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ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access)
A security model that grants access to applications based on identity verification and context, regardless of network location.
What is ZTNA?
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is a security model that provides secure remote access to applications based on defined access control policies. Unlike VPNs that grant broad network access, ZTNA provides granular application-level access after verifying identity and context.
Zero Trust Principles
- Never Trust, Always Verify: No implicit trust based on location
- Least Privilege Access: Minimum required permissions
- Assume Breach: Design assuming attackers are present
- Verify Explicitly: Authenticate and authorize every request
ZTNA vs. VPN
| Aspect | VPN | ZTNA |
|---|---|---|
| Access Scope | Network-level | Application-level |
| Trust Model | Trust after connect | Continuous verification |
| Visibility | Limited | Full application awareness |
| User Experience | Often poor | Seamless |
ZTNA Components
- Trust Broker: Evaluates access requests
- Identity Provider: Authenticates users
- Policy Engine: Makes access decisions
- Connectors: Enable application access
Benefits
- Reduces attack surface
- Improves security posture
- Better user experience than VPN
- Supports cloud and hybrid environments
- Enables secure third-party access
- Provides detailed access visibility