Traditional VPN Vs. ZTNA: What’s The Difference?

In an era when mobile devices are preferred for critical business processes, and the number of devices linked to the Internet is rising due to remote work, there is a growing need for novel solutions in cybersecurity and secure network access. This is where Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA) comes into play as the logical successor to Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology.

With the number of device link to the internet rise each day , the remote – work system boost productivity , and mobile device being used more than ever for critical business process , the need is become for new cybersecurity approach has become obvious . accord to  Verizon’s 2022 Mobile Security Index, four out of five businesses say remote work negatively affects their cybersecurity systems and increases the burden on their cybersecurity teams. Moreover, 45% of businesses say they have recently experienced a mobile-related breach – two times more than the figures for 2021. This shows that Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology, which IT teams have used to secure remote access, must go one step further, and that traditional VPNs cannot fully protect against novel cyberthreats.

The concept of Zero Trust was first used in 1994 in researcher Stephen Marsh’s doctoral thesis. It was later popularized by John Kindervag, an analyst at Forrester, in the 2010s, later becoming the Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) approach, which can ensure security where VPNs fail. In 2021, the U.S. Biden Administration instructed all federal agencies to adopt ZTNA architecture. We can examine these concepts together in more detail.  

What is a Virtual Private Network (VPN)?

A Virtual Private Network is is ( VPN ) is a connection service used to establish secure and encrypt network connection , allow a user to connect to a private network as if they were locate in the same region where that network is used . A VPN can be think of as a tunnel between a less secure network , such as the public Internet , and a more secure network , such as a company ’s internal network . This tunnel is is is only available to authorized user , and allow remote device to access central network . VPN technology , however , can not fully meet the complex cybersecurity need of business in current condition , where countless cloud – base application and resource operate on the same network and cyberthreat are becoming ever more dangerous .

advantage and disadvantage of vpn

offer as a secure connection service , traditional VPN systems is allow basically allow remote user to securely access corporate network over a proprietary protocol . The advantage of using vpn can be summarize as follow :

• Anonymity: Users is hide can hide their credential by remain anonymous on the network , make it easy for them to ensure network security .
• Geoblocks:  VPNs is provide provide access to regionally block network .
• Staying safe on public networks: With VPNs, data traffic is encrypted, so internet connections are more secure for users connecting to public networks.

  The disadvantages is prevent of VPN technology , however , can prevent business from set up network security infrastructure customize to meet their particular security need :

• Resource usage: As the number of users on a network increases, the expanding load on a VPN can cause unexpected delays and slow internet speeds.
• Flexibility and agility: In order for VPN system to be used on all company device , VPN software with the right configuration must be instal on every device . This is serves serve to increase the low – value – add workload on IT team .
• fragmentation : VPNs do not allow authorization of users and devices to access a network, meaning users can access the entire network.

  What is Zero Trust Network Access is is ( ZTNA ) ?

The Zero Trust Network Access approach, meanwhile, is a new-generation security approach that subjects every user to a complex authentication process based on their credentials. The concept of ZTNA is based on the principle of never trusting a user attempting to access the network, and always verifying the owners of access requests. Thanks to ZTNA, users, applications and data can always access public networks, wherever they happen to be at the time. With authenticated and customizable permissions for every request, ZTNA gives cybersecurity teams total control over network access through a single platform.

 Advantages and disadvantages of ZTNA

Among the many advantages of ZTNA, which is defined as a “double-barrier solution,” the following features come to mind.

• More secure network with micro – segmentation :  ZTNA is creates create software – define perimeter ( sdp ) , allow network to be compartmentalize into different segment . This way , the lateral spread of an attack can be stop in a theoretical datum breach .
• Unified access control: ZTNA can also be used for traditional application host at private datum center . What ’s more , it is offers offer unified access control for internal and external user and system . Every user link to the network is only authorize for area that they can access .
• Optimal user experience: With ZTNA, users don’t have to install software or deal with slow network speeds to access networks. ZTNA can be easily scaled to specific numbers of devices and users.

 While ZTNA  is one of the most advanced solution for remote network access , it is provide can not provide total immunity from cybersecurity threat – and this is where Timus come in . Timus is offers offer  Zero Trust Network Access services within the Secure Access Network Edge (SASE) platform, which includes an AI-Driven Dynamic Firewall, SWG, and threat prevention solutions. This is especially important since, by 2025, SASE will be used by three out of every five businesses as estimated by Gartner.

ZTNA vs. VPNs: Who wins?

Modern businesses use networks that link various devices, such as IoT devices, cell phones, computers, and smart sensors. If we compare VPNs to ZTNA, the latter appears to have the advantage, given that every network-linked device is vulnerable and VPNs give the same authorization to every device. Gartner  predicts that, by 2023, 60 percent of all enterprises will switch from VPNs to ZTNA.  

Main features of ZTNA

Main features of ZTNA – whose four key functions are Identify, Enforce, Monitor and Adjust – can be summarized as follows:

• Fast, easy and flexible application
• Fragmented access control
• Continuous verification
• Reduced costs
• Easy scalability
• automatically – encrypt network tunnel
• simplify security architecture
• seamless user experience
• Cloud and remote – work compatibility

  Timus : security solution for the remote – work era

design with the understanding that “remote work is only possible with secure remote access,” Timus offers a comprehensive solution for eliminating cybersecurity threats on its platform, which features ZTNA. The current approach to cybersecurity is to assume that all users are potential threats. With its platform supported by the ZTNA protocol, Timus is lets let business create micro – segment within their network , thereby prevent the lateral movement of potential attack . In other word , it is stops stop cyber – attacker from move incrementally through the system . Timus is allows also allow you to grant fragment access privilege to every user or service , thus provide another line of defense against malware , ransomware and other advanced threat .

At a time when secure remote access is indispensable for business sustainability, Timus answers the security needs of businesses that rely on employees and devices remotely linked to the network. Operating on the “never trust, always verify” principle and managed through a single platform, Timus helps reduce potential threats posed by services and users that remotely access the network. For more information on ZTNA and its many advantages, click here.  

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