In today’s digital landscape, securing remote access for employees who want to work from anywhere, to applications and data has become paramount for organizations. Traditional Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are being replaced by Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solutions, which offer enhanced security and control. However, it is essential to understand that not all ZTNA solutions are created equal. While many ZTNA implementations can slow down user connections, there is a high-performance option available that actually speeds up applications. In this blog post, we will explore what Fast ZTNA is and how it can revolutionize your network access experience.
Understanding ZTNA
Zero Trust Network Access is a security framework that provides granular access control and strong authentication, ensuring that only authorized users can access specific resources. Unlike traditional VPNs, which typically provide full network access, ZTNA follows the principle of “verify and never trust.” It grants access to individual applications and resources on a need-to-know basis, regardless of the user’s location or the network they are connecting from.
The Challenge: Slow Connections with Traditional ZTNA Solutions
While ZTNA and ZTNA 2.0 bring numerous security advantages, organizations have faced a common drawback: reduced network performance. Traditional ZTNA solutions often introduce additional latency due to the architectural complexity involved in routing traffic through fixed PoPs and multiple security layers. While it is true that ZTNA offerings are often faster than VPN, ZTNA-added latency can result in a frustrating user experience that hampers productivity, especially for real-time and bandwidth-intensive applications.
Fast ZTNA: Empowering High-Performance Access
Cloudbrink’s Fast ZTNA stands apart from traditional solutions by offering high-performance network access without compromising on security. By leveraging advanced technologies and intelligent network optimizations, Fast ZTNA from Cloudbrink provides organizations with an efficient and streamlined remote access experience. Let’s explore some key features that make Fast ZTNA a game-changer:
- Secure Application Access: Fast ZTNA grants users secure access to specific applications or resources without tunneling all traffic through a centralized location. Using Cloudbrink FAST edges, the PoP comes to the user. This approach minimizes latency by reducing the network path, ensuring a faster and more direct connection as well as a higher level of connection security through automated moving target defense (AMTD).
- Smart Routing and Load Balancing: Fast ZTNA employs intelligent routing algorithms and load-balancing techniques to optimize traffic flow. It dynamically selects the most efficient path between the user and the application, taking into account factors such as network congestion and latency, resulting in improved performance.
- Application Acceleration: Fast ZTNA leverages acceleration techniques to optimize the delivery of application data. Fast ZTNA is actually faster but up to 30 times that of having no security at all.
- Edge Computing Capabilities: Fast ZTNA leverages hundreds of FAST edge computing nodes strategically distributed across the globe. By bringing applications closer to the users, it reduces the distance data needs to travel, reducing latency and enhancing performance.
The Benefits of Fast ZTNA and Work From Anywhere
Deploying Fast ZTNA can yield numerous benefits for organizations:
- Enhanced User Experience: By minimizing latency and optimizing network performance, Fast ZTNA ensures that users can access applications and resources seamlessly, resulting in improved productivity and user satisfaction.
- Cost Savings: Traditional ZTNA solutions often require expensive infrastructure investments to mitigate latency issues. Fast ZTNA reduces the need for such investments, allowing organizations to achieve better network performance without breaking the bank.
- Scalability and Flexibility: Fast ZTNA is designed to scale effortlessly, accommodating growing user demands without compromising performance. It provides the flexibility needed to adapt to evolving business requirements and ensures a smooth user experience during peak usage periods.
Next Steps for Decision Makers
While ZTNA solutions have become the go-to choice for secure remote access, it is crucial to choose a solution that delivers not only robust security but also high-performance network connectivity. Cloudbrink’s Fast ZTNA stands out by providing a fast and efficient user experience without sacrificing security. By optimizing network paths, leveraging advanced technologies, and accelerating applications, Fast ZTNA ensures that users can access their resources quickly and securely, unleashing their full productivity potential.
In the era of work from anywhere and distributed teams, Fast ZTNA empowers organizations to thrive by bridging the gap between security and performance. Embrace the power of Fast ZTNA and elevate your network access experience to new heights.
Make the shift from legacy VPNs and ZTNA 2.0 to Cloudbrink’s high-performance ZTNA today, and unlock a new level of secure, efficient, and future-proof connectivity.
- Request a demonstration here
- See the ESG group’s technical validation
- Read how a Fortune 100 company moved from VPN, ZTNA, and SDP to Cloudbrink after testing all these solutions.
