Zero Trust Network Access vs. VPNs

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are both technologies used to secure access to network resources, but they operate on fundamentally different principles and architectures.

Here's a detailed compare and contrast of ZTNA and VPNs, including examples to illustrate their similarities and differences.

SIMILARITIES

• Secure Access: Both ZTNA and VPNs are designed to provide secure access to network resources.
• Encryption: Both use encryption to protect data in transit from being intercepted or tampered with.
• Remote Access: Both technologies enable remote access to internal network resources for users working outside the office.
• Authentication: Both require user authentication before granting access to resources.

DIFFERENCES

Security Model

VPN: Operates on a perimeter-based security model. Once a user is authenticated and connected to the VPN, they have access to the entire network.

ZTNA: Operates on a zero-trust security model. It assumes that no part of the network is inherently trusted and grants access to specific resources only after verifying the user’s identity and the security posture of their device.

Access Control

VPN: Provides broad access to the network, which can lead to lateral movement within the network if credentials are compromised.

ZTNA: Provides granular, least-privilege access to specific applications or services based on user identity and context.

User Experience

VPN: Often requires the installation of a VPN client on the user's device, and can be cumbersome with connection drops and reconnections.

ZTNA: Typically offers a seamless user experience through the use of cloud-based services and agentless access options.

Scalability

VPN: Can be challenging to scale due to the need for robust infrastructure to handle increased traffic and connections.

ZTNA: Designed for scalability, leveraging cloud infrastructure to dynamically scale with the number of users and applications.

Deployment

VPN: Generally deployed as an on-premises solution, though cloud-based VPN services are also available.

ZTNA: Often deployed as a cloud-based service, simplifying deployment and management.

EXAMPLES?

VPN Example:

Scenario: A company with remote employees uses a VPN to allow them to connect to the corporate network. Employees install a VPN client on their laptops. When they need to access internal resources like file servers or intranet sites, they connect to the VPN, which encrypts their internet traffic and routes it through the company’s network.

Benefit: Secure remote access to the entire network.

Drawback: If an employee’s credentials are compromised, the attacker can access the entire network.

ZTNA Example:

Scenario: The same company adopts a ZTNA solution. Remote employees use their web browsers to log in to a cloud-based ZTNA portal. The portal verifies their identity and checks the security status of their device. Employees are then granted access only to specific applications they need, such as email, CRM, or specific file shares, without exposing the entire network.

Benefit: More granular and secure access control, reducing the risk of lateral movement in case of credential compromise.

Drawback: Potential complexity in setting up and managing application-specific policies.

CONCLUSION

While both VPNs and ZTNA provide secure remote access, ZTNA offers a more modern and secure approach by limiting access based on identity and context, and by providing more granular control over which resources users can access. VPNs, on the other hand, are simpler and more traditional but come with higher risks due to their broad access model.

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Like ZTNA, Zero Networks is zero trust, but eliminates the latency and higher costs involved in routing all traffic through a cloud proxy.

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