Zero Trust Network Access: The New Standard for Remote Security

A security breach can bring down an organization to its knees overnight. Now with distributed and remote teams, internal networks are increasingly vulnerable to unauthorized access and cyberattacks. This is why a particular network security model is gaining traction than ever before – Zero Trust Network Access or ZTNA.

ZTNA is a security model that assumes that no user or device, whether inside or outside the network perimeter, is trustworthy. Working on the “least necessary privilege” principle, this system grants users limited access to specific resources based on strict policies.

Let’s take a closer look at ZTNA, how it functions and, most importantly, how it enhances the network security infrastructure of modern organizations.

What is Zero Trust Network Access?

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is an amalgamation of technologies that works on the philosophy of “never trust, always verify.” Its adaptive trust model removes the concept of implicit trust, characteristic of traditional security networks, to ensure secure access to internal applications for a remote/distributed workforce. Granular access control policies give remote users access to apps/services based on identity and context without directly placing them on the organizational network.

How Does ZTNA Work?

ZTNA leverages a user-to-application approach to create a secure, encrypted tunnel between users and applications. This ensures that only authorized users have access to specific applications after being authenticated. As ZTNA makes outbound-only connections, the applications and the network infrastructure remain hidden from unauthorized users under a “darknet.”

Through a trusted broker, identity, context and policies underlying each access request are evaluated, and access is granted only to users who meet the necessary conditions. ZTNA solutions assess nuanced contexts such as location, time of access, device health, etc., to drive intelligent access decisions.

Also, ZTNA’s built-in app segmentation feature prevents lateral movement of malware attacks, facilitating threat mitigation.

Advantages of ZTNA in Today's Business

1. Enhanced Security Infrastructure

Unlike VPNs, ZTNA does not expose entire networks, effectively reducing the risks of ransomware and other threats. ZTNA even enables organizations to implement device or location-specific access control policies to restrict vulnerable or unpatched devices.

2. Seamless Remote Access Management

ZTNA reduces an organization’s attack surface by eliminating the IP-based access control model typical of most VPN configurations. This enhances remote work capabilities by reducing complexities for IT teams by granting specific application access to limited users.

3. Enhanced User Experience

User traffic in ZTNA isn’t routed through a central datacenter, thus enabling fast, direct access to requested applications. This makes for a seamless and transparent experience for remote users.

4. Seamless Scalability

Cloud ZTNA solutions are built to easily accommodate scalability goals. As an organization’s needs develop and its user base multiplies, it can use additional licenses and scale without delay or added complexities.

5. Faster User and Application Onboarding

Organizations can quickly onboard multiple new users and applications with ZTNA. It also makes user management effortless and even provides insights into application usage and performance.

Most Common ZTNA Use Cases

1. VPN Alternative

VPN infrastructures are slow, vulnerable and management-heavy. ZTNA simplifies remote access with a lean, secure model, eliminating risks associated with the entire network exposure characteristic of most VPNs.

2. Hybrid and Multicloud Access

One of the most popular ZTNA use cases is secure hybrid and multicloud access. As companies increasingly adopt cloud applications and services, ZTNA emerges as the favored alternative for easy cloud resource management and seamless operations.

3. Low Third-party Risk

ZTNA solutions reduce security risks associated with third-party vendors and contractors. By limiting access only to specific applications, ZTNA protects sensitive systems from unauthorized access and lateral movements.

4. M&A Acceleration

Combining networks during mergers and acquisitions is complex and risky. ZTNA simplifies and accelerates the process with secure access to specific applications without getting into the entire network integration. This reduces security vulnerabilities and provides immediate value to all parties involved.

Conclusion

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is a fitting security framework to mitigate modern cyberattacks while maintaining secure, seamless remote access to internal resources. Further, with its flexibility and scaling characteristics, ZTNA makes it easy for IT and network teams to manage complex organizational networks.