations, and long-term IT strategy.
Which from SASE and VPN Scales Better for Large Enterprises?
SASE scales better for large enterprises due to its flexible, service-based architecture and inherent support for distributed environments. SASE leverages a cloud-native or edge-deployable framework that allows organizations to expand coverage quickly across multiple sites without the need for duplicating hardware infrastructure. This agility makes it ideal for enterprises managing global operations, branch offices, and a remote or hybrid workforce.
In contrast, VPNs often rely on hardware appliances or centralized servers, which can become bottlenecks as the number of users increases. Scaling a traditional VPN environment usually requires additional gateways, load balancers, and configuration effort—each of which adds cost and complexity.
SASE simplifies large-scale deployments through centralized policy management, real-time analytics, and seamless onboarding for users and devices. IT teams can apply consistent access rules across the enterprise from a single interface, making it far easier to scale securely and efficiently. Whether deployed in a public cloud, on-premises edge locations, or as a hybrid solution, SASE provides a level of scalability that VPNs struggle to match in modern enterprise environments.
Is SASE More Expensive Than VPN?
Not necessarily—while SASE may come with higher initial setup costs compared to traditional VPN solutions, it often proves to be more cost-effective over the long term. VPNs typically require smaller upfront investments, especially when using basic, software-based implementations. However, as organizations scale, VPN infrastructures often demand additional hardware appliances, such as concentrators and gateways, along with ongoing maintenance and IT support, all of which increase the total cost of ownership.
SASE consolidates multiple standalone products—like VPNs, firewalls, secure web gateways, and CASBs—into one unified platform. This reduces the need for managing separate licenses, vendors, and hardware, resulting in lower operational and administrative costs. In addition, SASE automates patching and software updates, which minimizes manual upkeep and further reduces labor costs for IT teams.
From a scalability standpoint, SASE’s service-based and often cloud-optional design allows organizations to expand access and coverage rapidly without the need to install or configure new hardware at each site. This flexibility helps keep infrastructure and deployment costs predictable even as user and traffic volumes grow.
Ultimately, whether SASE or VPN is more expensive depends on the organizational context. Small businesses with limited remote access needs might find VPNs sufficient and cost-effective. But for enterprises managing distributed teams, remote workforces, or multiple cloud applications, SASE delivers greater long-term value through integration, scalability, and efficiency.
Which from SASE and VPN Works Best With Cloud Applications?
SASE works best with cloud applications due to its design principles and built-in support for modern network architectures. SASE leverages SD-WAN to optimize routing for cloud-bound traffic and applies identity-based security policies to ensure that users access only the applications they are authorized for, regardless of location. This enables seamless and secure connectivity to cloud services without the need to backhaul traffic through centralized data centers.
Traditional VPNs, by contrast, were not built with cloud workloads in mind. VPNs typically route all user traffic through a corporate network before it reaches the cloud, which introduces latency and diminishes application performance. This architecture not only affects user experience but also creates inefficiencies and potential single points of failure.
With SASE, access to cloud applications is direct, efficient, and secured by multiple integrated services such as CASB, SWG, and ZTNA. These tools help monitor usage, enforce compliance, and protect sensitive data in transit. As cloud adoption grows across industries, SASE proves to be a more effective solution for securing and accelerating cloud application access.
How do SASE and VPN Handle Remote and Hybrid Work?
Both SASE and VPN address the need for secure remote access, but they do so in fundamentally different ways. VPNs use secure tunneling to connect remote users to internal networks, effectively extending the corporate perimeter to wherever the employee is located. This model works well in traditional setups but can struggle with performance, scalability, and security in more distributed environments.
SASE, by contrast, is purpose-built to support remote and hybrid workforces. It uses identity-based, context-aware access controls to grant users access only to the specific applications and resources they need. Combined with Zero Trust principles and integrated traffic inspection, this approach minimizes the risk of overexposure and lateral movement within the network.
Additionally, SASE provides consistent policy enforcement and visibility across all users, devices, and locations. Whether an employee is working from home, a coworking space, or a branch office, the experience and protections remain uniform. This makes SASE a more scalable and secure choice for organizations supporting a dynamic, location-agnostic workforce.
Which between SASE and VPN is Easier to Deploy?
SASE is generally easier to deploy than traditional VPN solutions, especially in modern, cloud-enabled environments. As a service-based model, SASE can be rapidly implemented through cloud platforms or edge infrastructure without the need for significant hardware installation. Many SASE solutions are managed through a centralized console, making configuration, policy updates, and user onboarding simpler and more scalable.
In contrast, VPN deployments often involve more complexity. They may require specialized software installations on user devices, provisioning of hardware appliances, and manual configuration for secure tunneling and network routing. These factors not only extend deployment timelines but also demand greater IT resources for setup and ongoing maintenance.
The lightweight, software-defined nature of SASE makes it particularly well-suited for businesses looking to simplify deployment and scale security without the infrastructure burdens typically associated with traditional VPN implementations.
Which Aligns with Zero-Trust Security Models?
SASE aligns far more closely with Zero Trust security models than traditional VPNs. At its core, Zero Trust assumes that no user, device, or application—whether inside or outside the network perimeter—should be inherently trusted. SASE is built around this philosophy, enforcing continuous identity verification, contextual access policies, and least-privilege access. Security decisions are made based on real-time insights about user behavior, device health, location, and the sensitivity of the data being accessed.
In contrast, VPNs operate on a perimeter-based model. Once users authenticate and connect to the corporate network, they are often granted broad access to internal systems and resources. This implicit trust model can expose organizations to risks such as lateral movement, where an attacker who gains VPN access can move freely within the network.
SASE’s built-in support for Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and real-time threat inspection ensures that trust is continually assessed and access is tightly controlled. This makes SASE a more secure, scalable, and policy-driven solution for organizations adopting Zero Trust as a foundational security strategy.
Will SASE Make VPNs Obsolete in the Future?
No, but SASE is likely to become the dominant solution in many enterprise environments. Trends clearly favor identity-driven solutions like SASE, especially as organizations increasingly adopt hybrid work models, migrate workloads to the cloud, and require more agile, scalable infrastructure. SASE offers greater security, better performance, and easier management than traditional VPNs, making it the logical evolution for enterprises modernizing their IT strategy.
However, VPNs are not going away entirely—at least not in the near term. Some use cases still benefit from VPNs, such as accessing legacy applications hosted in on-premises data centers, connecting to networks with low cloud maturity, or satisfying regulatory requirements that mandate certain types of encrypted connectivity. In such scenarios, VPNs continue to serve a functional role. Additionally, it’s important to note that not all SASE solutions are dependent on cloud infrastructure. Some vendors offer on-premise or endpoint-deployable SASE options, enabling organizations with specific operational or regulatory needs to implement the architecture within their own infrastructure without relying on the public cloud.
Many organizations today use a hybrid approach, leveraging SASE for primary access and performance while retaining VPN for specific workloads or transitional purposes. As more security and network functionality continues to consolidate into SASE platforms, the reliance on VPNs will likely diminish. Still, VPNs will coexist with SASE in environments that require them—until those needs evolve or phase out.
Can SASE and VPN Work Together?
Yes, SASE and VPN can work together, and many organizations currently adopt a hybrid model where both technologies complement each other. SASE is typically used as the core framework for secure, scalable access, while VPNs continue to serve specialized functions, particularly in legacy environments or for accessing internal applications not yet migrated to the cloud. In such hybrid work setups, VPNs can be used for secure access to on-premises systems, while SASE handles broader user traffic, enforces security policies at the edge, and integrates with identity-based controls. This approach allows organizations to maintain continuity while transitioning to a more modern architecture.
For businesses undergoing digital transformation, this coexistence offers a practical and flexible strategy. They can gradually phase out VPNs where feasible while expanding SASE coverage, ensuring security and performance without disrupting operations. Over time, as more systems become cloud-accessible and Zero Trust adoption grows, the reliance on VPNs is expected to decline further, but until then, hybrid SASE-VPN deployments offer a stable bridge.
