Entra Private Access vs VPN
A VPN grants access to a network; Entra Private Access grants access to a specific app, for a specific user, subject to identity and device policy. That single difference is why most Microsoft 365 organisations are replacing legacy VPNs app by app.
Entra Private Access
- Per-app access — least privilege by default
- Identity + Conditional Access + MFA + device compliance
- Outbound-only connector; no inbound firewall rules
- No VPN server or RADIUS infrastructure to run
Traditional VPN (AnyConnect / Always On VPN / Citrix Gateway)
- Network-level access — one tunnel, many reachable resources
- Usually grants access on connection, not per app
- On-prem appliance or server to license and maintain
- Broader blast radius if a single credential is compromised
01The core difference is the trust boundary
A VPN extends your network to the user. Once the tunnel is up, what they can reach is governed by network segmentation — which is often coarse. Private Access moves the boundary to the app itself: a user authenticates to that app, and Conditional Access evaluates identity, device posture and risk before the connection is allowed. Not every app forces a fresh login — single sign-on and session controls carry the user through.
02Less infrastructure to own
Private Access uses the Entra Private Network Connector — the same lightweight, outbound-only agent model as Entra Application Proxy. There are no VPN servers, no RADIUS servers, and no inbound firewall holes to expose. For a small team that means one less appliance to patch, monitor and replace.
03What still needs a VPN
Private Access carries TCP and UDP, but not ICMP — so ping-based tooling and a handful of legacy protocols won't work over it. Some applications that assume a full network path (device discovery, certain multi-cast or non-web legacy apps) still need a traditional VPN or an alternative. A realistic rollout keeps the VPN for those exceptions while Private Access takes over the well-behaved apps.
04Migrate app by app, not big-bang
You don't rip the VPN out on day one. Publish one or two apps with Quick Access, prove the user experience, then expand to per-app segments and retire the VPN's per-app routes incrementally. Coexistence during the transition is normal and supported.
Full details: Microsoft Learn — Entra Private Access · What is Global Secure Access?