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For years, I ignored the security of my home network. I knew better than to click on sketchy links or visit dodgy websites, so I figured it didn't matter. But now that I have gotten married and my wife and I entertain guests much more often than I used to, I've started to discover the cracks in the armor of my network. My entire network can be put at risk by a single guest with a malware-infected laptop, including well-meaning but clueless parents.
I started looking for a solution to keep my network and devices safe, even if I had guests who couldn't tell the difference between an ad and a scam. That's where Tailscale comes in. While it is, on the surface, a relatively boring application, it's one of the most useful tools I use daily. It has quickly become one of my favorite applications and has already proven its worth in protecting my network.
Setup couldn't be easier
No technical know-how required
There are numerous VPN options I could set up that would secure my network, but Tailscale simplifies the entire process. It uses WireGuard, and unlike the raw version, which requires manual configuration of cryptographic keys, Tailscale lets me log in with an existing account. In my case, I used my Google account, but Microsoft, GitHub, and others are also options. The Tailscale coordination server handles the setup for me; all I have to do is sign in with a device, and it finds any others on my account without any intervention on my part.
Beyond that, Tailscale also makes remote access safer. I can jump onto my home network when I'm out and about to check files on another machine without worry. It's also a great companion for remote streaming from my Jellyfin server, and that's a huge bonus now that I'm trying to shed as many streaming services as possible. Tailscale means I don't need to expose my Jellyfin connection to the broader internet.
Tailscale is mostly open source
I can verify its security myself
Tailscale is not completely open source. While major aspects of it include the WireGuard protocol, the core client, and certain client applications, its coordination servers are proprietary. However, enough of its code is open source that I can audit it myself and verify the application does what it claims. Since I'm basically trusting Tailscale with my entire home network, that's the level of reassurance I want in any security application. That said, I'm not likely to audit it myself; it's a huge undertaking, and I'm more likely to trust community audits than perform one myself.
Tailscale is a zero-trust model
Each connection is individually encrypted
Think of a traditional firewall like a castle wall. In many setups, if a device gains access beyond the firewall, it's trusted; after all, it wouldn't be there if it wasn't supposed to be. Tailscale doesn't work quite like that. Instead, it operates on the principle that every device must verify itself, like a high-security building with security checkpoints at every entrance. This means every connection is encrypted device-to-device, and it also means I have much more granular access control per device. With proper ACL configuration, I can ensure visitors can't access my other devices (although this is a more technical part of Tailscale than its default settings). Now, when guests connect to my Wi-Fi, they're on a different network than my own devices. My important machines are accessible only through Tailscale, which guests never use.
This also lends itself particularly well to smart home setups, as a compromised smart device is isolated and less likely to grant an attacker access to the rest of the network. Given the potential risks of a larger smart home configuration, especially one that uses devices with security flaws (like mine, as I test prototype devices regularly), the zero-trust model is a huge plus.
Tailscale is dependent on the company's coordination servers
The self-hosted alternative is significantly more technical
The ease of use of Tailscale relies on the company maintaining its coordination servers to keep everything running smoothly. If those servers go down, existing networks will still work (for a time, at least), but you wouldn't be able to link new devices. For some users, that's a deal-breaker; if you don't want to rely on a third-party and would prefer to keep everything in your own hands, there is a self-hosted version of Tailscale called Headscale, which allows you to provide your own coordination server. However, it requires a good deal more in the way of technical know-how.
The trade off is more than worth it
The simplicity is the driving factor
While relying on a third party isn't always ideal, as far as I'm concerned, it's absolutely worth it. The time it would take me to set up my own server, troubleshoot any issues that arose, and keep everything updated far exceeds the theoretical, infinitesimal risk of Tailscale suffering an infrastructure hiccup. The company is well-funded and has proven its reliability over the years. I'd rather spend 30 seconds setting up Tailscale than hours learning to configure Headscale; after all, my goal is network security. I don't plan to become a networking master. Besides that, convenience is why I've implemented proper network security instead of putting it off as I had for so long.
Tailscale is one of the easiest, most elegant options for home network security
The beauty of this application is that you don't need to be an expert to make it work. All you need to do is sign in on your devices, and you'll have the level of security you lacked before. There are more complicated options, of course, but cybersecurity is a lot like exercise: even a small amount is better than none at all, and implementing whatever tools work best for you is the way to go. It has become an invisible part of my network, but its effects are felt everywhere.
