Zero Trust Network Access

ZTNA

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is a security service that provides secure, identity-aware access to specific applications — replacing traditional VPNs by granting per-session, least-privilege access to individual resources rather than broad network access.

⚙️ How Does It Work?

Users authenticate strongly (MFA + device compliance). The ZTNA service evaluates identity, device posture, and context against policy, then creates an encrypted tunnel directly to the specific application — never exposing the network.

📍 Where Is It Used?

Remote access, cloud application access, third-party vendor access — any scenario where VPN's "castle and moat" approach creates excessive lateral movement risk.

💡 Real-World Example

A company replaces its Cisco VPN with Zscaler ZTNA. Remote employees no longer connect to the entire corporate network — they connect to specific applications (SAP, SharePoint, etc.) based on their identity and device posture. A compromised endpoint can no longer spread ransomware across the network.

🔗 Related Terms

Zero Trust VPN Conditional Access Microsegmentation NIST 800-207

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