In a recent report, the UK government revealed that half of businesses had claimed to have experienced a cybersecurity breach in the last 12 months. This figure rose to 70% for large organisations, with a single breach costing up to £10,830! It's no wonder, then, that network security is high on the agenda for many companies. And implementing Zero Trust Network strategies is fast becoming a valuable approach.
Remote work and cloud-based activity are common parts of everyday business. However, unfortunately, so are advancing cyber threats. With our online activity evolving so rapidly, the need for more robust cybersecurity approaches has never been more critical.
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is a cybersecurity strategy we covered in-depth in our last blog, "Embracing Zero Trust Network Access: Moving Beyond Traditional VPNs.” In this piece, we’ll take a closer look at why and where businesses are adopting it to safeguard their operations.
Why are businesses moving to Zero Trust Network?
So, why are businesses favouring Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) over more traditional security approaches like VPNs and firewalls? Simply put, it's designed to handle the security challenges we all face today. Check out how in our previous blog.
ZTNA is an approach that goes beyond traditional security measures. It verifies every single access attempt to each specific online application. It makes it much harder for breaches to occur, and if they do happen, they can be contained to smaller areas of your network.
As well as offering enhanced security benefits, ZTNA simplifies compliance for your business as it makes meeting strict regulations easier. It also supports greater scalability. Typically, if your business grows, network security becomes more complicated. That's not the case with ZTNA. This security model can adapt to your business's changing needs, making growth and expansion much more manageable.
Let's take a look at ZTNA in practice and where it is most valuable.
Where is Zero Trust Network Access applied?
We've seen a remarkable change in the way businesses operate over the last few years, and it's these fundamental changes that have promoted the use of ZTNA:
Remote work and hybrid teams
Remote work has become the new norm for so many businesses today. Even if you’ve run a multi-site enterprise for years and are used to communicating and data-sharing between locations, the flexibility to log on anywhere to work is still something we’re getting used to.
Cybersecurity measures are still catching up, and the Zero Trust Network approach is one that more and more businesses are adopting to protect themselves as they adapt to these changing ways of working. Gartner reported in April 2024 that 63% of organisations worldwide have fully or partially implemented a zero-trust strategy. Compare this to 2023, when only 1% of large enterprises had a mature and measurable zero-trust program in place!
As Zero Trust models verify every access request, your remote workers can only get into the resources they need for a specific length of time. If your employees are working online using their personal devices, home networks, or any other location worldwide, Zero Trust becomes crucial. It protects their activity and your business, avoiding unauthorised entry and data breaches.
Cloud-based environments
Does your organisation rely on cloud-based applications? Whether it’s storing data, using platforms like Google Cloud Storage and Microsoft Azure Blob Storage, managing sales, marketing and service via platforms like Salesforce and Microsoft 365 or collaborating on projects with Dropbox or Trello, if you need to share and work on information with your team, there will likely be a cloud-based platform that does it. But that opens up a great deal of vulnerability that cybercriminals love!
Here's where Zero Trust Network Access shines again! In these dynamic, flexible network setups, it continues to assess each connection and only allows users access to the files they need. It takes the worry away from storing and sharing information via the cloud. It also gives you the reassurance to make the most of the scalability these platforms offer without compromising your network security.
Sensitive data protection
If your business is in an industry that manages highly sensitive data, Zero Trust Network Access offers enormous benefits. From figures in finance to medical details in health care or confidential government activity, compliance standards are extremely strict, and any data breaches can result in severe consequences. With the robust and meticulous control over access and continuous monitoring that Zero Trust applies, you can have peace of mind that the risk of unauthorised access is minimised and that regulatory requirements are being satisfied.
Why partner with a Managed Network Services Provider for ZTNA?
If Zero Trust Network Access appeals to your business as a valuable security measure, our previous blog outlines the best practices for implementing it. However, if you’re struggling to know where to start or don’t have the time, resources or expertise to implement a new network security strategy, a Managed Network Services Provider like Hughes can help.
We have the knowledge and experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining the best network security strategies tailored to your precise business needs. We can handle it all, from the technical complexities of implementation to the ongoing monitoring and adjusting as your business evolves. It allows you to focus on the growth of your business, safe in the knowledge that your network security is in safe hands.
To find out more, please head to our Security Services page.