Abstract

The surge in remote work and reliance on cloud environments has exposed major weaknesses in traditional security methods like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). These methods, which use perimeter-based security, often provide excessive trust after the initial authentication step, leaving systems vulnerable to lateral movement and unauthorised access. Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA) provides a better alternative by emphasising continuous verification and stringent controls at the application level. This study explores how ZTNA can effectively replace traditional VPNs, focusing on its key principles, challenges in implementation, and security benefits. By conducting a detailed analysis and evaluating real-world case studies, the research finds that ZTNA not only minimises risks associated with lateral movement but also improves compliance with regulatory standards and supports scalability in distributed and remote settings. The findings highlight ZTNA’s versatility in securing remote access for modern use cases.