As more companies adjust to hybrid work, traditional VPN solutions struggle to solve the challenges of securing remote access in and out of the office.
With Zero Trust Network Access, organizations can use least privilege access, allowing employees to reach only the resources they need, limiting the attack surface and securing the corporate network from vulnerabilities.
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and Virtual Private Network (VPN) are two distinct approaches to network security.
Both aim to protect access to resources, but they function in fundamentally different ways.
This infographic contrasts the traditional VPN with the more modern, security-focused ZTNA, illustrating key differences in structure, application, and security capabilities.
VPN: Traditional Security Model
A VPN provides remote access to a network by establishing an encrypted connection over the internet. It works by creating a “tunnel” that connects a user’s device directly to the corporate network, allowing users to access all resources as if they were on-site.
While VPNs offer encryption, they have certain limitations:
ZTNA embodies the Zero Trust principle: “never trust, always verify.” Instead of granting access to an entire network, ZTNA provides users access to specific applications based on their identity, device, and other factors.
It ensures that only authenticated and authorized users can access particular resources. Key benefits of ZTNA include:
ZTNA provides enhanced security compared to VPN by isolating access to specific applications rather than the entire network. This approach limits potential attack surfaces and reduces lateral movement in case of a breach. While VPNs encrypt traffic, they assume all internal traffic is safe, which can lead to blind spots.
In contrast, ZTNA continuously monitors and verifies every user and device for each access attempt, resulting in greater protection against both external and internal threats.
For end-users, ZTNA often provides a seamless experience by granting direct access to applications without needing to connect to a full network. This reduces connectivity issues and improves performance, especially in a remote or cloud-based environment.
VPNs, while useful, can lead to slower speeds due to data routing through a centralized network. As companies move toward remote work and cloud adoption, ZTNA can better accommodate these shifts with minimal impact on user experience.
ZTNA and VPN represent two approaches to network security, each with distinct advantages and limitations. VPNs offer a broad but traditional method, useful for organizations still operating within a defined network perimeter. However, ZTNA is designed for modern, cloud-oriented environments, providing stronger security and a better user experience.
As businesses adopt cloud applications and enable remote work, ZTNA can offer a scalable and flexible alternative that enhances security by adopting a zero-trust model.
With Check Point’s ZTNA solution, you can seamlessly implement secure remote access across your network without the hassles of a business VPN.Learn more about ZTNA and get started today!
