aws-gate vs Ivanti Connect Secure: 2026 Comparison
aws-gate is a free vpn tool. Ivanti Connect Secure is a commercial vpn tool by Ivanti. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best vpn fit for your security stack.
CST VerdictBased on our analysis of NIST CSF 2.0 coverage, core features, integrations, company size fit, here is our conclusion:
Teams managing SSH access to AWS EC2 fleets will appreciate aws-gate for eliminating bastion host complexity; it routes connections through the AWS Systems Manager Session Manager API instead, cutting operational overhead and removing a persistent attack surface. The tool is free and open-source with 516 GitHub stars, making it genuinely low-friction to pilot in existing AWS environments. Skip this if your organization needs fine-grained IAM policy enforcement or audit logging at the session level; aws-gate prioritizes access simplicity over the compliance controls that large regulated enterprises typically require.
Mid-market and enterprise teams building zero trust remote access will find Ivanti Connect Secure's per-application VPN with dynamic policies and real-time device verification more practical than traditional full-tunnel VPNs that grant blanket network access. The platform's strength in PR.AA (identity and access control) and DE.CM (continuous monitoring) means you get granular policy enforcement tied to device posture, not just user identity. Skip this if you need clientless web access as your primary use case; the clientless mode works but feels secondary to the unified client experience.
