ZTNA differs from traditional VPN connections in several key ways:
- Granular Access Control: ZTNA grants access only to specific applications or resources based on verified user identities and device compliance, rather than providing broad network access like VPNs.
- Continuous Verification: ZTNA continuously verifies user and device credentials during each access attempt, while VPNs typically authenticate users only at the beginning of the session.
- Least Privilege Principle: ZTNA operates on the principle of least privilege, limiting users’ access to only the resources they need, reducing the risk of lateral movement within the network.
- Cloud Readiness: ZTNA is designed to secure access to both on-premises and cloud-based resources, making it more suitable for modern hybrid and multi-cloud environments.