The hidden costs of “good enough” network access

A commissioned Total Economic Impact™ study by Forrester Consulting evaluated the financial implications of adopting Tailscale's identity-based connectivity model over traditional, layered networking for a hypothetical enterprise with 3,000 employees. The study revealed a 213% return on investment (ROI) with a payback period of under six months, highlighting the advantages of simplifying network infrastructure by eliminating legacy systems like VPNs and their associated operational complexities. The findings demonstrated substantial cost savings, including $1.2 million from retiring outdated network tools, $282,000 in IT efficiency improvements, and $734,000 in enhanced productivity by reducing connectivity issues. Additionally, Tailscale's approach led to a 70% reduction in security exposure, yielding $861,000 in value through a narrower blast radius and enforced smart access policies. Overall, the shift to Tailscale's model resulted in less infrastructure, reduced friction, and decreased security risks, underscoring the effectiveness of an identity-centric network approach.