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Introduction

As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, organisations are rethinking traditional network access methods. Older network architectures were built for a time when employees worked primarily in office settings and applications resided in on-premises data centers. Today’s environment changed the scenario to data everywhere, people anywhere, with a truly perimeter-less border-less enterprise. Hence, comparison of legacy network environments with modern secure solutions became inevitable.

While Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have long been the go-to solution, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is emerging as the superior alternative for secure, modern networks. This guide explores the differences, advantages, and considerations of VPNs versus ZTNA, helping you make an informed choice. 

What is VPN & how does it work?

VPNs, or Virtual Private Networks, is a solution to establish encrypted connections between a user’s device and a private network. They mask IP addresses, protect data in transit, and allow remote access to internal systems.

According to Gartner, a VPN provides secure communication services for enterprises over a shared public network. It ensures consistent and tailored operating characteristics across the entire organisation, enabling secure and reliable connectivity.

How VPN works

The first step to getting started with a VPN solution is to setup a connection where a user connects to a VPN server using a client application. Post which it establishes a “secure tunnel” through protocols where data is encrypted and transmitted. This establishes a Network Access where user gains access to the entire network, regardless of their role or specific needs.

While effective for its time, VPN’s all-or-nothing approach to network access creates significant security risks in today's evolved environment.

What is ZTNA & how does it work?

ZTNA, or Zero Trust Network Access, is a modern security framework based on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” It provides application-specific access based on user identity and context.

According to Gartner, ZTNA establishes a secure, identity and context-based boundary around applications. These applications are concealed from unauthorised discovery, and access is controlled by a trust broker. This broker ensures that only verified and policy-compliant entities can access the applications, effectively preventing lateral movement within the network. .

How ZTNA works

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) operates by first verifying user identity through Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), ensuring that only authorised individuals gain access. It then performs contextual validation, taking into account factors such as device posture and location to further enhance security. Finally, ZTNA grants access specifically to the required application rather than the entire network, significantly reducing the potential attack surface and improving overall security.

ZTNA minimises the attack surface by cloaking applications and preventing lateral movement across the network while continuously authenticating the access.

Why traditional VPNs are not enough?

While VPNs were designed for secure remote access, they fall short in today’s dynamic and hybrid work environments. VPNs were initially designed to provide secure remote access, they have significant limitations in today’s dynamic and hybrid work environments. These limitations make VPNs less effective and more risky compared to modern solutions.

Key limitations of VPNs

  • Broad access: Users often gain access to the entire network, increasing risk. The primary issue with VPNs is the broad access they provide. When users connect via a VPN, they often gain access to the entire network, which significantly increases the risk of unauthorised access and potential data breaches. This broad access model is contrary to the principle of least privilege, which is essential for minimising security risks.
  • Lack of visibility: Limited insight into user activity and data flows. Organisations have limited insight into user activity and data flows, making it difficult to monitor and manage network security effectively. This lack of visibility can lead to undetected malicious activities and data exfiltration.
  • Scalability challenges: VPNs often face difficulties in scaling to meet the demands of growing remote workforces. As the number of users and devices increases, VPNs can struggle to maintain performance, leading to bottlenecks. Physical firewalls have limited bandwidth capacity, which can result in increased costs and potential downtime as organisations attempt to scale their VPN infrastructure. This scalability issue can hinder the ability to support a large, distributed workforce effectively.
  • Performance bottlenecks: One significant limitation of VPNs is the latency caused by centralised traffic routing. When users connect to a VPN, their internet traffic is directed through a central VPN server before reaching its final destination. This additional step, known as traffic backhauling, can slow down the connection and degrade performance. While this process secures data by encrypting it and masking the user’s IP address, the centralised approach can create significant latency, especially in Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) environments. Additionally, for Software as a Service (SaaS) environments, routing traffic through a headquarters can further exacerbate performance issues.
  • Vulnerabilities: In 2023, 56% of organisations reported experiencing cyberattacks that exploited VPN vulnerabilities, this was up from 45% the year before. These vulnerabilities can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorised access to sensitive data and systems, posing a significant security threat.

Advantages of ZTNA over VPN

Biggest one it to say goodbye to lateral movement. ZTNA addresses these challenges with a more secure, efficient, and user-friendly approach. However, there are more which are mentioned below.

Why choose ZTNA over VPN?

  • Granular access control: Role-based access to specific applications, reducing exposure.
  • Better performance: Direct-to-cloud access eliminates latency.
  • Enhanced security: Cloaks applications from unauthorised users and prevents lateral movement.
  • Scalability: Cloud-native ZTNA easily adapts to organisational growth.
  • Compliance-ready: Meets regulatory requirements with detailed activity logs.

Deciding between ZTNA vs. VPN

When should you transition from VPN to ZTNA? Deciding between VPN and ZTNA can indeed be complex for an enterprise IT decision maker, due to the nuanced differences and specific needs of modern organisations.  While VPNs usage is familiar and traditionally used for secure remote access, their limitations are arising in modern cloud driven organisations. 

The decision hinges on evaluating the organisation’s current infrastructure, security requirements, and long-term goals. IT decision makers must weigh the trade-offs between the familiarity and lower initial costs of VPNs against the superior security, scalability, and performance benefits of ZTNA.

Consider ZTNA if:

  • You need to secure a hybrid workforce with diverse access needs.
  • Your organisation is adopting cloud-based applications.
  • VPN management and operational costs are becoming unsustainable.

Retain VPN if:

  • You want to connect large networks and linking multiple offices together.
  • You require temporary access for specific users without stringent security needs.
  • Legacy systems cannot easily integrate with ZTNA.

Key considerations before transitioning from VPN to ZTNA

Transitioning from VPN to ZTNA is a strategic move that can significantly enhance your organisation’s security posture. However, it requires careful planning and consideration of several key factors to ensure a smooth and successful implementation.

  • Existing infrastructure: First, evaluate your existing infrastructure to determine compatibility with ZTNA frameworks. Legacy systems may need upgrades or modifications to support the new architecture.
  • User needs: Identify the specific access requirements of your users, including employees, contractors, and partners, to ensure the solution meets their needs. 
  • Regulatory compliance: Regulatory compliance is another critical consideration; the chosen ZTNA solution must adhere to industry standards and regulations to avoid legal issues.
  • Vendor expertise:  partner with experienced vendors who have a proven track record in ZTNA deployments. Their expertise can facilitate a seamless transition, minimising disruptions and ensuring that the new system is effectively integrated into your existing IT environment. 

By addressing these considerations, you can maximise the benefits of ZTNA while mitigating potential challenges.

Conclusion

ZTNA is not just a technology upgrade; it’s a paradigm shift in secure access. As hybrid work and cloud adoption redefine business operations, ZTNA offers the flexibility, security, and scalability that traditional VPNs cannot match.

Check out why enterprises are shifting away from ZTNA to VPN in this solution brief

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