The Zero Trust Way: A Smart Strategy For Public Sector Cybersecurity

Government agencies today face a complex and evolving cybersecurity landscape. With the rise of persistent and sophisticated threats, the shift to hybrid work, and the need for IT transformation, agencies need to adopt a modern approach to protecting their critical data and infrastructure.

One of the most promising strategies is Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), which operates on an adaptive trust model where the motto is “never trust, always verify.” ZTNA gives users secure connectivity to needed applications without adding them to the network or exposing applications to the public internet.

In this blog, we will explain what ZTNA is, how it differs from traditional Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), and why it is a better fit for the public sector. We will also introduce a new relationship between Lumen and Zscaler that offers a managed ZTNA solution tailored to government organizations and partners.

What is ZTNA and How Does It Work?

ZTNA works on the application level rather than the network level. It verifies the identity and context of the user and device before granting access to specific applications, regardless of location or network. It applies granular and dynamic policies to limit access based on the user’s role, device, location and other factors. It also provides end-to-end encryption and visibility for all traffic.

ZTNA is a key component of the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) framework, which combines network and security functions into a unified cloud service. ZTNA can also be integrated with other security solutions, such as cloud access security brokers (CASBs), secure web gateways (SWGs), and identity and access management (IAM).

The Problem with VPNs

VPNs are a common way of providing remote access to network resources. However, they have several limitations and drawbacks, especially for public sector agencies.

VPNs create a secure tunnel between the end user’s device and the network, allowing the user to access all the resources on the network. This means that VPNs rely on the traditional perimeter security model, which assumes that anything inside the network is trusted and anything outside is not. This model is outdated and ineffective because it exposes the entire network to potential breaches and lateral movement by attackers.

VPNs also offer poor support for cloud-based resources and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) scenarios, since they require client software and network configuration. They can also degrade productivity and the user experience, as they introduce latency and complexity. And they require hardware and software integration and updates, making them costly and difficult to maintain.

Why ZTNA is Better for the Public Sector

ZTNA offers several important benefits for government agencies and partners, including:

• Minimizing risk by implementing a zero-trust approach to secure the entire organization. ZTNA reduces the attack surface by granting access only to authorized applications, not the entire network. It also enhances the containment of threats by preventing lateral movement within the environment and blocks threats in encrypted traffic, which VPNs cannot do.
• Enhancing the employee experience by giving workers secure and fast access to the applications they need without opening the doors to threat actors. ZTNA improves the performance and availability of applications by providing direct cloud connectivity and reducing latency. It also does not require any client software or network configuration, simplifying the user experience.
• Optimizing operational costs and infrastructure complexity by streamlining the network and access to cloud environments. ZTNA replaces multiple network and security products with secure, cloud-based connectivity. It eliminates the need for hardware or software integration and maintenance—and reduces the infrastructure and operational expenses associated with VPNs.

How Can Lumen and Zscaler Help?

Lumen and Zscaler recently partnered to offer a new managed ZTNA solution for government organizations and affiliates. Lumen^® Managed Zero Trust Network Access with Zscaler is designed to reduce risk by protecting access to agencies’ critical data and infrastructure.

Lumen provides extensive cybersecurity threat protection knowledge and experience with government cybersecurity requirements, and Zscaler offers expertise in adherence to key government compliance standards, such as FedRAMP, SOC2, ISO 27001, FIPS and ITAR.

Both companies offer substantial cybersecurity portfolios, including SASE solutions. In fact, IDC acknowledged Lumen as a major player in their IDC 2024 MarketScape for U.S. National Government Professional Security Services. IDC recommended federal agencies strongly consider Lumen when looking to modernize network security, implement full SASE solutions, and enhance SOC capabilities and incident response services.

Together, Lumen and Zscaler can help government agencies and partners achieve their cybersecurity and performance goals, while reducing costs and complexity.

“Lumen is excited for the transformation and acceleration we can bring to our public sector customers’ cybersecurity journey through our managed zero trust network access offering and partnership with Zscaler. Their market leadership and integration with a multitude of other security solutions make Zscaler a valuable partner in reducing both complexity and security costs for our customers,” said Jason Schulman, Lumen National Vice President of Federal Sales.

Pete Amirkhan, SVP of Worldwide Public Sector at Zscaler, added: “We are thrilled to be creating this exciting new partnership with Lumen in the Public Sector. The combination of Lumen’s expertise as a MSSP partner and connectivity solutions provider will help accelerate transformation to Zscaler’s Zero Trust solution while modernizing and securing networks across Government and Higher Education. Together, we are committed to safeguarding critical infrastructure, elevating trust, and delivering unparalleled value to citizens and government entities alike.”

ZTNA is a modern alternative to VPNs, offering more security, performance and cost benefits for public sector agencies.

If you’re interested in learning more about how Lumen and Zscaler can help you secure your IT environment with ZTNA, contact us today.

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