As hybrid work becomes the norm, it’s clear that traditional virtual private networks (VPNs) and network access control (NAC) solutions are falling short. Once the gold standard for secure remote access, VPNs now pose more problems than solutions—think slow performance, security risks, and complex operations. Similarly, traditional NAC solutions, with their broad network access after authentication, limited real-time adjustment, and on-net focus, are losing relevance as enterprises shift toward zero-trust models. According to Gartner®, “Traditional network access control (NAC) offerings are no longer sufficient to address emerging enterprise needs and the NAC market will decline by half of its current size by 2028.”*
Organizations everywhere are realizing they need a new approach—a simpler, faster, and more secure one.
Enter Netskope One Private Access—your modern-day superhero in the world of secure access. No capes required, just cutting-edge Universal zero trust network access (ZTNA) to ensure that all of your users—whether they’re lounging at home, hustling at HQ, or working from a café halfway across the world—get secure, seamless access to your private applications..
The evolution of ZTNA: Beyond remote access
ZTNA started as a solution for user-based remote access, but it has evolved significantly over time. Traditional ZTNA often falls short in delivering a seamless, secure experience across different environments—be it remote, on-campus, or at branch offices—leading to performance issues, security gaps, and operational challenges.
Universal ZTNA addresses these inconsistencies by extending functionality beyond remote access to include branch offices and campuses. It integrates core NAC features like device authentication and visibility, with fine-grained, application-level access control. This ensures users receive secure, reliable access no matter where they are, backed by consistent zero trust policies and intelligent traffic routing.
By simplifying management, enhancing security, and providing an optimized user experience, Universal ZTNA offers a more scalable, flexible, and comprehensive solution than traditional NAC or standalone VPN/ZTNA products.
Netskope One Private Access isn’t just another ZTNA solution; it’s Universal ZTNA. That means it delivers secure, consistent access across all environments—whether for remote workers, branch offices, or third-party partners—without compromising user experience.
But the magic doesn’t stop there.
Why you should care
- One policy to rule them all: Netskope One Private Access simplifies management with a unified, context-aware policy that applies consistently across all environments. By integrating features like device and user authentication, it reduces reliance on NAC for on-premises security. Whether users are in the cloud, remote, or on-premises, the same rules ensure streamlined management and a stronger security posture.
- Performance that won’t slow you down: No one wants slow-loading apps or laggy connections. Netskope One Private Access uses intelligent traffic routing to connect users to the nearest broker, minimizing latency and ensuring a smooth, fast experience. Powered by the Netskope NewEdge Network, the world’s largest cloud security infrastructure, and advanced routing optimization, it optimizes performance across cloud and on-prem access.
- Seamless, effortless user experience: This solution provides a smooth experience for all users, whether remote, at HQ, or working with third-party partners. Remote users enjoy fast, secure access to private apps, reducing risks like lateral movement and social engineering. On-campus users get the same seamless access, maintaining least-privilege controls. By positioning brokers closer to the user and leveraging intelligent routing, Netskope ensures top-tier performance across all environments.
- Visibility and control like never before: Imagine having a single dashboard that allows you to manage policies for both remote and on-premises users from one console, giving you a complete view of user access, device posture, application usage, and more. Not only can you monitor everything in real-time, but you’ll also be able to address threats or performance issues before they escalate. It’s full transparency and simplified management all in one place.
In short, Netskope One Private Access enhances security with least-privilege, zero trust policies and real-time device posture assessments, protecting against unauthorized access and lateral threats across all environments. It simplifies management through a unified dashboard that offers deep visibility and control, enabling admins to enforce context-based policies and track real-time events for consistent security from on-prem to cloud. By consolidating secure access for both legacy and modern apps into a single client, it reduces costs, eliminates the need for separate VPN and ZTNA solutions, and streamlines operations for efficient, secure connectivity.
The road ahead: Preparing for 2026 and beyond
According to Gartner, by 2026, 80% of ZTNA spend will occur as a part of a broader SASE, managed SASE or SSE purchase, up from 40% in 2022.** The future clearly lies in cloud-native, integrated security platforms, and Netskope One Private Access is built for this evolution. As a core component of the Netskope One SASE solution, it delivers secure, least-privilege access to private apps, fully aligned with Zero Trust principles. By integrating ZTNA within a SASE architecture, organizations can enforce consistent policies across on-prem, cloud, and hybrid environments.
Whether you’re expanding or simply keeping pace with a fast-evolving digital world, this solution equips you with the secure, efficient tools you need—without the usual headaches. This solution doesn’t just address today’s challenges, it future-proofs your organization for the hybrid work era. Say goodbye to legacy VPN headaches and hello to a seamless, secure user experience.
Start transforming your digital access strategy today—because the future of secure access is already here.
Learn how Enforcing Universal ZTNA with Netskope One Private Access can transform your secure access strategy.
*Gartner, Quick Answer: What Is the Future of NAC?, By Andrew Lerner, Aaron McQuaid, Mike Leibovitz, Christian Canales, 11 July 2024
**Gartner, Competitive Behaviors in the ZTNA Platform Market, By Evan Zeng, Charanpal Bhogal, 12 August 2024
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