Why VPN is good, but ZTNA-based access gateway is better

Accops
March 10, 2023

With hybrid work becoming the norm, organizations are providing state-of-the-art infrastructure to their employees so that they can continue working seamlessly. One of the bigger concerns of hybrid work is to ensure secure ways for employees to access internal network resources whether they are applications, databases, or servers that carry enormous data.

Virtual Private Networks (VPN) have been the most longstanding and common way of ensuring secure remote access. However, with concepts like zero trust network access (ZTNA) coming to the fore, things are changing for good. While VPNs enable workers to remotely access resources on the company network, the fact that remote users can get complete access to all available resources on the company network, poses a security risk.

On the contrary, ZTNA solutions provision for more restrictive and customizable user authentication. ZTNA solutions do not give users access to the entire network. Instead, they provide access only to those apps or resources to which they are authorized. They make remote use of company resources easier and more secure for end users.

Benefits of ZTNA

ZTNA offers a more enhanced authentication system than VPN. In ZTNA, all users are first routed through a trust broker. The trust broker verifies the user’s identity and right to access a specific app or system. A ZTNA application can deny access to a user if any of the set parameters are not met, or if any malware is detected. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access to corporate data or networks.

As a matter of fact, a ZTNA solution is much faster than VPN because it allows authenticated users direct access to applications instead of routing them through a central data point or VPN. ZTNA does not require a separate program to be setup.

In a ZTNA setup, users must only authenticate themselves to access company data or apps from anywhere or any device. A ZTNA solution is the clear winner for larger companies with multiple different resources that need to be shared remotely. ZTNA’s application-based access model solves the problem of users getting access to resources they should not have access to. The “never trust, always verify” approach ensures all requests, local or remote, are authorized.

Other benefits of the ZTNA model include:

Less susceptibility: A ZTNA model provides enhanced security, especially against in-network lateral attacks arising from a new or different security architecture.
Strong user authentication and authorization policies: The ZTNA model provides a more comprehensive network security by leveraging features like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and biometrics.
Data categorization: In ZTNA, users never or seldom have access to extensive data. Data is segmented based on type, sensitivity, and usage, resulting in a significantly smaller attack surface.
End-to-end data security: ZTNA ensures data is secure in storage as well as in transit. This includes automatic backups and encrypts or hashed message delivery.

Accops HySecure Solution

Accops provides a range of solutions that make authentication much stronger. Accops HySecure Zero Trust-based Application Access Gateway solution allows employees to safely log in to corporate applications and desktops, and access private applications they need to be efficient and productive. Users can easily switch devices, move from trusted LAN to untrusted WAN, connect to the internet or mobile network, and choose among browsers, desktop clients or mobile apps to suit their requirements.

With out-of-the-box security features, organizations can provide compliant access to any corporate application – web apps, SaaS, client-server apps, legacy applications, virtual apps, and desktops. With this ZTNA-based solution, enterprises can also secure access to their existing VDI & DaaS.

Accops’ ZTNA-based solution not only provides comprehensive benefits but are also backed with extended integration support that minimizes setup hassles and management.

Conclusion

For enterprises to be able to make hybrid working a seamless, secure, and an enriching experience for their employees, ZTNA is the best option because it helps them to deliver better agility and a robust defense against malicious cyber-attacks. Check out Accops HySecure solution to understand how it can fit into your requirements.