The way companies access data and applications has changed beyond recognition. People work from anywhere, business applications span data centres and multiple cloud platforms, and suppliers, contractors, and partners increasingly require access to critical systems using devices for which you have no visibility of their potential state of compromise.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have for many used provided the means to grant access but have received little development since the 1990’s even though the digital and cyber landscapes of today couldn’t be more different.
Companies now need a smarter, more secure approach that assumes no user, device or connection should be trusted until it has been verified.
Trust nothing. Verify everything.
ZTNA is built on a simple principle: never trust, always verify.
Unlike traditional remote access technologies, ZTNA assumes every request to access applications, data, or services is potentially malicious until it has been authenticated and authorised according to your company’s own security policies.
For example, access can be granted only if the user has completed their latest cyber security awareness training, is connecting from a known and managed device, is protected by an approved and up-to-date Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution and is attempting to connect during authorised working hours.
Only when every required condition has been satisfied is access granted – and only to the specific application or service the user is authorised to use. If the user’s actions fall outside of what is deemed usual, the connection will be immediately closed.
Why VPN is no longer enough
VPN technology has changed little since the 1990s, despite the way companies now work changing dramatically.
Traditional VPNs establish a connection into the corporate network before restricting what users can access. They were designed when applications resided inside a single corporate data centre and the vast majority of users worked from the office.
Today, users expect secure access to applications hosted across private data centres, multiple cloud providers and SaaS platforms, from wherever they happen to be working.
Routing all traffic through the corporate network can introduce unnecessary latency, impact user experience, and create operational complexity. More importantly, if credentials are compromised, VPNs can expose far more than is necessary, increasing the potential attack surface and enabling attackers to move laterally in search of valuable systems and data.
ZTNA takes a fundamentally different approach to secure access.
Rather than granting broad access to the corporate network, it applies granular, policy-based controls that ensure users are given only the access they need to perform their role – and nothing else.
Access decisions are continuously evaluated against the security policies you define. These can include a user’s identity, device posture, location, time of day, security training status, the presence of approved endpoint protection, and many other contextual factors.
Once those policies have been satisfied, users are granted access only to the specific applications, systems, or network resources they are authorised to use. Everything else remains inaccessible, significantly reducing the attack surface and limiting opportunities for unauthorised access, reconnaissance, and lateral movement.
The result is a more secure and flexible approach to remote access that aligns with Zero Trust principles while providing users with seamless access to the resources they need.
ZTNA is often viewed simply as a replacement for VPN, but its value extends much further.
Because access decisions can be based on user identity, device posture, and security policy rather than physical location, companies can simplify their wider network architecture.
Many companies use ZTNA to reduce dependence on traditional Network Access Control (NAC) solutions for user access, while also reducing the need for private connectivity technologies such as SD-WAN and MPLS for application access. The result is a simpler, more agile, and more secure access model that can lower operational complexity while supporting modern hybrid working and cloud-first strategies.
Third-party suppliers, contractors, and service providers often require access to business-critical applications, but their devices and security controls may be outside your company’s control.
Granting broad network access through a traditional VPN can significantly increase organisational risk if those credentials or devices are compromised.
High-profile cyber attacks have repeatedly demonstrated how attackers exploit trusted third-party relationships to gain an initial foothold before moving laterally through corporate networks in search of sensitive systems and data.
ZTNA helps minimise this risk by granting suppliers access only to the specific applications and services they need. Everything else remains invisible, significantly reducing the attack surface and limiting the potential impact should an account or device become compromised.
We supply and integrate Zero Trust Network Access solutions from Appgate, helping companies modernise secure access while reducing complexity and strengthening cyber resilience.
Our consultative approach ensures we understand your users, applications, and operational requirements before recommending the architecture best suited to your environment.
Whether you’re replacing legacy VPN infrastructure, securing third-party access, or implementing a broader Zero Trust strategy, we’ll help you design and deploy a solution that delivers secure access without compromising quality of experience.
Contact us today
Modern access for a modern organisation
Contact us today
