The words “zero trust” in Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) are probably appropriate in a time when it seems like we don’t trust anybody about anything. ZTNA is being touted as a replacement for VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), especially for remote business needs. It could be more effective, but small businesses will need to jump through hoops.

ZTNA is a technology designed to limit who can access a network and where in the network they can go. The limits are important. For example, anyone who can access a Microsoft 365 network as a global administrator can effectively play God; they can do ANYTHING.

The goal of a ZTNA is to keep out false gods. Its proponents tout the following benefits:

• Invisible infrastructure: ZTNA allows users to access applications without connecting them to the corporate network, thereby eliminating risk to the network.
• More control and visibility: Managing ZTNA solutions is easy with a centralized admin portal with granular controls. Managers can see everything and create access policies for user groups or individual users.
• Simpler app segmentation: Because ZTNA isn’t tied to the network, organizations can segment access down to individual applications instead of complex network segmentation.

Proponents further contend ZTNA is faster and more convenient than VPNs, offer better security, and are easier to manage. Gartner, a technology and research consultancy for large corporations and government, predicts its client base will largely phase out VPNs for ZTNA.

If you’re a small business or nonprofit organization that deals with large companies and government agencies, you may need to learn how to live in the world of ZTNA at the very least. If you want to adopt for your own use, you’ll need to answer some risk/reward questions:

• Do you need a Ft. Knox type of defense system?
• Are you willing to build new access systems to maintain your current business process?
• Are you willing to take on the learning-curve risks of implementing a new security system?

There are no cookie-cutter solutions to changing your security measures. Call us – 973-433-6676 – or email us to discuss the specifics of ZTNA, especially if you need to use it to comply with another organization’s directive. We can help you design and implement a plan that minimizes your risk as best as possible.