Microsoft Global Secure Access: The future without a VPN

🌍 What is Microsoft Global Secure Access?

Microsoft Global Secure Access (GSA) is a Zero Trust-based solution that provides secure access to enterprise applications and data without the need for a full network connection. It is part of Microsoft Entra and provides a more secure and efficient alternative to VPNs.

With GSA, users get per-application access instead of full network access. This minimizes risk and ensures better security and performance. 🎯

 

🔎 VPN vs. Global Secure Access: The Key Differences

🔑 1. Access Management

✔️ VPN: Provides access to the entire corporate network once a user is connected. This can lead to excessive permissions and security risks.
✔️ GSA: Works with per-application access, allowing users to access only the applications and data they really need.

 

🛡️ 2. Security model

✔️ VPN: Relies on a perimeter security model: once a user is in, they have wide access.
✔️ GSA: Applies a Zero Trust model, where every access attempt is verified based on identity, device status and other contextual factors.

 

⚡ 3. User Experience

✔️ VPN: Often requires manual connections and may result in lower network performance.
✔️ GSA: Works automatically in the background through a lightweight client, without requiring users to log in manually.

 

🎯 3 Scenarios In Which Microsoft Global Secure Access Is Ideal

💡 1. Replacing traditional VPNs.
🔹 Companies are replacing their VPN solutions with GSA to provide more secure and efficient access.
🔹 Employees no longer need to activate a VPN – connection is handled automatically and in the background.

💡 2. Secure access to hybrid and multicloud environments
🔹 Whether your data resides on-premises, in Azure, AWS or Google Cloud, GSA ensures unified, secure access.
🔹 No more complex network configurations – everything is centrally managed within Microsoft Entra.

💡 Implement Zero Trust network access 3.
🔹 Organizations that move to a Zero Trust security model benefit from fine-grained access control and minimal privileges.
🔹 Only users with the appropriate identity, device status and context are granted access to sensitive data.

 

 

🎯 Why Microsoft Global Secure Access?

✅ Greatly enhanced security thanks to Zero Trust principles
✅ Reduced risk of data leakage through fine-grained access control
✅ No more cumbersome VPN connections – faster and more stable connections
✅ Easy management via Microsoft Entra
✅ Seamless user experience without manual VPN activation

 

🚀 Conclusion

Microsoft Global Secure Access is a modern, secure and efficient solution for businesses looking to move away from traditional VPNs. Integrating with Zero Trust and Microsoft Entra, GSA offers granular control, better performance and reduced risk.

Does your organization also want to transition to a VPN-less, Zero Trust future? If so, please contact us.

 

References

¹https://learn.microsoft.com/entra/global-secure-access/overview-what-is-global-secure-access

 

About the author

My name is Alta Martes, a specialist in Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, with a focus on modern workplace management, cloud security and identity & access management. With years of experience, I help organizations optimize their IT infrastructure and create a secure, efficient digital workplace.

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