{"id":5354,"date":"2022-09-08T14:31:59","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T19:31:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stratospherenetworks.com\/blog\/?p=5354"},"modified":"2022-09-08T15:08:19","modified_gmt":"2022-09-08T20:08:19","slug":"zero-trust-network-access-ztna-vs-vpn-which-is-best-for-your-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stratospherenetworks.com\/blog\/zero-trust-network-access-ztna-vs-vpn-which-is-best-for-your-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Zero-trust network access (ZTNA) vs. VPN: Which is best for your business?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TheA lack of trust can destroy personal relationships. However, in the IT world, it\u2019s the opposite: Giving people (and devices) the benefit of the doubt can allow malicious actors to breach your network. That\u2019s why many businesses have turned to zero-trust network access (ZTNA) solutions to minimize cybersecurity risks<\/a> while maximizing productivity for mobile and remote workers.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re weighing your options for a secure remote work strategy<\/a>, a ZTNA solution can give your end users access to the data and applications they need to do their jobs without compromising your company\u2019s data security. Here\u2019s everything you should know about this type of solution and how it compares to a virtual private network (VPN)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What is zero-trust network access (ZTNA)?<\/h2>\n

Gartner defines ZTNA<\/a> as \u201ca product or service that creates an identity- and context-based, logical access boundary around an application or set of applications.\u201d A trust broker grants application access to specified entities after verifying their identity, policy adherence and context. Additionally, Gartner notes that the broker doesn\u2019t permit lateral movement throughout the network, limiting the amount of damage malicious actors can do if they manage to compromise an account or device.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

As the name implies, ZTNA leverages the zero-trust security approach<\/a>, which assumes that anything or anyone in or outside of the network could be a threat, according to Cloudflare<\/a>. Like the software-defined perimeter method, the zero-trust network access model ensures connected devices lack visibility beyond the applications they\u2019re allowed to connect with according to granular access permission policies.<\/p>\n

In the wake of the pandemic and readjustment of workplace norms, ZTNA has become popular with organizations seeking to accommodate remote employees while fending off evolving IT security threats. From 2022 to 2027, the global zero-trust security market is projected to increase in size at a compound annual growth rate of 17.3 percent, reaching $60.7 billion by the end of that period, according to a ReportLinker.com press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n

ZTNA vs. VPN: Choosing the best solution for your business<\/h2>\n

VPNs used to be the go-to solution for companies looking to grant remote workers access to corporate local area networks (LANs). However, as cybercriminals have become craftier, it\u2019s become apparent that VPNs are vulnerable to hacking.<\/p>\n

For example, in March 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (DHS CISA) published an alert<\/a> cautioning companies utilizing enterprise VPNs to \u201cadopt a heightened sense of cybersecurity.\u201d The DHS CISA noted elevated data breach risk due to failure to patch and update VPNs, a lack of multi-factor authentication, and a deluge of phishing attempts.<\/p>\n

Traditional VPNs create a larger potential attack surface because they give end users broad access to the entire corporate network, according to Sophos<\/a>. If one of your employees get hacked, the criminal can get their hands on all the applications and data on your LAN.<\/p>\n

ZTNA, on the other hand, establishes a tunnel connecting a user and the application they\u2019re allowed to access. By evaluating each end user individually, the zero-trust framework only clears a path to the limited resources the worker needs to fulfill their professional obligations. Subsequently, if a hacker steals a ZTNA end user\u2019s credentials, the bad actor won\u2019t have free rein of your entire corporate network.<\/p>\n

Minimizing the attack surface is just one of the benefits of deploying a ZTNA solution instead of a VPN. Here are a few other notable advantages, as explained by Sophos.<\/p>\n