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COMPAREWhich approach fits
your company?
Remote access options fall into four broad categories, each with its own strengths and limitations. ForceLink's strengths and weaknesses are presented honestly. (No specific competitor names or competitor pricing are included.)
Four ways to approach remote access.
Legacy VPN
Traditional VPN appliances. Widely deployed, but the device is easily exposed on the internet and configuration and maintenance carry significant overhead.
Full SASE
Feature-rich and sophisticated — includes identity federation and MFA. However, design, migration, cost, and scale can be disproportionate for smaller organizations.
Self-hosted (OSS)
Build it yourself with open-source software. Low cost if you have the engineers, but your team takes full responsibility for setup, key management, and incident response.
ForceLink
Place it and distribute codes. The complex initial build and access-control design are handled by Forcenet. Designed to be practical to deploy and operate.
A quick comparison by category.
Legend: ◎ particularly strong / ○ supported / △ conditional or limited / × not suitable
| Criterion | Legacy VPN | Full SASE | Self-hosted (OSS) | ForceLink |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of deployment | △ | × | × | ◎ |
| Accessible pricing | ○ | × | ○ | ◎ |
| Managed setup (build and design handled for you) | △ | △ | × | ◎ |
| Internal resource and route control (per-user destination control) | △ | ◎ | △ | ◎ |
| Lateral movement containment after VPN connection | × | ◎ | △ | ◎ |
| Small attack surface (admin console not publicly exposed) | × | ○ | △ | ◎ |
| Per-company network isolation | △ | ○ | × | ◎ |
| No dedicated IT staff required | × | × | × | ◎ |
| Pricing transparency | △ | × | — | ◎ |
| MFA / IdP integration / org-wide zero-trust platform | △ | ◎ | △ | △※ |
| OS support breadth | ○ | ◎ | ○ | △※ |
※ ForceLink currently uses key-based authentication as the primary method. MFA/IdP integration is under consideration. The standard client is focused on Windows (other devices are supported on a case-by-case basis). If an organization-wide zero-trust platform or broad multi-OS support is a hard requirement, a full-scale ZTNA/SASE solution would be a better fit.
※ The ForceLink cloud relay is operated in a domestic (Japan) data center. If you are evaluating overseas-based services, also confirm where your data will reside (domestic vs. overseas).
ForceLink is a good fit if…
- You want to access internal Windows PCs and on-premises systems securely
- You have no dedicated IT staff and want the complex build handled for you
- Your legacy VPN feels risky, but full SASE is overkill
- You handle sensitive information (legal, medical, or similar)
- You want to know total cost upfront without waiting for a quote
Another option may be a better fit if…
- Mac, iPhone, or Android is your primary device fleet → full ZTNA/SASE
- MFA/IdP integration or an org-wide zero-trust platform is required → full ZTNA/SASE
- You have in-house engineers who can operate a self-hosted solution → OSS self-hosted
* We communicate honestly about what ForceLink does today and what is planned for the future.
The right level of security, at a flat rate.
Place it and distribute codes
The initial build and access-control design are handled by Forcenet. You place the BOX and distribute invitation codes.
Security built into the design
Admin console not publicly exposed, per-company isolation, key-based connections. Designed to keep the attack surface small.
Transparent flat-rate pricing
A seat-pool flat rate — not per-user billing. No minimum commitment. Know your total cost upfront without waiting for a quote.
Frequently asked questions about choosing.
What is the main difference between a legacy VPN and ForceLink?
The key difference is what happens after connection. A legacy VPN typically allows a connected user to reach the entire internal LAN. ForceLink's internal resource and route control limits each user, via the ForceLink BOX, to only the PCs, servers, and NAS units they actually need (least-privilege access after connection).
How does ForceLink differ from a full SASE or ZTNA solution?
SASE covers a broad feature set, but the design, migration, and cost often become a heavy burden. ForceLink is focused on secure remote access to internal systems, with least-privilege access available from day one, in a simple deployment. It does not cover the full SASE feature set (web filtering, etc.).
How does it compare to building your own VPN with OSS?
You can build a tunnel yourself, but per-user destination control, a management console, and the initial security design must all be provided by your own team. ForceLink bundles the tunnel, invitation flow, destination control, management console, and initial design as a single service.
Can we discuss which type fits our company?
Yes. We will listen to the information you handle and your usage scenario, and give you an honest assessment of fit and limitations. Estimates and consultations are free of charge.
Let's figure out the right fit together.
"What works for our situation?" — Tell us your scale and device environment and we'll give you an honest recommendation. Estimates are free.