ZTNA vs. VPN: Examination of the differences between two network security models on the edge of the WAN. As the world dependence on Internet -based applications continues to increase, so does the cybercrime rate. Cybersecury Ventures estimates that the costs of world cybercrime reach 10.5 billion euros per year in 2025, compared to 3 billion euros in 2015.
Since credentials and personal information are the most wanted data in security violations, it is more important than ever for companies to assume the presence of a threat and take the necessary measures to protect themselves from it.
For decades, most companies use virtual private networks (VPN). When defining a traditional virtual (VPN) private network environment, we usually use the analogy that network security acts as a pit that surrounds a castle. Once the pit crosses, almost everything that is inside its perimeter is accessible.
Although the pit was a fantastic innovation for its time, today countries use more advanced technologies to protect areas, such as aerial drones and satellite surveillance. Similarly, companies that really seek their network to the distributed work environment today should consider additional options.
Through adaptive and conscious policies of the context that limit access and potential impact of compromised credentials, access to the Zero Trust (ZTNA) network is a model that provides access to the applications of the company’s private network in a significantly more safer way than a VPN. However, we must take into account the advantages and disadvantages of moving to Ztna.
Before analyzing Ztna in front of the VPN, let’s deepen the definitions.
What is Ztna?
As the name implies, ZTNA is a security concept based on the assumption that anyone who tries to access a network or application is a malicious actor whose use must be restricted by continuous verification. To apply its security levels, the ZTNA uses an adaptive verification policy per session that can take into account a combination of the user’s identity, its location, its device, the time and date of the application, and the use patterns observed above.
Once verified, the Zero Trust network creates a safe tunnel from the user’s device to the requested application. This authenticated tunnel prohibits the public discovery or lateral movement to other applications in the network and, ultimately, decreases the probability of cyber attacks.
ZTNA vs. VPN: Examination of the differences between two network security models on the edge of the WAN
Comparison and contrast between Ztna and VPN
The remote access VPN have been the corporate safety standard for decades, but their functionality has not evolved as quickly as the cunning of modern hackers. Although companies can use both security solutions, ZTNA has several advantages compared to VPN.
ZTNA’s security limits the extension of user access
In the case of network safety, data gaps occur when a hacker crosses a corporate firewall through a perimeter -based VPN and then is given free way to move through the company’s safe applications without much resistance. A perimeter -based security network that allows great access possibilities creates more opportunities for a data gap and no longer conforms to the needs of modern companies.
ZTNA does not consider any part of the company’s network as an implicit confidence zone. Instead, apply microsegmentation and prescriptive security policies to the company’s edge architecture to create tunnels so that users access specific applications and nothing more. At most, a user can only access what exists behind the unique microsegments to which he has access.
ZTNA adaptive security policies constantly mitigate the risk
While a VPN uses a unique authentication to give users access to a business network, ZTNA uses an adaptive policy that constantly evaluates security during a user’s session.
These security evaluations take into account if a user has changed location, when it was the last time he tried to access an application, if he is using a new device and if he shows abnormal behavior, such as the rapid alteration or elimination of data. Ztna’s security supervision capabilities are not possible only with a VPN.
Direct connections to the application create a better user experience
Zero Trust networks eliminate the perimeter concept and force all user traffic to go through an inspection point in the cloud every time information is transmitted. When moving this inspection to the cloud – especially in a 5G network – the authentication process is completed with such a low latency that it is practically imperceptible to the end user.
A VPN, however, can be hindered by limited bandwidth and backend yield limitations. In addition, as ZTNA is independent of the network and location, employees can devote more time to their work and less to wait for applications to load while working at a distance.
