I Locked Myself Out of My Own Server for Three Days
I spent three hours last Tuesday trying to connect to my own staging server through an outdated VPN configuration. I eventually misconfigured a firewall rule and locked myself out entirely. That was the moment I realized I had to figure out how to set up a zero trust network for remote teams.
Traditional VPNs are practically obsolete for modern remote work. They give users the keys to the entire castle once they log in, which is a massive security risk if a contractor’s laptop gets compromised. I wanted a setup where every user and device is verified continuously, strictly following the official zero trust architecture guidelines from NIST.
Most traditional VPN services are too clunky for agile remote workers. In my experience, moving to a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) model eliminates the frustrating connection drops and dramatically tightens security. Here is exactly how I built mine, and the tools I actually trust to get it done.
The Strategy: How to Set Up a Zero Trust Network for Remote Teams
Before buying any software, you need to understand the core philosophy. You are shifting from a “trust but verify” model to a “never trust, always verify” model. This means building a perimeter around specific applications, not your entire network.
To do this right, you need three things: an identity provider (like Google Workspace or Okta), a device posture check, and an access gateway. I highly recommend pairing this setup with reliable password managers for your entire team. If your baseline credential security is weak, no network architecture can save you.
The market for these tools has exploded recently. In fact, a recent report by Gartner highlights that zero trust investments are currently driving the majority of enterprise security spending. But you don’t need an enterprise budget to pull this off. Let me show you the five specific platforms I tested to replace my old VPN, complete with the honest frustrations I encountered along the way.
1. Tailscale
Easiest Setup
Best for: Solo developers and small technical teams needing instant connectivity.
Pricing: Free plan available; Premium starts at $6/user/month.
When I first installed Tailscale, I genuinely thought I had skipped a step. It uses WireGuard under the hood to create a peer-to-peermesh network between your devices. I installed the app on my Mac, ran a single command on my Linux server, and they were talking to each other instantly. No port forwarding required.
Who should NOT use this: Non-technical teams who need granular, UI-based access controls for dozens of distinct user roles.
Friction Point: Configuring Access Control Lists (ACLs) requires writing raw JSON code in their web editor. If you miss a single comma, the whole policy breaks, which is wildly frustrating for simple setups.
Pros- Setup takes literally under five minutes.
- Incredibly generous free tier (3 users, 100 devices).
- MagicDNS handles IP routing invisibly.
Cons- ACL management is strictly code-based.
- No built-in web application firewall.
- Can drain mobile battery slightly faster than expected.
2. Twingate
Best Pure ZTNA
Best for: Growing remote teams that need strict, app-level access rules.
Pricing: Free plan available; Teams plan is $5/user/month.
Twingate takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of connecting devices to a network, you deploy a lightweight “connector” next to your resources. I used a Docker container to spin up a connector for my internal database in about ten minutes. It integrates flawlessly with my Google Workspace identity.
Who should NOT use this: Anyone intimidated by Docker or basic command-line operations, as deploying the connectors requires some server knowledge.
Friction Point: The client application occasionally fails to wake up from sleep mode on MacOS. I had to manually restart the client twice last week just to load my staging environment.
Pros- True zero-trust micro-segmentation by default.
- Excellent visual dashboard for access policies.
- Client runs silently without routing all internet traffic.
Cons- Connectors require self-hosting via Docker or Linux.
- Occasional desktop client syncing bugs.
- Support on the free tier is community-only.
3. Cloudflare Zero Trust
Most Features
Best for: Web developers who already manage their domains through Cloudflare.
Pricing: Free for up to 50 users; Pay-as-you-go upgrades available.
Cloudflare’s offering is genuinely unbelievable for the price. I set up Cloudflare Tunnels to securely expose a local web app to the internet without opening a single incoming firewall port. The platform also includes DNS filtering, which blocks malware before it even hits your browser.
Who should NOT use this: Users looking for a simple, plug-and-play VPN replacement. The learning curve here is incredibly steep.
Friction Point: The dashboard is an absolute maze. Cloudflare has so many overlapping products that finding the specific menu to approve a new user device took me nearly twenty minutes.
Pros- Free for an astonishing 50 users.
- Includes built-in DNS threat filtering.
- Cloudflare Tunnels are incredibly secure and fast.
Cons- Overwhelming and poorly organized UI.
- Documentation is scattered across multiple portals.
- Mobile app (1.1.1.1) can be temperamental with local networks.
4. NordLayer
Best for Non-Techies
Best for: Small agencies transitioning away from consumer VPNs.
Pricing: Basic plan starts at $8/user/month (annual billing).
NordLayer is built by the same team behind NordVPN, and it shows. The desktop application is highly polished and feels completely familiar. I added two freelance writers to the network, and they figured out how to authenticate and connect without asking me a single question.
Who should NOT use this: Solo freelancers or tiny bootstrapped startups due to strict minimum user requirements.
Friction Point: They enforce a strict 5-user minimum on their accounts. As a one-person business who only occasionally hires contractors, paying for unused seats felt like a completely unnecessary tax.
Pros- Extremely intuitive interface for end-users.
- Dedicated IP options are very easy to set up.
- Strong integration with Azure and Google Workspace.
Cons- Mandatory 5-user minimum billing.
- Advanced features require the expensive $14/mo tier.
- Less granular control than Twingate.
5. Perimeter 81
Best for Compliance
Best for: Healthcare or finance teams that need strict audit logs.
Pricing: Starts at $8/user/month plus a $40/month gateway fee.
Perimeter 81 is a heavy-hitter in the network security space. When I tested their monitoring dashboard, I was blown away by the level of detail. It tracks exactly which user accessed what resource, from what IP, and at what specific time. It is a dream tool if you are trying to pass a SOC 2 audit.
Who should NOT use this: Anyone on a tight budget. It is explicitly designed for mid-market companies.
Friction Point: The pricing structure is brutal for small teams. Not only do you pay per user with a 10-seat minimum, but you also have to pay a base fee of $40 per month just to keep your primary network gateway running.
Pros- Unmatched network visibility and logging.
- Excellent built-in compliance reporting tools.
- High-speed dedicated global gateways.
Cons- Prohibitively expensive 10-user minimum.
- Mandatory additional gateway fees.
- Overkill for simple web app access.
Comparison Table 📊
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Free Plan | Rating |
|---|
| Tailscale |
Fast setups |
$6/user/mo |
Yes (3 users) |
4.9/5 ⭐ |
| Twingate |
Granular ZTNA |
$5/user/mo |
Yes (5 users) |
4.8/5 ⭐ |
| Cloudflare Zero Trust |
Web developers |
Pay-as-you-go |
Yes (50 users) |
4.5/5 ⭐ |
| NordLayer |
Non-tech teams |
$8/user/mo |
No |
4.2/5 ⭐ |
| Perimeter 81 |
Compliance |
$8/user/mo + gateway |
No |
4.0/5 ⭐ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to learn how to set up a zero trust network for remote teams?
The absolute easiest approach is to start with an identity provider like Google Workspace, then deploy a mesh network tool like Tailscale. You do not need to replace all your hardware at once. Just secure your most critical server first and expand from there.
Is a ZTNA better than a traditional VPN?
Yes, in almost every scenario. A traditional VPN grants access to your entire local network once a user logs in. A ZTNA only grants access to specific applications on a case-by-case basis, completely isolating potential breaches.
Do I need to hire an IT professional for this?
Not necessarily. If you use Cloudflare Zero Trust or Twingate, the setup is mostly done via web interfaces and simple command-line scripts. However, if your network architecture is highly complex, hiring a consultant might save you a weekend of headaches.
Does a zero trust architecture slow down internet speeds?
Actually, it often improves speeds. Because ZTNA tools like Tailscale route traffic point-to-point rather than bottlenecking everything through a central VPN server, your latency drops significantly. I noticed a massive improvement during video calls.
My Final Verdict on How to Set Up a Zero Trust Network for Remote Teams 🥇
If you just want things to work instantly without reading ten pages of documentation, Tailscale is the undisputed winner. It took me less than five minutes to link my laptop to my staging server securely. It is the tool I personally kept using after testing.
However, if you are building out a more complex cybersecurity software stack and need strict micro-segmentation, Twingate is the better choice. Its visual policy builder makes managing contractor access incredibly clear. Stop relying on outdated VPNs and make the switch — your peace of mind is worth the afternoon of setup.
Written by Giorgi Sakandelidze
I independently test and review software tools to help fellow solopreneurs find the exact right solution. My hands-on testing process covers real-world freelance use cases, pricing accuracy, and genuine limitations — not recycled vendor marketing copy.
Learn about my review methodology →
🕒 Last updated: 2026-06-10 — We update our reviews whenever tools change pricing or features.
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