Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
A service that grants network access based on user identity, device posture, and contextual signals rather than broad VPN-style network access. Reduces lateral movement risk from compromised credentials.
What is Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)?
A service that grants network access based on user identity, device posture, and contextual signals rather than broad VPN-style network access. Reduces lateral movement risk from compromised credentials.
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is a security service model that grants network access based on verified user identity, device posture, and contextual signals — replacing traditional VPN-style broad network access with granular, application-specific access control. Where a VPN grants access to a large network segment, ZTNA grants access to specific applications or services based on continuous verification that the requestor is authorized and the device is compliant.
ZTNA emerged as a response to the limitations of VPN for remote access security. VPNs establish a trusted tunnel that grants broad network access once the user authenticates — lateral movement within that broad access is unrestricted. ZTNA enforces per-application access: a contractor can reach the specific application they need without gaining access to adjacent systems. This dramatically limits the blast radius of compromised credentials.
In OT environments, ZTNA is increasingly applied to vendor remote access — one of the highest-risk remote access scenarios. Rather than granting a vendor VPN access to the entire OT network, ZTNA grants access to the specific systems and protocols the vendor's work requires, for the duration of the authorized maintenance window. This provides the access needed for vendor support while containing the risk of credential compromise or malicious insider activity.
Key Facts
- ZTNA adoption has grown 300% since 2020, driven by remote work requirements and VPN security concerns
- Gartner predicts ZTNA will replace VPN as the primary remote access technology for most enterprises by 2025
- ZTNA for OT vendor access reduces the blast radius of compromised vendor credentials by limiting access to specific systems
- CISA recommends ZTNA over traditional VPN for remote access to OT environments
How ORDR Addresses Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
ORDR complements ZTNA by providing device identity for assets that cannot authenticate through traditional ZTNA mechanisms. ORDR's device classification and risk scoring can be federated into ZTNA policy decisions — ensuring that access to OT systems is granted only when the requesting context is appropriate and the target device is in an expected security state.
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