How to Implement Zero Trust Network Access With Global Secure Access

On-premises office setups are fading as businesses fully embrace the cloud. While industries like banking and healthcare still maintain some on-premises infrastructure due to regulatory constraints, most organizations have shifted their IT environments entirely online.

With this transition, the approach to network security has also evolved. Virtual private networks (VPNs), once the standard for remote access, are being replaced by Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), a model that ensures stricter authentication and continuous verification of users and devices.

In this article, we will explore ZTNA, its role within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, and how it strengthens your modern security infrastructure. 

How ZTNA Integrates with Microsoft Entra and Global Secure Access

Microsoft Entra is Microsoft’s identity and access management (IAM) platform, providing the foundation for implementing Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). It offers the tools and services needed to:

• Manage identities, including users, groups, and devices.
• Enforce authentication and authorization, including multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Control access to applications and resources, both on-premises and in the cloud.
• Govern identities and access through lifecycle management and privileged access controls.

A key component of Entra is Global Secure Access, a cloud-based VPN SaaS solution designed for hybrid work environments. It ensures secure data flow between users, devices, and cloud resources by applying ZTNA principles.

What Is Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)?

In traditional on-premises environments, users accessed resources by first logging into a VPN. Today, massive cloud adoption and remote work becoming the norm have complicated security policies, leading to several challenges that negatively impact security and user experience in the following ways:

• Slower Performance – VPNs route traffic through centralized servers, which can create bottlenecks and increase latency. This results in slower performance, especially in distributed environments.
• Broad Access – VPNs often grant users broad access to the network, which can be exploited if the network is breached. This increases the potential for lateral movement by attackers once they gain entry.
• Complexity – Managing VPNs across a geographically dispersed workforce is complex. VPNs also struggle to integrate seamlessly with modern cloud services, making it harder for organizations to maintain security consistency.

In contrast, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) secures user access based on the principle of least privilege. Instead of granting broad network access, ZTNA enforces strict access controls based on predefined security policies.

Unlike traditional VPNs, which place users inside the network, ZTNA provides secure access to private applications without exposing them to the public internet or granting unnecessary lateral movement within the network.

The Three Core Security Principles of ZTNA

ZTNA operates on three core security principles to establish secure, application-specific connections instead of broad network access, minimizing exposure to cyber threats.

• Verify Explicitly – Every access request is continuously authenticated and authorized based on context, including identity, device health, and location.
• Least Privilege Access – Users receive only the minimum level of access required to perform their tasks, reducing the risk of unauthorized activity.
• Assume Breach – Security measures operate under the assumption that the network may already be compromised. Continuous monitoring detects and responds to threats in real-time to minimize potential damage.

ZTNA Models For Organizational Security

Just as ZTNA operates on three core security principles, organizations can implement it in three primary ways:

• ZTNA for User Protection – Ensures that users connect directly to an application without exposure to internet-based threats. Access is granted only after verifying that the user meets authentication requirements.
• ZTNA for Workload Protection – Secures applications and communication frameworks by preventing lateral threat movement and data loss. This model ensures that workloads are built to run and interact securely.
• ZTNA for Device Protection – Safeguards endpoints in environments with bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies. It protects data transmitted to and from these devices, preventing unauthorized access and potential threats.

Why Organizations Are Switching to ZTNA

Organizations are increasingly turning to ZTNA for its ability to provide secure, efficient, and scalable access to resources while maintaining a high level of security across all access points. Let’s explore these in detail: 

Shift to Hybrid Environments

Organizations are increasingly adopting hybrid IT infrastructures, combining on-premises, cloud, and multi-cloud applications. Legacy VPN solutions, which route traffic through centralized on-premises concentrators, are struggling to keep up with the scalability demands of this hybrid model. These VPNs introduce latency and negatively impact user experience. ZTNA, however, eliminates these bottlenecks, enabling seamless and secure access to resources across diverse environments without compromising performance.

The Rise of Unmanaged Devices

The traditional model of managed devices accessing enterprise resources is shifting. As more unmanaged devices (such as personal laptops and smartphones) connect to corporate networks, the need for stronger security has never been more pressing. ZTNA’s adaptive authentication model ensures secure access by continuously verifying the identity, device health, and location of each user, regardless of the device type, thereby protecting the organization from potential vulnerabilities associated with unmanaged endpoints.

Consistent Security Across All Applications

Organizations need consistent, centralized security for all applications, whether they are web-based, legacy systems, or cloud-native applications. ZTNA provides exactly this, ensuring that regardless of the application’s origin, access is controlled by the same security policies. This uniform approach to security reduces complexity, streamlines management, and ensures all resources, internal and external, are protected under the same principles.

ZTNA Benefits to Organizational Resilience

The adoption of ZTNA strengthens organizational resilience by providing several key benefits:

• Invisible Infrastructure: ZTNA ensures secure access without connecting users directly to the corporate network, eliminating risks and safeguarding the organization’s infrastructure.
• Granular Control and Visibility: Centralized management offers real-time visibility into users and their activities, enabling organizations to enforce precise access policies.
• Optimized Performance: ZTNA improves performance over legacy VPNs by offering faster and more reliable access to critical applications such as Microsoft 365, ensuring a better experience for users while maintaining robust security.

Conclusion

Zero Trust Network Architecture (ZTNA) is an agile, robust, and advanced security philosophy. By ensuring that access is continuously verified and granted based on the least privilege principle, ZTNA significantly enhances an organization's resilience. 

At CrucialLogics, we specialize in securing your business using native Microsoft technologies you already own. Our expertise allows us to help organizations like yours seamlessly integrate ZTNA into your existing infrastructure. To learn more about how we can enhance your organization's security using ZTNA, speak with us today.