ZTNA vs. VPN: A Comparative Analysis
Virtual private networks (VPNs) have been the go-to solution for remote access for business users to connect back to corporate networks. In the days before remote and hybrid work went mainstream, VPN access was provisioned sparingly due to cost and security concerns, and most employees used them only occasionally. However, all caution was thrown to the wind during the COVID-19 pandemic. As companies opened the floodgates to prioritize business operations, threats followed the VPN back into the enterprise, leading to a nearly 2,000% increase in attacks against the VPN.
Companies are finding it tough to put the genie back in the bottle. Our new remote and hybrid work reality coincides with a larger shift toward cloud computing, mobile devices, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
This has led to a long string of network attacks enabled by users with network access. Credentials are routinely hacked, phished, or socially-engineered and sold on the dark web. More capable hackers directly attack the VPN products, leveraging vulnerabilities to give them access to the target’s network. The problem got so bad that last year, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) ordered U.S. Government agencies to take certain VPN products out of their networks entirely.
So what can security teams do to deliver the robust and granular control their organizations need while providing continuous verification of user identities and permissions without slowing operations?
It’s time to consider Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).
VPN: Not Really Network Security
VPNs have been the go-to solution to enable remote access. While commonly thought of as network security tools, the truth is they really focus more on the privacy of a connection than the security of the network. This reality limits their effectiveness in today's complex digital landscape:
- Lack of security: VPNs dutifully carry traffic into the corporate network, including traffic that shouldn’t be brought in - like malware and ransomware.
- Broad access: VPNs typically grant users full access to the network once authenticated, creating potential security risks.
- Complex management: Managing VPN infrastructure can be resource-intensive, especially for large-scale deployments.
These limitations require the remote access team to pair up with the firewall team to filter traffic coming in from the VPN. But as organizations face more sophisticated cyberthreats and the need for greater flexibility in remote work arrangements, developing granular policies by user or network segment can become onerous and slow productivity.
ZTNA: The Future of Secure Network Access
ZTNA introduces a dramatically more nimble, precise, and robust shift in network security, especially compared to traditional VPNs.
While there are many advantages, for organizations looking for flexibility in offering remote access to services, ZTNA provides:
- Least privilege access: Users are granted only the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job functions.
- Continuous verification: User identity and connection status are constantly monitored and verified throughout the session.
- Continuous monitoring: All accesses are logged and easily tied back to a specific user account without having to correlate logs across tools.
In other words, ZTNA adapts to the highly dynamic nature of today’s networks, providing protection against both internal and external threats. Unlike a VPN, which temporarily assigns an IP address once the user authenticates to the concentrator, ZTNA services log at the user level. Therefore, in the event of a security incident, responders would have to perform multiple steps and search VPN logs to find previous users assigned to the suspicious IP address. With ZTNA, the suspicious activity is clearly tied to one user.
ZTNA vs. VPN: 5 Key Differentiators
In addition to granular security tied at the user level, ZTNA differentiates itself from VPNs in 5 other key ways:
1. Security
ZTNA offers enhanced security through continuous verification and its least privilege model. Unlike VPNs, which grant broad network access, ZTNA ensures that users can only access resources they absolutely need. This significantly reduces the attack surface and prevents lateral movement in case of a breach.
2. Performance
By eliminating the need for tunneling and limiting unnecessary access to network IP spaces, ZTNA can provide faster and more reliable connections. This is particularly beneficial for cloud-based applications and services.
For instance, when connecting to multiple sites simultaneously, ZTNA can allow users to connect directly to multiple destinations without going through intermediaries, such as company headquarters.
3. User Experience
ZTNA solutions also often integrate seamlessly with existing authentication systems, providing a smoother and more intuitive experience for users. This reduces potential friction during existing workflows and improves productivity.
4. Cost
In addition to user experience, ZTNA solutions can also lead to significant savings in the long term:
- Reduced management overhead tied to user access rules
- Lower bandwidth requirements and network latency due to direct connectivity
- Faster incident response time
5. Scalability
Finally, ZTNA solutions can scale more easily to meet operational and security requirements. This adaptability makes ZTNA particularly suitable for organizations experiencing rapid growth or undergoing frequent changes in their network infrastructure.
Future-Proofing with ZTNA
The ZTNA market is experiencing a renaissance in capabilities. Already, vendors have begun to introduce Universal ZTNA, an extension of ZTNA for on-premises users. This gives administrators consistent security policies across all network access points, regardless of location or device type. It also gives users a consistent experience whether they are at a coffee shop, the manufacturing floor, or the boardroom.
ZTNA will continue to expand in capabilities, and companies that adopt it are well-positioned to benefit from coming waves of innovation.
Take the Next Step
No matter how you look at it, ZTNA represents a significant advancement over traditional VPNs, especially in terms of security, performance, user experience, cost-effectiveness, and scalability.
If your organization is looking to enhance its network security—especially if your team is responsible for protecting sensitive data across multiple sites—now is the time to take the next step to learn more about ZTNA.
Zentera’s whitepaper, Zero Trust and Segmentation, is the perfect place to start.
