What is Zero Trust Network Access?

What is Zero Trust Network Access?

There is no doubt that cybersecurity can get pretty complex. Moreover,this is complexity that scales with the value of what is being protected. It is also complexity that is ever developing as time marches on, for the simple reason that the cybercriminals never rest on their laurelsand every new advancement in cybersecurity is soon met with an advancement in the techniques and technologies employed by cyber criminals.

That is just how it is. And a breach of any data which pertains to personal or financial information not only spells financial ruin for a company as well as a serious disruption of workflow, but it can also bring with it the type of legal consequences that can sink small and large companies alike.

One part of modern cybersecurity that is very often a necessity is zero trust network access (ZTNA). Understanding what a ZTNA isof coursethe first step towards finding out whether you need one or not – if it’s going to be the thing that stands between you, or your company, and financial ruin.

So, what is it?

It is best to start with some definitions. A ZTNA is a security solution that revolves around the concept of access, specifically remote access to the servers,applications, and data a company needs to hold in a secure location. Internal networks, often with a hardware firewall, are the most secure form of networks, but it’s rarely practical to complete all business operations on such a network alone. Company servers, services, and employees need to connect to the wider internet, andespecially in the era of remote networking, they need to engage with the wider internet.

It might seem as if ZTNAs are similar to VPNs, but there’s an important distinction. Whereas a VPN will grant access to an entire network, ZTNAs only grant access to specific servers or applications, not the whole network.

https://www.hillstonenet.com/, a company providing cyber security solutions, say that this makes a great deal of senseas it revolves around the principle of only granting outsiders access to the specific data that they require for business workflow and operations. It’s the virtual equivalent of a security guard escorting a visitor through a large vault towards only the specific thing they need to retrieve, rather than just giving them the keys to the whole vault.

How Does it Work?

To grant specific access only to specific data or applications, a ZTNA is all about authentication. The ZTNA is the first point of contact between the outside entity seeking access and the network to which they wish to access. Essentially, the visitor is authenticated by the ZTNA service before any further steps are taken. In other words, they do not connect directly to the network; they are connected to the ZTNA service, itself often hosted on its own server.

After authentication, the visitor can then access what they need from the network, but the ZTNA only grants access through a specific encrypted tunnel. Any IP addressesthat would otherwise be visible to anyone connected to that network are shielded from view.

This protects against what are known as lateral attacks. Once the visitor is into the network, they will not be able to scan for other applications, services, or data other than the ones which they are specifically granted access to. This is where the “zero trust” part comes from.

Soas you can see, a ZTNA is for the types of networks that are vulnerablenot because security is weakbut because the data is especially valuable. And this extra layer of security can be, in very many cases, absolutely essential.