VPN alternative
A VPN alternative that shares services, not your whole network.
Most small businesses only use their VPN to reach a few things: a database, a file share, a remote desktop. Project Zero shares exactly those, with the exact people who need them, and nothing else on your network is ever exposed.
Free for you and two services. Built on OpenZiti by Actieve.
Why VPNs are a poor fit for small teams
- A VPN server is an internet-facing port that attackers scan for and target.
- Once connected, a user (or a stolen laptop) can reach much more than the one thing they needed.
- Giving a contractor access usually means giving them a network account and hoping you remember to remove it.
- Remote staff get slow, all-or-nothing access, and every new office or cloud server adds routing to maintain.
What changes with Project Zero
Instead of a network, you share a service: SQL Server on the office PC, the team wiki on a developer laptop, RDP on a workstation. Each gets a private address and an access list.
People install the Project Zero app, sign in, and the services shared with them appear. Remove someone from a group and their access ends for everything shared with that group. Share links can expire or allow a single use.
When to keep your VPN
If people genuinely need a whole network, such as broadcast discovery, many ad-hoc devices or protocols that expect a LAN, a VPN can still be the right tool. Many teams run both: the VPN for a few administrators, Project Zero for everyone who just needs one or two services.
Questions
Good to know.
Do I need to open ports on my router?
No. The computer hosting a service connects out to the private network, so you don't forward or open an inbound port for shared services.
Can I give a contractor temporary access?
Yes. Grant access to their email address, or create a share link with an expiry date or a single use, and remove it when the work is done.
What can I share?
Web servers, SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, FTP, SSH, remote desktop (RDP), SMB file shares, VNC, and any other TCP or UDP service.
Is there a free plan?
Yes. Every account can share two services with itself for free. Company plans for teams start at $19.99 a month. See pricing.
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Free for you and two services. Company plans from $19.99 a month.