TL;DR VPNs secure data transmission, Loxada secures the network environment itself.

Potential clients sometimes ask why they need Loxada if they already use a VPN. It’s a fair question; VPNs are excellent tools, but they serve a specific purpose: protecting data in transit. Loxada addresses a completely different layer of risk that VPNs aren’t designed to handle.

Why Do We Need Loxada if We Already Have a VPN?

Most organisations today use a VPN, or Virtual Private Network, to protect staff when they connect to company systems outside the office. VPNs encrypt traffic and create a secure tunnel across the internet. That makes them valuable.

But a VPN only solves part of the problem. It protects data in transit but does not secure the environment the traffic is coming from. That environment, which includes the home, hotel, serviced office or client site, is what we call the uncontrolled network edge.

The uncontrolled network edge is now where most connections begin. Staff pull up dashboards from the kitchen table, sign in from hotel Wi-Fi, or log into client systems on a site where IT has no control. These are the moments that expose organisations to real risk.

VPNs and the Uncontrolled Network Edge

VPNs are often seen as the answer to working safely outside the office. They do play an important role. A VPN stops outsiders from snooping on traffic while it moves across the internet.

Yet, at the uncontrolled edge, a VPN cannot defend against threats that are already inside the local network. A compromised smart TV, a guest phone with malware, or an old IoT device on the same Wi-Fi can all try to move laterally once the tunnel to company systems is open.

Put simply, VPNs encrypt traffic but they do not separate work activity from risky local devices. That is why VPNs on their own cannot secure the uncontrolled network edge.

Firewalls and the Uncontrolled Edge

Some businesses rely on firewalls, often alongside VPNs. Firewalls filter traffic and block suspicious connections. They are powerful inside the office where IT controls the whole network.

But at the uncontrolled edge, the firewall is only as strong as the router it sits behind. In a serviced office with an unpatched router, or in a hotel with outdated firmware, the firewall cannot stop attackers who gain access before the traffic ever reaches it.

Like VPNs, firewalls matter, but they do not close the gap created at the uncontrolled network edge.

Why the Uncontrolled Network Edge is a Blind Spot

This is where the real risk lies. Staff often connect from places outside IT’s reach. Home routers may not be updated. Hotel networks are shared by hundreds of guests. Client sites run on infrastructure you do not control.

Examples are everywhere:

• A finance manager works late at home while their teenager streams games. The teenager’s laptop is infected, creating an invisible bridge to company data.
• A solicitor accesses case files from a serviced office. The shared router has not been patched in years. Attackers scanning for weak routers can use it as an open door.
• A consultant signs into dashboards at a client site. IT has no visibility into that network, yet company systems are still being accessed through it.

In all of these cases, VPNs and firewalls help, but they cannot remove the risk that comes with the uncontrolled edge.

How Loxada Provides a Secure On-Ramp

This is why Loxada exists. We provide a secure on-ramp designed for the uncontrolled network edge. Instead of relying on whatever router happens to be available, Loxada supplies staff with managed routers running hardened firmware. These routers create a separate, work-only environment. Company traffic is kept apart from everything else on the local network, whether that is a child’s gaming console or a guest’s phone.

The routers update themselves automatically and are centrally managed. IT keeps full visibility and control without interfering with the staff member’s personal setup. For staff, it is seamless. They plug in, connect, and work as normal. The secure on-ramp quietly ensures that their connection back into company systems is safe and reliable.

Why This Matters Now

Attackers know the uncontrolled network edge is the weak point. They target unpatched routers and shared Wi-Fi because these are easier to exploit than hardened company servers. Once inside, they can move laterally and cause damage long before anyone notices.

Agencies such as the NSA, GCHQ, and CISA have all warned about these risks. Their advice is consistent: secure the edge with centrally managed, hardened solutions.

Loxada puts this guidance into practice. By combining the encryption of VPNs, the filtering of firewalls, and the resilience of managed routers, we close the gap at the uncontrolled edge.

The Bottom Line

A VPN is useful, but it is not enough. It encrypts data but does not secure the uncontrolled network edge. Firewalls add another layer but still rely on the strength of the local network.

Homes, hotels, serviced offices and client sites will always be part of how staff connect. That reality cannot be ignored.

Loxada addresses this by providing a secure on-ramp. Staff get safe, reliable access wherever they are. IT retains visibility and control. Businesses reduce their risk and meet compliance needs.

That is why Loxada is needed even if you already have a VPN. The uncontrolled network edge is where the real risks are, and where protection must begin.