Home / Blog / General / What is Zscaler Private Access (ZPA)?

February 17, 2020

Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) is a cloud-native security platform designed to provide comprehensive security solutions for organisations in an increasingly cloud-centric and mobile world.

Its core functions revolve around enhancing cyber security, ensuring secure access to applications and data, and simplifying the management of network and security policies.

What is Zscaler Private Access (ZPA)?

What are the key features of Zscaler Private Access (ZPA)?

Zscaler offers a range of primary features and capabilities that are designed to address modern cyber security and networking challenges.

Here’s an explanation of the key features of ZPA:

Cloud Security

Zscaler routes an organisation’s internet traffic through its cloud-based security platform. It inspects traffic for threats, enforces security policies, and provides protection against malware, phishing, and other cyber attacks.

As more businesses move their operations and data to the cloud, traditional perimeter-based security measures become less effective. Zscaler’s cloud security approach ensures that security protections are applied wherever users and applications reside.

Zero-Trust Architecture

ZPA follows a zero-trust security model, which means it doesn’t trust any user or device inside or outside an organisation’s network by default. It continuously verifies identities and enforces strict access controls.

With the increase in remote and mobile work, the zero-trust model helps organisations prevent unauthorised access and reduce the attack surface, even for users and devices that are not within the traditional corporate network.

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

Zscaler combines network security and wide-area networking (WAN) capabilities into a single, cloud-based service. It optimises network traffic and provides secure connectivity for remote users and offices.

SASE is becoming essential as organisations seek to simplify their network architectures, reduce the complexity of managing multiple security solutions, and provide secure access for remote workers and office locations.

Data Protection

ZPA helps organisations protect sensitive data by enforcing policies that prevent data leakage and unauthorised access. It can inspect and control traffic to and from cloud applications to ensure compliance.

In an era of stringent data privacy regulations and increasing cyber threats, data protection is critical for businesses. ZPA helps organisations maintain data integrity and confidentiality.

Policy-Based Security

Zscaler allows organisations to easily define and enforce security policies. Dedicated administrators can create granular policies based on user roles, device types, applications, and locations and policies can be updated and enforced in real-time.

This policy-based approach allows organisations to tailor their security posture to their specific needs, ensuring that the right level of security is applied to different users and scenarios.

Scalability and Flexibility

ZPA can easily scale to accommodate the needs of organisations of all sizes, and it provides flexibility in adapting to evolving security and networking requirements.

This scalability and flexibility enables organisations to stay agile and responsive to changing business demands without the need for extensive infrastructure investments.

What are the benefits of Zscaler Private Access (ZPA)?

Implementing ZPA offers several benefits for businesses, ranging from improved security to enhanced scalability and user experience.

Here’s a closer look at the key advantages:

Enhanced Security

Comprehensive Threat Protection

ZPA provides robust security measures, including real-time threat detection, content filtering, and access controls, reducing the risk of cyberattacks such as malware, ransomware, and phishing.

SSL/TLS Decryption and Inspection

Zscaler can decrypt and inspect encrypted traffic, ensuring that threats hidden within SSL/TLS connections are detected and blocked, maintaining end-to-end security.

Zero Trust Model

ZPA follows a zero-trust security model, continuously verifying user identities, device health, and contextual factors. This approach reduces the attack surface and prevents unauthorised access.

Data Protection

Zscaler helps organisations protect sensitive data by enforcing policies that prevent data leakage and unauthorised access ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.

Scalability

Cloud-Native Architecture

ZPA’s cloud-native design allows for easy scalability. Organisations can expand their security and networking capabilities without the need for extensive infrastructure investments or hardware procurement.

Global Presence

Zscaler’s global network of Point of Presence (PoPs) ensures that users from around the world can access its services with low-latency, maintaining a consistent user experience as organisations grow.

Simplified Management

Unified Platform

ZPA combines various security functions, including secure web gateway, firewall, CASB and more, into a single platform. This simplifies management by eliminating the need to juggle multiple security solutions.

Centralised Policies

Zscaler’s security policies are managed from a central dashboard, making it easier to enforce consistent security measures across the organisation, regardless of user location or device type.

Improved User Experience

Optimised Network Performance

By routing traffic directly to the Zscaler cloud, users experience lower latency and faster access to cloud-based applications and services, resulting in an improved user experience.

Access From Anywhere

ZPA enables secure access to applications and data from anywhere, making it well-suited for remote and mobile workforces. This flexibility enhances productivity and user satisfaction.

Reduced Complexity

SASE Integration

Zscaler provides a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution that combines network and security services into a unified cloud-based platform. This simplifies network architecture and management, reducing complexity.

Simplify Zero Trust

Implementing zero trust security principles can be complex, but ZPA streamlines the process by providing a user-friendly interface for policy creation and enforcement.

Cost-Efficiency

Elimination of On-Premise Devices

Zscaler’s cloud-native approach eliminates the need for on-premises security devices, reducing upfront hardware and maintenance costs.

Pay-as-You-Grow Model

ZPA typically follows a subscription-based pricing model, allowing organisations to pay for the services they use and scale as needed.

Rapid Deployment

Quick Implementation

Zscaler’s cloud-based setup generally allows for faster deployment compared to traditional security solutions, which may involve lengthy hardware procurement and configuration processes.

Use cases for ZPA

Zscaler is a versatile cloud-native security platform that offers a wide range of use cases across various industries and organisations.

Here are some common use cases for Zscaler:

Secure Cloud Access

ZPA provides secure connectivity to private apps running across any hybrid or multi-cloud environment.

IT Integration during Merger & Acquisition (M&A)

ZPA provides secure access without the need to converge networks and IP addresses, accelerating IT integration during M&A.

Secure Third-Party Access

ZPA creates a secure segment between a third-party user and a specific app.

VPN alternative

The ZPA cloud service seamlessly connects remote users to internal apps without VPN or placing users on the internal network.

Is Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) right for my business?

To understand if ZPA would be a good fit for your organisation, it is useful to ask yourself the following:

  • How do you currently provide secure access to internal apps for your users?
  • Do you have internal apps running in the cloud and/or your data centre?
  • Are your users happy with their current user experience?
  • Are there any business initiatives you are tasked with that a new app access service could help with, e.g. replacing VPN, cloud migration, third-party access?

The importance of ZPA in the cyber security landscape

In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, remote work, and increasing cyber threats, ZPA stands as a pioneering and indispensable solution. Its cloud-native architecture, Zero Trust security model, and ability to adapt to the changing cyber security landscape make it a critical tool for safeguarding your organisation’s digital assets and ensuring secure access to critical resources.

The ever-evolving threat landscape requires proactive and adaptive cyber security measures, and ZPA is at the forefront of this endeavour. By choosing Zscaler, you’re not just securing your organisation; you’re investing in a future-ready cyber security solution that empowers you to navigate the complexities of the modern business world with confidence.

If you’re ready to harness the power of Zscaler and need assistance with its implementation, don’t hesitate to contact CyberOne. Our expert team is dedicated to helping organisations of all sizes to implement and optimise ZPA, ensuring you get the most out of this cutting-edge security platform. 

Protect your digital assets and empower your workforce with Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) – contact us today!


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About CyberOne Ltd.

CyberOne Ltd. is a government-approved Cyber Security and IT Managed Service Provider, supporting clients 24/7 from our ISO27001-accredited UK Security Operations Centre (SOC).

Located at the heart of a high security, controlled-access Tier 3 data centre, CyberOne’s state-of-the-art UK Cyber Defence Centre (SOC) targets, hunts & disrupts hacker behaviour, as part of a multi-layered security defence, to help secure some of the UK’s leading organisations.