7 Zero Trust Application and Network Solutions for Business

Hi there! As an IT security analyst and cybersecurity geek, I wanted to give you my insider‘s take on the top zero trust network access (ZTNA) solutions that can help secure your business.

With remote work becoming the norm, traditional VPNs just don‘t cut it anymore in protecting your infrastructure and data. Zero trust network access solutions are critical for implementing least-privilege access controls and securing your hybrid environment.

Let me walk you through the key capabilities, pros and cons of leading ZTNA solutions so you can make an informed decision on what‘s best for your unique needs!

What is Zero Trust?

First, a quick ZTNA 101. The zero trust model assumes that your network perimeter is porous. So it authenticates and authorizes every single access request, even from users inside the network.

This allows creating a "microperimeter" around each application and resource. Access is granted on a need-to-know basis after verifying the user‘s identity, context and device security posture.

Compared to VPNs which provide open access once connected, ZTNA minimizes lateral movement and blast radius in case of a breach.

According to recent surveys, the top drivers for adopting ZTNA are:

Securing access in hybrid and multi-cloud environments (58%)
Enabling remote access without VPN complexity (55%)
Reducing the risk of lateral movement across networks (51%)

Clearly, businesses recognize the limitations of legacy network security models. ZTNA adoption saw a meteoric 301% increase from 2020 to 2021 according to Gartner.

Key Benefits of Zero Trust Solutions

Here are some of the top benefits you can expect from switching to a zero trust approach:

Enhanced security – Microsegmentation and least privilege access controls minimize lateral movement across networks in case of a breach. Granular access policies make it hard for attackers to move freely once inside.
Visibility and control – ZTNA solutions provide complete visibility into all access requests and activities through detailed logs and analytics. This allows detecting anomalies and risky access patterns early. Granular access policies based on context provide greater control over access.
Support remote/hybrid work – ZTNA allows securely accessing applications from anywhere without complex VPN setup. This is critical for managing access across cloud, data centers and SaaS apps as remote work grows.
Reduce costs – ZTNA solutions can reduce network segmentation costs by replacing traditional firewalls, ACLs and VPN infrastructure with cloud-delivered access. Simplified access controls also reduce audit and compliance overheads.
Improve user experience – Users can securely access applications fast from any device or location without connectivity issues. Consistent access policies improve experience across cloud and on-prem apps.

According to Okta‘s 2022 Businesses at Work Report, companies that adopted zero trust reported 53% faster detection and 52% less time to containment of security incidents on average. That‘s significant!

Now let‘s explore leading ZTNA solutions that can help you secure critical applications and data. I‘ll highlight their key capabilities, pros and cons.

Nordlayer

Nordlayer offers a cloud-delivered ZTNA solution focused on remote access security. It implements zero trust principles using a software-defined perimeter architecture.

Key capabilities:

Microsegmentation using encrypted secure web gateways instead of VPNs
Integrates with providers like Okta and Azure AD for adaptive authentication
Detailed analytics for network visibility and security monitoring
Fast setup without changing existing network infrastructure
Scales across hybrid environments

Pros

Quick and easy setup without hardware or network changes
Cost-effective ZTNA-as-a-Service
Integrates well with existing identity and security tools
Provides full network visibility for security analytics

Cons

Still a relatively young startup compared to other vendors
Mostly focused just on remote access use cases

Nordlayer makes it pretty straightforward to implement a zero trust network. It‘s a compelling choice if you want simple, fast deployment without ripping and replacing infrastructure.

Perimeter 81

Perimeter 81 delivers ZTNA along with zero trust application access capabilities.

Key features:

Granular application access policies based on user, group, location, etc.
Encrypted tunnels between applications to isolate access
Converged platform for consistent policies across cloud and on-prem
Detailed logs, analytics and visualizations for network visibility
Automated policy recommendations and lifecycle management

Pros:

Unified zero trust platform covering both network and app access
Flexible licensing models for SMBs to large enterprises
Detailed analytics dashboard for network forensics
Automates recommendations and policy management

Cons:

Requires some network configuration changes
Mobile access support needs improvement

Perimeter 81 is a strong choice for larger organizations wanting consistent zero trust controls across heterogeneous infrastructure.

Zscaler Private Access

Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) adopts a unique inside-out approach to zero trust.

What makes it stand out:

Applications completely invisible to unauthorized users
Microsegmentation at the application-layer instead of network
App segmentation policies instead of broader network controls
Automated policy recommendations using AI/ML

Benefits:

Minimizes lateral exposure by hiding apps from unauthorized access
Simplified segmentation based on application identity
Detailed logs provide application-layer visibility
Automation simplifies administration overhead

Limitations:

Doesn‘t provide full-suite of access management capabilities
Mostly focused on internal application access scenarios

ZPA shifts access controls from the network to individual applications. This innovative approach minimizes lateral exposure across networks.

Cloudflare Access

Cloudflare Access removes traditional network perimeters and uses Cloudflare‘s global network to authenticate users based on identity.

What I like about it:

Authenticates users globally across all apps, eliminating IP restrictions
Integrates with popular identity providers like Okta and Azure AD
Provides network-layer DDoS and threat protection
Detailed audit trail of all user activities
Free plan available for small teams

Potential drawbacks:

Requires using Cloudflare for networking/Internet routing
Mostly limited to web application scenarios
Less granular than other ZTNA tools

Cloudflare Access is ideal if you want consistent identity-centric access controls across hybrid infrastructure, without major network changes.

Wandera Private Access

Wandera Private Access simplifies zero trust application access, with focus on ease of use.

Key highlights:

Zero trust access set up in minutes without network changes
Isolates access at application-level with microtunnels
Provides real-time dashboards for monitoring access
Blocks risky users and devices based on threat intelligence

What makes it unique:

Extremely quick and lightweight deployment
Real-time monitoring gives network visibility
Scales access controls across different environments
Leverages mobile threat intelligence for stronger protection

Limitations:

More limited feature set compared to comprehensive ZTNA tools
Primarily designed for mobile access use cases

Wandera Private Access lowers barriers if you want to quickly pilot zero trust access controls across cloud, on-prem and SaaS apps.

Okta

Okta‘s zero trust framework secures access to cloud, mobile and on-prem applications.

Why businesses rely on it:

Unified identity system across all users and environments
Adaptive step-up authentication and contextual policies
Granular application and API access controls
Automates provisioning and offboarding
7000+ integrations with apps and infrastructure

Key strengths:

Mature platform with comprehensive access management capabilities
Integrates with existing infrastructure and apps
Context-aware authorization policies
Industry-leading identity management and governance

Potential limitations:

Complex with a steep learning curve
Requires commitment to Okta ecosystem

Okta enables gradually transitioning to a zero trust architecture at your own pace. It provides full visibility and control for securing hybrid infrastructure.

CrowdStrike Falcon Identity Protection

CrowdStrike Falcon Identity Protection strengthens identity security across hybrid environments.

Why it stands out:

Unified visibility and control across all user identities
Adaptive authentication enhances identity policy enforcement
Analyzes authentication patterns to identify compromised accounts
Detailed audit trail for access activities across apps
API integrations simplify deployment

Key advantages:

Reduces identity-related risks by securing all credentials
Simplifies compliance with detailed activity trails
API integrations accelerate deployment
Low total cost of ownership

Potential challenges:

More complex than standalone ZTNA tools
Mainly focused just on identity management

Falcon Identity Protection reduces risks associated with compromised credentials. It provides unified visibility and control for securing all user identities.

Key Decision Criteria

As you evaluate options, I recommend focusing on these criteria:

Use cases – Remote access, internal apps, customer access etc.
Deployment ease – Infra changes needed, learning curve involved
Capabilities – Identity management, device posture checks, granular policies
Infrastructure support – Cloud, on-prem, legacy systems
Analytics & visibility – Logs, monitoring and analysis features
Ecosystem integration – Identity providers, network and security tools
Licensing – Pricing model, minimum commitments

Prioritize capabilities that maps closely to your unique use cases and environment. I hope this guide gives you a headstart in finding the right zero trust solution for your business! Let me know if you have any other questions.