As a business owner navigating the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, you are worried about how to safeguard your company’s digital assets effectively. The constant barrage of cyber threats, data breaches, and vulnerabilities in today’s interconnected world has heightened the importance of protecting your sensitive information.
In this digital age, the conventional notion of building a strong perimeter defense around your network no longer provides an adequate shield. The concept of traditional security, once considered the gold standard, is being challenged by a modern alternative: zero trust network access (ZTNA). And you find yourself at a crossroads, wondering which path to choose.
So, where do you start? Which approach is best suited to safeguard your business in a rapidly changing threat landscape?
In this blog, we’ll try to explore the distinctions between ZTNA and traditional security. This knowledge will empower you with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision to protect your organization’s digital future.
Fundamental Principles
Traditional security relies on the concept of building a strong perimeter around your network to keep the “good” inside and the “bad” outside. It’s akin to securing your house with a sturdy fence and trusting everything and everyone inside that fence.
This approach typically involves firewalls, VPNs, and access control lists to determine who gets access based on their location within the network. While it has served businesses well for years, traditional security is now showing its limitations in an era of an advanced threat landscape.
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On the other hand, ZTNA adopts a radically distinct strategy. Zero Trust operates under the assumption that no one, be it within or external to the network, can be trusted by default. This method reduces the attack surface, diminishing the chances of unauthorized access and resulting in a stronger and more flexible security model.
Realizing the benefits of ZTNA solutions, many organizations are embracing them to drive business success. As per the Zero Trust Adoption Report 2021, an astounding 96% of security decision-makers view Zero Trust as essential for their organization’s prosperity.
Authentication and Authorization
In traditional security, authentication and authorization often follow a relatively straightforward process. Users typically authenticate themselves using usernames and passwords. Once authenticated, they are often granted access to a broad range of resources within the network based on predefined roles and permissions.
This approach, while functional, can pose a significant security risk in cases of compromised credentials. Thus, attackers may gain access to a wide array of sensitive data and systems.
When it comes to ZTNA, the approach to authentication and authorization is considerably more dynamic and adaptable. ZTNA focuses on continuous verification of not just who the user is but also the security posture of their device. This means access depends on real-time assessments of identity and device security, not just a username and password.
This approach minimizes the risk associated with compromised credentials. It ensures that access is granted based on a need-to-know and need-to-access basis, which enhances security and reduces the potential impact of breaches.
VPNs have been the predominant method for remote workers to securely connect to their company’s network for many years. However, the trends are reversing in the current digital landscape.
As per Gartner, about 70% of new remote access systems used by companies will rely on ZTNA as compared to VPN services. This marks a substantial rise from the fewer than 10% of new deployments that had adopted ZTNA at the end of 2021.
Adaptability to Modern Threats
Traditional security mechanisms are often rigid and struggle to adapt to the rapidly evolving landscape of modern cyber threats. They typically rely on predefined rules and static defenses, making it challenging to respond effectively to new and sophisticated attack vectors.
In the face of emerging threats like advanced malware and zero-day vulnerabilities, traditional security can leave businesses vulnerable. This vulnerability arises because it may take time to update and patch vulnerabilities in traditional security systems.
On the other hand, ZTNA solutions demonstrate remarkable adaptability to modern threats. They operate on the principle of continuous verification, which means they can quickly assess and respond to changing security conditions. This adaptability is crucial in the digital era, which is fraught with growing cybersecurity threats.
To provide context, according to a report, enterprises that implemented ZTNA solutions achieved a reduction in the average cost of a data breach. This reduction amounted to $950,000 when compared to organizations without these systems. This not only indicates the effectiveness of ZTNA but also highlights its ability to adapt to the financial impact of evolving cybersecurity threats.
Scalability and User Experience
Traditional security systems often face challenges when it comes to scalability and user experience. Scaling up traditional security measures, such as adding more VPN connections or expanding firewall rules, can be a cumbersome process.
This can result in performance issues and a less-than-optimal user experience, especially as your organization grows. As more employees and devices require access, traditional security solutions may struggle to keep pace with the increasing demands.
ZTNA offers a more scalable and user-friendly approach. With its granular authentication and authorization processes, it can effortlessly handle an increasing volume of users and devices without introducing significant complexities. This scalability ensures that the user experience remains smooth, even as the organization expands or shifts to remote work environments.
The benefits translate into a thriving worldwide industry for ZTNA solutions, as revealed by a report from Allied Market Research. The worldwide zero trust security industry reached a valuation of $23.61 billion in 2021. The industry is estimated to touch roughly $126.02 billion by 2031. These statistics further highlight the growing spending on these solutions and explain why they are a compelling choice for modern organizations.
Final Thoughts
As a business owner, you face the critical task of safeguarding your organization’s digital assets.
Traditional security has served well for years, but it struggles to keep pace with the agility required to combat modern threats effectively. ZTNA solutions provide benefits like ultimate control over access points, uninterrupted user experience, flexible security features, and server protection, according to GTT Communications.
As you move forward, it’s important to note that the difference between ZTNA and traditional security is more than just technology. Eventually, your decision should be based on the unique needs and security requirements of your organization.
