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Last year alone, global cyberattacks increased by 38%, resulting in substantial business loss - both in terms of finances and reputation.
In these times of constant data breaches, ransomware attacks, and new phishing techniques sprouting left and right, it has never been more crucial for organizations to address their cybersecurity measures.
What’s little known is the fact that effective cybersecurity solutions go beyond their primary role of protection - they can have a beneficial effect on end-user productivity, speed up the rollout of new applications, and save operational expenses, to name a few.
This is where Implementing a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) comes into play with several advantages that significantly outweigh its cost.
ZTNA is a growingly popular approach to cybersecurity that emphasizes the importance of verifying the identity and trustworthiness of every user and device trying to access an organization's network resources, regardless of whether they are located inside or outside of the corporate network.
As more organizations move to cloud-based architectures and adopt a more decentralized approach to network security, ZTNA is garnering more interest due to the fact that it removes implied trust altogether requiring all users to demonstrate that they have the required authorization for their request. Users and devices receive personalized, gradual access to only the apps, services, and systems they need and only for as long as they need them, even after receiving authentication and authorization.
This is a stark contrast to the traditional (now outdated) approach where it was automatically assumed anyone inside a network is trustworthy.
Access to certain programs or resources is only given following user authentication. Once the user was successfully authenticated, ZTNA provides entry to the specified application via a secure, encrypted tunnel that adds more protection by hiding apps and services from IP addresses that could otherwise be visible
1. It works without allowing incoming connections at the firewall, effectively making your network dark to attackers
2. It reduces the "blast radius" of a compromised user to just the applications and data they would be authorized to see
3. It significantly reduces the risk of lateral movement as the user's device is never actually on the network.
4. It provides a detailed accounting of which applications were accessed by which users at which times - traditional network security can't offer this
Understanding ZTNA Architectures: Endpoint-Initiated vs. Service-Initiated
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) offers two primary architectures: endpoint-initiated (agent-based) and service-initiated (clientless).
Endpoint-Initiated ZTNA (Agent-Based):
In this model, businesses install software agents on each network endpoint. These agents collect information and communicate with a broker during authentication and authorization. The broker then decides which resources a user can access based on the context provided by the agent. An encrypted outbound tunnel is established from the application to the user, similar to a Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP).
Service-Initiated ZTNA (Clientless):
This model does not require endpoint agents or clients. Instead, an organization deploys a connector appliance in its private network, which creates an outbound connection to the ZTNA provider’s cloud. If the user’s credentials and context criteria meet the requirements, the ZTNA controller enables a connection to the desired application via a proxy appliance.
Choosing the Right ZTNA Model:
• Agent-Based ZTNA offers extensive contextual knowledge about user behavior and device posture, allowing for more nuanced access control. However, it requires software installation, limiting support for third-party and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) use.
• Clientless ZTNA supports HTTP and HTTPS application protocols, and some tools offer additional protocols like RDP, VNC, SSH, Git, and SQL Server. It’s ideal for devices the company does not own.
Hybrid Strategy:
For the best results, consider a provider that supports a hybrid approach, combining both endpoint-initiated and service-initiated ZTNA for various use cases.
Hosting Options:
• Cloud-Hosted ZTNA: Faster, simpler to implement, easier to maintain, and scalable.
• Self-Hosted ZTNA: Offers more control, ideal for businesses with stringent security requirements.
Selecting the right ZTNA architecture and hosting option can enhance your organization’s security while improving operational efficiency and flexibility.