Every Digital Workplace transformation project I’ve been involved with – whether it’s a straightforward Windows upgrade or a big shift to cloud-managed devices – has one critical common theme: the application inventory or readiness. It’s often done as a thorough assessment, and in part you can liken it to moving houses? It’s a bit like doing the inventory and writing down everything you have. You need to know what you have, what’s worth keeping, what needs updating, and what should be left behind.
But today’s workplace transformation extends far beyond just cataloging applications. We’re not just moving houses anymore – we’re fundamentally changing how we deliver applications to our users. The modern workforce needs secure access to corporate applications from anywhere, on any device, without compromising on security or user experience. This is where application modernization through zero trust technologies enters the picture.
Consider how we used to handle application access – through VPNs and strictly managed corporate devices. It’s a bit like having to go through the main entrance of an office building, show your ID, and only then getting access to what you need. Modern application delivery? It’s more like having a digital key that works securely from anywhere, giving you exactly the access you need, when you need it.
The shift away from traditional VPN access isn’t just a technological change – it’s a response to how work itself has evolved. In my recent projects, I’ve seen a clear pattern: organizations are moving away from the old ‘castle-and-moat’ security model where everything sits behind a VPN. Why? Because it simply doesn’t match how people work today.
Let’s break down what this transition actually looks like in practice. Traditional VPN setups require users to connect their entire device to the corporate network. It’s a bit like giving someone keys to the whole building when they only need to access one room. Modern app delivery through technologies like App Proxy or SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) takes a much smarter approach.
Instead of connecting the entire device, we only secure the connection to specific applications. This means you can access your corporate SharePoint or that crucial internal web app directly through a browser, without launching a VPN client or using a specifically managed device. The security follows the application, not the network.
This shift brings some significant advantages:
- Enhanced security through continuous verification rather than one-time authentication
- Better user experience with direct access to applications
- Reduced infrastructure complexity (goodbye, VPN concentrators!)
- Granular access controls at the application level
- Consistent security whether you’re at home, in a café, or at the office
So how do these modern technologies actually work? Let’s look at a typical scenario: You have a legacy internal web application that traditionally required VPN access. App Proxy or SASE solutions might handle it like this:
When a user tries to access the application, a mix of things happen behind the scenes:
- First, the request goes through your service of choice (like Microsoft’s App Proxy or a SASE provider)
- The service validates not just who you are, but also checks the security state of your device, your location, and other risk factors
- If everything checks out, it creates a secure, isolated connection just for that specific application
- The app feels like it’s running locally, but it’s actually being securely proxied through the cloud
This means your internal applications don’t need to be exposed directly to the internet. They stay safely within your network while being accessible to authorized users through a secure proxy layer.
But there’s more to consider than just the technical setup. In my recent projects, I’ve noticed that successful implementation often depends on:
- Application compatibility assessment – Not all applications play nicely with proxy technologies right away. Some might need adjustments to their authentication methods or URL configurations. Some are even outright slow or don’t work correctly.
- User authentication flows – You’ll want to ensure a smooth single sign-on experience. Nothing frustrates users more than having to authenticate multiple times.
- Performance considerations – While modern proxy solutions are quite efficient, you need to consider factors like application latency and user location in your design.
I recently worked with a customer who had a mix of modern and legacy applications. Their biggest concern wasn’t the technology itself – it was ensuring their critical business applications would work seamlessly in the new setup. The key was a phased approach, starting with simpler web applications before moving on to more complex ones.
What’s particularly exciting is how this approach opens up new possibilities. Once you’ve modernized your application delivery, you can:
- Allow secure access from personal devices without compromising security
- Implement more granular access controls based on real-time risk assessment
- Reduce your VPN infrastructure costs
- Improve your security posture by limiting exposure of internal resources
The best part? Users often don’t even realize they’re using a proxy – it just works.
Conclusion
So … the journey to modern application delivery isn’t just about implementing new technology – it’s about enabling your organization to work securely and efficiently in today’s hybrid world. While the technical aspects of App Proxy and SASE solutions are impressive, the real value comes from the business opportunities they enable.
From my experience working with various organizations, the most successful transformations happen when we focus on three key elements:
- Understanding your current application landscape thoroughly
- Planning the transition with both security and user experience in mind
- Taking a staged approach, starting with the applications that will give you the quickest wins
As we continue to see the lines between office and remote work blur, having a modern application delivery strategy isn’t just nice to have – it’s becoming a crucial part of any Digital Workplace strategy. The organizations that embrace this shift early will be better positioned to adapt to whatever comes next in our ever-evolving workplace.
Stay tuned for more deep dives into Digital Workplace transformation topics. If you have any questions or want to share your own experiences with application modernization, feel free to reach out in the comments.
