New Tailscale Report Finds 83% of Engineers Bypass Security Controls, 68% Retain Access After Leaving

99% of professionals want to redesign their secure access infrastructure. VPNs, manual processes, and fragmented tools are failing both IT and developers.

TORONTO, July 22, 2025 /CNW/ - Tailscale, the leader in identity-native connectivity and legacy VPN replacement, today released their latest research findings: Zero Trust Is Dead. Long Live Zero Trust, a comprehensive new report revealing that secure access infrastructure is failing the people it's supposed to protect. Based on a survey of 1,000 IT, security, and engineering professionals across North America, the research uncovers a fractured landscape of legacy VPNs, slow manual processes, and overlapping tools — with 99% of respondents saying they want to redesign their company's access and networking setup from the ground up.

In a finding that underscores the disconnect between policy and productivity, 83% of IT and engineering professionals admit to actively bypassing security controls in order to get their work done. Equally concerning, 68% say they have retained access to internal systems after leaving a previous employer, revealing critical gaps in offboarding and identity lifecycle management.

The data paints a picture of widespread fatigue with legacy approaches. Only 10% of professionals say their current VPN setup "works well" with no major issues, while 90% report limitations such as security risks, latency, or operational overhead. Nearly half of respondents (49%) say their access infrastructure is not scalable, and 41% believe it will fail to meet their needs within just two years.

"Security and productivity shouldn't be at odds," said Avery Pennarun, CEO of Tailscale. "When developers, engineers, and IT all say the current system is broken — and worse, start working around it — that's a sign the tools need to change, not the people. Zero Trust can solve this, but only if it's actually implemented as a strategy, not just used as a buzzword."

Although many organizations claim to be on a Zero Trust journey, the report reveals that most haven't reached the destination. Just 29% use identity-based access as their primary model, and 68% still manage access controls manually, introducing delays and risk. Many companies are juggling too many point solutions: 92% use multiple tools for network security, and nearly one-third use four or more.

These operational headaches directly impact teams. More than two-thirds of engineers say IT and security policies actively block or misunderstand their workflows. At companies heavily reliant on VPNs, employees were nearly twice as likely to report broken access or security workarounds compared to those using modern tools.

Despite the challenges, the report also highlights encouraging signs of progress. Nearly half of companies are actively trying to consolidate their toolsets, and early adopters are moving to identity-first architectures and just-in-time access models that offer better security and a smoother user experience. AI and automation are also emerging as key enablers of adaptive policy — not just detecting threats, but adjusting access dynamically in response to context.

A copy of the report for your review can be downloaded here. The report is available to the public as a web experience and downloadable PDF at tailscale.com/resources/report/zero-trust-report-2025

You can find images and charts in this Google Drive folder for inclusion in any article about this research.

If you would like to interview Tailscale CEO, Avery Pennarun regarding this research, please contact the team at the links below and we will be happy to arrange time.

About Tailscale

Tailscale is the platform for secure, identity-first networking, delivering private, seamless connectivity tailored for modern applications, teams, and workflows. Designed to simplify complex network architectures, Tailscale replaces outdated approaches with fast, reliable connections that boost both productivity and security.

Trusted by over 10,000 businesses globally — including industry leaders like Microsoft, Telus, The New York Times, SAP, Instacart, and Duolingo —Tailscale enables organizations to effortlessly adopt Zero Trust principles. Its intuitive solution securely connects devices, applications, and environments across both cloud and on-premises infrastructure. Built on WireGuard technology, Tailscale scales seamlessly to support organizations of any size, simplifying secure access and significantly reducing operational complexity.

Since its founding in 2019, Tailscale has experienced rapid growth, serving millions of users and thousands of organizations worldwide. Backed by premier investors such as Accel, Insight Partners, and CRV, Tailscale has earned recognition on prestigious lists like the Enterprise Tech 30, Redpoint's Infrared 100 and Deloitte Fast 50 — and won the Webby Award for Best Developer Tool in 2025. Tailscale continues to lead the transformation of networking for the modern era.

More information on Tailscale can be found at https://tailscale.com.

SOURCE Tailscale

Press Contact: Will Moore -- Communications Lead, [email protected], [phone]