While Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are still one of the most widely deployed cybersecurity measures today, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is quickly becoming a popular solution for companies looking to secure their networks in the face of ever-growing threats.
The Need to Protect Company Servers
Keeping sensitive customer and company data private, secure, and confined to an internal database is key to creating an efficient workflow and establishing trust with clients.
As such, privacy and protection of personally identifiable information and sensitive corporate intellectual property should be at the top of any business’s list if they want to keep their customers coming back and maintain positive relationships in the long run.
If a company’s data gets leaked or cyber criminals manage to breach their systems, that can mean lost income, fines from government regulators, and damage to reputation, which can take ages for a business to recover from — if it even can.
And with the sudden surge of hybrid and work-from-home arrangements, these internal databases are more exposed than ever and require extra protection.
Why is VPN so Popular for Businesses?
In the recent surge of work-from-home and hybrid working arrangements, securing corporate data from harmful elements has become even more critical for businesses.
One popular way companies have tried to protect their data is by deploying a VPN between an employee’s home computer and corporate servers.
This creates a tunnel where data is encrypted between an employee’s device and the company’s internal servers so that even if someone were to intercept it, they would not be able to make sense of it.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have been around for decades. Most consumers understand it as a way to access geo-restricted content on the internet. Businesses, however, use it to secure corporate networks by providing an encrypted connection between employees and the company’s intranet.
VPNs are also popular for businesses because of the ease with which they can be set up across multiple devices, providing authorized users access to corporate servers securely from any number of locations.
Not only does this save time on having to run cables everywhere, but it also helps ensure that business information remains as secure as possible.
However, VPNs have their weaknesses. They’re not, for example, immune to denial-of-service and man-in-the-middle attacks.
So, if hackers were to exert some effort, they’ll still be able to gain access to sensitive information within the company servers even with a VPN deployed in the network.
It’s also difficult to manage if you want custom security clearances for your employees. For example, if you don’t want the rest of your employees to have access to private HR files, you will have to set up an individual VPN for your HR department.
What is a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)?
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is a cybersecurity solution that provides an additional layer of security over traditional VPNs by isolating each user to their secure network segment.
This means that instead of creating a single tunnel for every user, an individualized software “perimeter” is created for each user — giving them access only to resources they need to do their job and nothing else.
This way, the software can maintain control over who has access to what resources, making it virtually impossible for hackers to access sensitive information.
ZTNAs are more efficient than VPNs because the software automatically configures the Zero Trust Network Access according to each request and can be scaled quickly as needed.
ZTNA vs. VPN
Unlike a VPN, with ZTNA, the workflow is much more efficient since you won’t be bogged down with extra authentication layers or network tunneling.
ZTNA also gives users an ultrafast connection to internal networks without the costly and time-consuming encryption process required by VPNs. It allows admins to securely transmit data from various locations simultaneously with speeds that meet or surpass those of traditional VPNs, saving your business precious money and time.
ZTNA also gives granular control over access to sensitive data, making it easy for IT admins to set up multiple levels of authentication, limit access to specific applications or resources, and even track user activity.
Features | ZTNA | VPN |
---|---|---|
Efficiency | Direct connection to company apps and resources | Work is done on an encrypted network |
Speed | Virtually no network latency | Latency due to encrypted network |
Access | Limited | VoIP, P2P, SIP, SS7 |
control | Granular-level | Full-access to all network resources |
The Benefits of Zero Trust Network Access Solutions (ZTNA)
The Zero Trust Network Access solution provides several benefits for businesses:
- Much more secure than traditional VPNs because they offer an additional layer of security that prevents unauthorized users from gaining access to confidential resources.
- More time and cost-efficiency since the software takes care of the setup process, meaning there’s no need to manually configure each user or device.
- More scalable and can be quickly adjusted without extra effort or time.
- Provides better visibility and control over who has access to what resources, making it easier for IT teams to manage and enforce security policies.
Conclusion
While VPNs provide adequate protection to an extent, ZTNAs offer the extra layer of security and scalability needed in today’s digital world.
Overall, Zero Trust Network Access solutions are essential for businesses looking to protect their data and networks from malicious attacks while providing fast and reliable connections to their employees.
By leveraging software-defined perimeter solutions, businesses can gain peace of mind knowing that their data is safe, secure, and properly managed.
Ultimately, Zero Trust Network Access solutions are an invaluable tool for companies that must keep their data safe and secure while reducing costs. With ZTNAs, businesses can ensure that they have the most up-to-date security measures in place while also saving time and money.
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