Solutions > VPN Alternative
We know remote access VPNs are a pain
So we developed a better alternative for you.
A brief lesson in remote access VPN history
Thirty years ago, the corporate network was relatively simple. Security consisted of protecting applications inside the network and building a secure perimeter around them.
But then things changed. Applications began moving to the cloud, extending the perimeter to the internet. Users began using the cloud to work off-network and from any device, anywhere—usually without a VPN. Remote access VPNs worked well in the network-centric world, but in the age of cloud and mobility, application access needs to be independent of the network. It’s time to rethink the remote access VPN.
Why the software-defined perimeter is the ideal VPN alternative
Today, private application access is shifting away from network-centric approaches and enterprises have begun seeking a modern solution where users are never on the network and app access is granted on a least privilege basis. Because of this, many have turned to the software-defined perimeter (SDP). Built for the modern enterprise, this model enables secure access by exclusively connecting authorized users to specific private applications, without placing users on the network. Take a look at what this VPN alternative is bringing to enterprise environments.
The perimeter has extended to the internet,
so it’s time to replace the network-centric VPN
Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) is a cloud-based, software-defined service that provides secure access to all private applications, without the need for a remote access VPN. ZPA requires no appliances, but instead uses the Zscaler security cloud to deliver scalable remote and local access to enterprise apps while never placing users on the network. ZPA uses micro-encrypted TLS tunnels and cloud-enforced policies to create a segment of one between an authorized user and a named application. The inside-out connectivity from App Connector to the Zscaler Enforcement Node makes both the network and applications invisible to the internet, creating an isolated environment around each application.
1. Zscaler Enforcement Node
- Hosted in cloud
- Used for authentication
- Customizable by admins
- Brokers a secure connection between the Z-App and App Connector
2. Zscaler App
- Mobile client installed on devices
- Requests access to an app
3. App Connector
- Sits in front of apps in datacenter, hybrid, and cloud environments
- Listens for access requests to apps
- No inbound connections
The benefits of VPN replacement
Decouples application access from network access
Simplifies implementation and management
Reduces costs
TriMedX, a Healthcare Technology Management organization replaced their VPN with ZPA and discovered the benefits of the software-defined perimeter (SDP).
See how Aster Group UK replaced its remote access VPN and enabled seamless, secure application access for its internal and third-party users.
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