# Critical Infrastructure Teams Favor VPNs

Palo Alto Networks’ 2026 critical-infrastructure cybersecurity survey found that remote-access VPN use remains more common than zero trust network access (ZTNA): 62% of respondents use VPNs, while 16% use ZTNA. The finding points to a potential modernization need for organizations and contractors supporting critical infrastructure, but the signal identifies no government solicitation, contract award, or procurement contact.

- Procurement teams and contractors can use the adoption gap to assess demand for access-visibility reviews, user and application inventories, and phased ZTNA implementation.
- Organizations evaluating remote-access improvements can use these activities to define scope and identify potential transition needs; the survey does not establish a government mandate or specific procurement timeline.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Information Technology
**Topics:** Cybersecurity
**Published:** October 22, 2026

### Vendors
- Palo Alto Networks ()

### Key Quotes
> We make sure that we get you those key outcomes early in that contract cycle to make sure that you can justify that to your board or to your leadership.
> — John Korber, Manager, domain consulting, Prisma Browser at Palo Alto Networks

### Sources
- [Why Zero Trust Network Access Adoption Still Trails VPN Use](https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/zero-trust-network-access-adoption-still-trails-vpn-use-a-32974) - BankInfoSecurity