VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) and ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) are two key technologies that are often compared. While VPNs have long been standard for securer remote access, ZTNA is becoming increasingly important. In this article, we take a closer look at how they work, the differences, the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches and show you which solution is best suited for your needs.
Understanding VPNs: The Traditional Cybersecurity Staple
VPNs are a proven technology that makes it possible to establish an encrypted tunnel between a device (e.g. a company laptop) and a VPN server or as you probably already know, to connect safely to your company network. This tunnel protects the traffic from unauthorized access while the VPN server decrypts the data and forwards it to the destination server. This method was particularly effective when companies mainly relied on internal networks and local data centers. However, a major disadvantage of conventional VPN clients is that they often grant extensive access to company resources, which entails considerable security risks.
Benefits of Using VPNs:
- Security and Privacy: The encrypted tunnel protects data traffic from eavesdropping attempts
- Anonymity: VPNs hide the user’s IP address, enabling anonymous surfing
- Access Control: VPNs provide access to internal networks from external locations
Use Cases:
- Remote workers requiring secure access to company resources.
- Users in multiple geographies and branches to access resources.
Always-On VPNs: The Next Level of VPN Technology
Always-On VPNs take it a step further by automatically establishing an encrypted connection as soon as your laptop connects to the internet. Authentication typically occurs through user certificates (User Tunnel) linked directly to the Active Directory (e.g., Azure AD), or less commonly through device certificates (Device Tunnel).
Imagine working from home and needing to log in via a VPN client each time, along with multi-factor authentication. This process can be tedious and time-consuming. While Always-On VPNs automatically connect your device, providing convenience, they also present significant security risks. A compromised access point can grant unfettered access to the entire network, therefore increasing vulnerability.
Challenges with Always-On VPNs:
- Complexity of Implementation: Setting up and managing Always-On VPNs can be complicated and time consuming
- Password reset issues: Password recovery can be difficult when working from home
- Security Risks: Comprehensive network access poses potential dangers and higher impact on the organization in case of successful attacks
ZTNA: The Future of Network AccessControl
ZTNA is based on the principle of "Zero Trust", where no user or device is automatically considered trustworthy. Instead, access is only granted after strict authentication, authorization and continued validation. ZTNA enables granular control over who can access which resources (micro-segmentation), minimizing the risk of unauthorized access.
Advantages of Using Zero Trust:
• Enhanced Security: Continuous authentication and monitoring increases security
• Access to Private Apps from everywhere: Private applications can be accessed securely independent of networks thanks to ZTNA architecture
• Granular Access Control: Only authorized users receive access to specific resources
• Lower Costs & Complexity: No hardware required, low operational costs, rapid deployment, fast M&A integrations
• Improved Visibility: User activities are comprehensively and thoroughly monitored
With ZTNA, IT administrators have control over which employees can access which applications. This micro-segmentation and the principle of least privilege make ZTNA a more secure solution than VPNs. Even if an attacker manages to penetrate the system, the potential damage is limited as access is restricted to specific resources.
VPN vs. ZTNA: A Comparative Overview
While VPNs allow direct access to the entire company network, ZTNA restricts access to only the necessary applications and services. ZTNA provides granular access control with continuous monitoring and contextual authentication that adheres to the principles of Zero Trust.
ZTNA technologies were initially not designed to connect multiple networks into a wide area network (WAN). This used to be a strength of advanced VPN implementations which allow multiple sites to securely share local resources. Quite recently the ZTNA technology has further evolved in regards to SD-WAN capabilities, often referred to as branch connectors or ZTNA connectors. Therefore nowadays ZTNA can be used as well in the context of multiple networks. Additionally it is particularly effective at protecting cloud-hosted applications and resources that are accessible from everywhere.
Conclusion: ZTNA triumphs in the security showdown
ZTNA offers a future-proof solution for modern security requirements through its advanced security features, granular access controls and continuous monitoring. While VPNs can still be useful in certain scenarios, ZTNA is the better choice for securing access to an organization's internal resources and especially in regards to cloud based resources.
Rheintec: Your Partner for Cybersecurity
Rheintec is your trusted partner for the implementation of ZTNA and other cyber security solutions. Our team of experts provides comprehensive security assessments, customized implementation strategies and ongoing support to ensure best in class protection for your critical data assets.
If you want to leverage on ZTNA or review your current security posture, make an appointment with us now.
