Definition
Zero trust network access
ZTNA
In one sentence
Zero trust network access (ZTNA) is a remote access approach that connects users only to specific approved applications after verifying their identity and device, instead of placing them on the whole network as a traditional VPN does.
Zero Trust Network Access Explained
A traditional VPN puts a remote user's device onto the corporate network, often with broad reach. If the VPN credentials are stolen or the device is compromised, the attacker inherits that reach. VPN appliances themselves have also been a frequent target of mass exploitation.
ZTNA takes a different approach. Each access request is evaluated against policy, including user identity, MFA, device health and context, and the user is connected only to the specific application they are allowed to use. Applications are typically not exposed directly to the internet, which shrinks the attack surface.
For Canadian SMBs, the move to ZTNA often happens naturally as workloads shift to Microsoft 365 and SaaS, leaving only a few internal applications behind the VPN. Options include cloud-delivered ZTNA services, Microsoft Entra Private Access and application proxies. A staged approach works well: move the most-used internal apps to ZTNA, restrict the VPN to the remaining needs, then retire it.
General information for Canadian organizations, not legal advice.