Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) offers a modern alternative to traditional perimeter-based security – focusing on the principle of “never trust, always verify.”
Its architecture eliminates the assumption of inherent network trust. Instead, every access request is treated as potentially hostile, requiring verification against established access policies – unlike a VPN, which trusts who you are and who you say you are and, based on that, gives you access (and assumes that nothing bad is going to happen). Trust in each request is established by evaluating several contextual factors, including strong authentication, authorisation checks, device health and the sensitivity of the requested data. This approach ensures that access is granted based on the current security status rather than relying on outdated perimeter-based assumptions.
Our blog provides a brief overview of ZTNA and provides some handy implementation tips for technical leads.
Key Components of ZTNA:
- Identity and Context-Based Access Control: ZTNA relies on verifying user identities combined with contextual factors, such as location and device compliance. Multifactor Authentication (MFA) plays a crucial role here.
- Granular Access Control: Rather than granting broad access to internal systems, ZTNA operates on a least-privilege basis. Users and devices only access resources essential for their role, limiting potential attack surfaces.
- Session-Based Security Checks: Every access request undergoes real-time validation. This reduces the risk of lateral movement if an account is compromised.
- Application-Centric Security: ZTNA secures applications individually, ensuring each is shielded based on its unique risk profile. The network is no longer the primary trust boundary.
Implementation Tips for Technical Leads:
- Start with a Risk Assessment: Evaluate your current security posture, identify critical assets, and determine where ZTNA fits into your infrastructure.
- MFA & Device Health Monitoring: Implement multifactor authentication across your organisation and ensure device security hygiene by enforcing compliance checks like patching and encryption.
- Select a ZTNA Solution: Choose a scalable ZTNA solution that integrates with your existing IAM, endpoint, and security tools and supports hybrid environments.
- Continuous Monitoring & Logging: Implement continuous security assessments and anomaly detection to adapt to evolving threats.
See the National Cyber Security Centre website for more information – click here.
ZTNA is no longer an option—it’s a necessity for protecting today’s distributed workforce. By embracing this approach, technical leads can better safeguard their networks against modern cyber threats, ensuring that security scales with business demands.
A superior MDM solution, such as Jamf, is a great way to achieve ZTNA in an organisation.
For more information about Jamf or Zero Trust Network Access, get in touch with our Technical Solutions team here. They can guide you through assessing and implementing Zero-Trust networks or a zero-touch, zero-trust device management strategy.
