Solution

VPN Replacement

Replace your legacy VPN with Total Access Control — faster, more secure, application-aware zero trust access that eliminates the network-level exposure VPN was never designed to prevent.

The Problem

VPN Was Built for a Different Era

VPN was designed when the enterprise perimeter was clear — office inside, internet outside. It grants network-level access, meaning a connected user can reach anything on that network segment. One compromised credential gives an attacker the same access as your employee.

Today’s hybrid workforce, cloud-hosted applications, contractor access, and AI agent workflows have made that model structurally broken. VPN cannot provide application-level access control, cannot enforce device posture continuously, and cannot govern non-human identities.

Most enterprises know they need to move on. The question is what they replace VPN with — and whether that replacement actually solves the problem or just moves it.

Why VPN Fails Modern Security Requirements

Network-level access
Once connected, users can reach any system on the network segment

No continuous validation
Device compliance checked only at connect time, not per-request

No application granularity
Cannot restrict access to specific applications or resources

Split tunnel blind spots
Traffic outside the tunnel bypasses all controls

Lateral movement risk
Compromised credentials provide full network traversal capability

Cannot govern AI agents
No concept of non-human identity or programmatic access control
The TAC Approach

Application-Level Access. Not Network-Level.

TAC’s reverse proxy architecture grants access to specific applications — not to networks. Users get exactly what they need, nothing more.

Per-Application Access

Every user gets access to specific applications, not network segments. A contractor accessing the project portal cannot reach HR systems, financial tools, or any other application they are not explicitly permitted to access.

Continuous Device Posture

Device compliance validated on every request — OS patches, antivirus, disk encryption, domain join. Not just at connection time. A device that falls out of compliance loses access immediately, mid-session.

Full Audit Visibility

Every access event logged with complete attribution — who accessed which application, from which device, at what time, and what policy decision was made. No VPN blind spots.

Human and AI Agents

TAC governs both human users and AI agents through the same policy engine — eliminating the uncontrolled service account API keys that VPN never addressed.

Legacy App Support

TAC protects every application — including the thick-client and forms-based systems your VPN currently covers but your identity provider cannot reach. No application left unprotected.

One Open Port

All traffic flows through a single TLS 1.3 encrypted port. Every inbound firewall port your VPN currently requires can be closed — reducing your attack surface to near zero.

Comparison

TAC vs. VPN

Capability Traditional VPN Total Access Control
Access granularity Network segment Per application
Device posture checks At connection only Every request
Legacy application support Network only, no auth uplift Full MFA injection
AI agent governance ✕ None ✓ Full policy control
Inbound firewall ports Multiple required One (TLS 1.3)
Lateral movement risk High — full network access None — app-level only
User experience Client install, slow connect Browser-based, instant
Audit trail Connection logs only Full per-request attribution
MFA enforcement Pre-tunnel only Per application, per request
Deploy time Weeks to months Hours
Migration

Run TAC Alongside VPN During Transition

TAC does not require a forklift migration. You can deploy it alongside your existing VPN, onboard applications incrementally, and retire VPN connections as each application is migrated — at your own pace and on your own timeline.

Most organisations complete the transition to full TAC coverage within 90 days of initial deployment, though some choose a longer parallel-run period for risk management or compliance reasons.

TAC deploys in hours — not months. Your first applications can be protected the same day your SVA goes live.

Typical Migration Path

1
Deploy the SVA
Stand up your first Secure Virtual Appliance on-prem or in your cloud environment. Operational in hours.
2
Onboard priority applications
Start with your highest-risk or most-accessed applications. Publish them through TAC while VPN remains active.
3
Enroll users incrementally
Roll TAC out to user groups progressively. Validate experience and policy before expanding.
4
Migrate remaining applications
Work through your application inventory systematically, covering legacy and cloud apps alike.
5
Decommission VPN
Once all applications are covered and users are enrolled, retire your VPN concentrator and close those firewall ports.

Ready to Replace Your VPN?

Book a 30-minute session with a PortSys engineer and we will show you exactly how TAC replaces VPN in your specific environment.

Book a DemoExplore the Platform

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