Is network security having its smartphone moment?
Remember flip phones? Sure, they were reliable: great battery life, tough as bricks, and if you dropped them, they'd just bounce back smiling. But would you trade your smartphone for one now? Didn’t think so.
If your organisation still relies on traditional VPNs, you're operating with technology that, while familiar, no longer aligns with current security needs. They're flip phones in a smartphone world… sturdy, yes, but dangerously outdated and increasingly vulnerable.
Not just retro, but risky
VPNs were built for an era where security threats were simpler, and "inside the perimeter" meant safe and cosy. Modern cyber threats routinely bypass traditional VPN defences, exploiting vulnerabilities and gaining entry through less secure points.
Issues like ransomware, credential stuffing, and lateral movement across the network are common challenges that organisations must proactively address.
Beyond inconvenience, these threats carry a steep financial penalty. According to IBM's Cost of a Data Breach Report, average costs are soaring into the millions. With the frequency of attacks and breaches on the rise, that VPN might not feel so "cost-effective" anymore.
ZTNA: Less trust, more security
ZTNA operates on one simple principle: trust no one, verify everyone.
Much like flip phones provided only basic functions, VPNs provide basic, perimeter-based security. In contrast, ZTNA delivers continuous verification and precise access controls, similar to the incredible capabilities of today’s smartphones.
Here's what’s under the hood…
Continuous verification & device health checks
With ZTNA, every user and device is continuously validated. It's not a "one and done" situation. Has a device been compromised by malware mid-session? ZTNA features kick in to lock it out instantly. Has a user’s behaviour become suspicious? Access revoked.
Granular access control
VPNs grant broad access, but ZTNA ensures users only reach the exact applications and data their roles require. This dramatically reduces your attack surface.
Segmentation & reduced blast radius
Even if attackers somehow slip past one layer, ZTNA limits the breach to isolated segments. Forget catastrophic, company-wide outages. ZTNA provides containment rather than chaos.
Adaptive context-aware security
ZTNA isn't static; it’s adaptive. It factors in context, such as user location, time of access, historical behaviour, and risk profile, before granting or denying access. This real-time adaptability helps to prevent sophisticated threats and keeps your security posture dynamic.
The threat landscape won't wait
Security teams are navigating a challenging landscape. They’re balancing tight budgets, resource constraints, and talent shortages, all while trying to meet increasing demands from the wider organisation.
At the same time, sophisticated threats like APTs, ransomware gangs, and automated botnets continue evolving at a rapid pace.
In this environment, ZTNA offers practical support, streamlining security management, enabling continuous monitoring, and simplifying compliance tasks. By adopting ZTNA, organisations can enhance their security posture proactively, easing the burden on teams and maximising limited resources.
ZTNA is easier than you think
Transitioning to ZTNA doesn't require ripping out all your existing infrastructure. It's designed to integrate smoothly into your current architecture, complementing and enhancing your existing identity management systems, SIEM tools, and endpoint protection platforms.
So, are you ready to put down that VPN flip phone? It's time your security matched your ambition, and ZTNA is the smart(phone) choice.
