Zero Trust Network Access

The Freedom to “Access All” is Over

Traditional security models operate on the assumption that an organization’s private network is secure and once inside the network perimeter, users can be trusted completely. However, this practice of authenticating users once and allowing free access to all resources thereafter is inherently flawed. 

The network perimeter, as we knew it, has drastically evolved. Modern workspaces are driven by distributed workforces and hybrid and cloud-based infrastructures. Applications have shifted from the traditional data center to the cloud, and the users accessing them can be located anywhere, across the globe. So, building a fence around the corporate network is just not enough anymore.

Zero-trust security focuses on secure and limited access to corporate resources instead of fencing the network. Users and devices have to prove their identity and privilege before accessing other devices or applications, even when both are already in the same, trusted network. And even then, they’re only granted access to the resources that they truly need.

Defining Zero Trust Network Access

Zero trust network access, is a security model designed to restrict access to corporate resources which are invisible to the internal and external users by default. It dynamically grants limited access to users and devices based on user identity, job role, and pre-defined contextual policies, and restricts free lateral movement on the network. Essentially, verified users can only access the devices and applications that they absolutely need to perform their job roles.

Gartner has listed Zero Trust access as a key component of SASE architecture. Unlike firewalls and VPNs that are designed to protect the internal network from outside traffic, ZTNA is based on the assumption that all users, devices, and the internal network itself could already be compromised. So, whether the request originates from inside the network or from a remote location, ZTNA treats it just the same. This way, it also protects the cloud-based applications that exist outside the secure network perimeter.

Benefits of a Zero Trust Architecture

A Reduced Attack Surface

With a Zero Trust Access Architecture, your organization’s resources and applications are no longer visible to anyone by default. Even when the applications are hosted in the cloud, they are never exposed to the internet. The architecture drastically reduces the attack surface by authenticating users and limiting their access to the resources that they are explicitly authorized to access.

Dynamic Security Perimeter

Allowing organizations to bring their remote workers and cloud-based infrastructure within their security perimeter. Unlike traditional solutions that mostly rely on IP addresses, ZTNA considers several identity parameters, including credentials, IP addresses, user location, and more, for making context-aware decisions for allowing or denying access. This allows authorized workers to access internal resources from anywhere, without jeopardizing security.

Better Customer Experience

Promising a better user experience than traditional solutions that rely on hardware appliances with limited CPUs that often impact the network performance. ZTNA solutions are mostly cloud-based and offer the agility and scalability of the cloud. Since the secure connection is directly established between the user and the client through the cloud’s global presence, the traffic does not have to be redirected to the internal network. This ensures low latency and the end-users can enjoy a seamless experience.

Decreased Complexity

Scaling VPN solutions requires upgrading and adding VPN appliances to an already complicated architecture. It can be costly and difficult to manage. And yet, the security provided remains flawed because once a malicious user enters the network, it can easily access all resources on the network and magnify the extent of the breach. Cloud-based ZTNA solutions are not only easier to deploy and manage, but they also offer comprehensive security through smart decision-making capabilities and disabling free lateral movement in the network.

Practical Use Cases:

Consider the following use cases to understand the scenarios in which organizations can benefit from choosing Zero Trust solutions:
As a part of an organization’s business continuity plan, employees are requested to work from home following a nationwide shelter-in-place order. Because ZTNA solutions are scalable and focus on protecting applications and users regardless of their location and endpoint devices, all employees can continue accessing LOB applications even from their homes, without logging into their office PCs.

A company often engages with external contractors and third-party providers and needs to grant them access to specific internal applications for getting the job done. ZTNA allows the administrators to provide external workers or companies access to the required applications without exposing the entire network and network assets.