For decades, businesses have relied on MPLS and SD-WAN to connect branch offices and remote workers to critical applications. That worked when everything lived in the corporate data center. But the world shifted—applications moved to the cloud, workers became mobile, and cybercriminals got more creative. Meanwhile, many IT departments are stuck in the past, clinging to infrastructure that no longer meets the needs of the modern workforce.
It’s time to rethink the way we connect and protect users, and that’s where the idea of the “Cafe-like Branch” changes the game. This approach embraces Zero Trust principles to deliver flexibility, simplify operations, and improve security. As workplaces evolve, it’s not just an option—it’s a necessity.
The problem with networking like it’s 1999
Let’s face it: MPLS had its moment. Paying a premium to backhaul traffic to a central data center made sense when that was where all applications lived. But the second your workflows moved to the cloud—whether Salesforce, Zoom, Office365, AWS, or Azure —MPLS became, in a word, inefficient. Add high bandwidth costs and painful latency into the mix, and it’s no surprise companies started looking for a better option.
Enter SD-WAN: cheaper than MPLS and designed for cloud-first traffic patterns. Sounds promising, right? Well, not exactly. SD-WAN solved the cost issue but left companies exposed in other ways:
- Implicit Trust Is a Problem: SD-WAN simply extends the corporate network everywhere using site-to-site VPNs, treating all traffic as “trusted.” This inherent trust means that if one user or device is breached, the attacker has access to the entire network.
- Complex Security Challenges: Attackers love SD-WAN—and that’s not something to brag about. The complexity of these systems makes them ripe for exploitation.
The bottom line: these technologies didn’t anticipate the modern way we work. People aren’t tethered to desks; they work from coffee shops, airplanes, and kitchens. And IoT devices? They’re exploding across locations with little thought for enterprise-grade security. The concept of a traditional “branch network” just doesn’t apply anymore.
What is the “cafe-like” branch?
Think of your favorite coffee shop: No one sits there trying to extend the corporate network to your laptop, but you still have access to the tools you need (securely) over the internet. This is the essence of the Cafe-like Branch. Instead of extending the corporate network to every single employee over VPN or every branch, warehouse, or factory using SD-WAN, organizations securely connect locations—and the people and devices in them—directly to a Zero Trust Exchange.
Here’s what makes the Cafe-like Branch model revolutionary:
- Branches operate like standalone islands: Each site connects securely to the Zero Trust Exchange using broadband, Wi-Fi, or 5G. There’s no more “extending the corporate network” to every single location.
- No more implicit trust: Every access request is verified by the Zero Trust model, which shifts security from “Connect first, secure later” to “Verify and secure first.” Workers and devices get access to only what they need—nothing more.
- IoT no longer a blind spot: With IoT devices proliferating in branches, factories, and warehouses, traditional methods like micro-segmentation have fallen woefully short. The Cafe-like Branch architecture enables you to classify and isolate devices automatically, securing environments without requiring costly hardware upgrades or downtime.
By eliminating VPNs and simplifying architecture, the Cafe-like Branch model addresses the connectivity needs of today while securing the future.
Transformative benefits for businesses
When you implement the Cafe-like Branch, you’re not just keeping up with the times—you’re leapfrogging legacy constraints and transforming your network for the better. Here are the key benefits:
- Minimized attack surface: Hiding applications behind a Zero Trust Exchange minimizes the Firewall and VPN attack surface. You can’t attack what you can’t see.
- Prevent lateral threat movement: By removing implicit trust inherent in traditional networks, breaching a single user or IOT device doesn’t mean compromising everything on the network.
- Increased agility: Bringing up a new location only requires a broadband, 5G, or satellite connection. There’s no more “extending the corporate network” to every single location
- Cost efficiency: MPLS, NAC and expensive switches have long been a drain on budgets. The Cafe-like Branch eliminates these inefficiencies while simplifying the network architecture.
Ready to rethink your network?
The Cafe-like Branch isn’t a buzzword—it’s a call to action. The days of MPLS backbones, VPN-heavy environments, and SD-WAN vulnerabilities are numbered. Cyberthreats, IoT proliferation, and the demands of hybrid workforces require a total rethink of how organizations build their networks. It’s not just about better security or cost savings—it’s about building infrastructure fit for the way we work today and tomorrow.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to trade legacy baggage for modern simplicity. The Cafe-like Branch is your key to reducing risk, cutting costs, and giving your workforce the flexibility they crave—all without sacrificing security. To learn more, visit – Zscaler Lightboard: Zero Trust Branch Like a Cafe.
