Implementing ZTNA with an Enterprise Browser

Today’s greatest challenge in adopting the zero trust methodology is primarily around integration and implementation. By its nature, a zero trust architecture requires coordination between systems at all levels of the technology stack. The goal is a robust security architecture that’s low friction and easy to use. 

This paper outlines the benefits of a zero trust architecture and how the Island Enterprise Browser greatly simplifies the task of implementation and integration.

What is Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)?

ZTNA is a security framework designed to provide secure and seamless remote access to private applications and resources. Unlike traditional VPNs, which inherently trust devices once connected, ZTNA operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify." This approach ensures that access is only granted to users who are explicitly authorized, and permissions are limited strictly to what is necessary for their role.

At its core, ZTNA evaluates user identity, device posture, and contextual signals such as geolocation and network type before granting access. Each access request is independently verified, ensuring that no implicit trust is extended, even to authenticated users. This methodology eliminates many vulnerabilities associated with traditional perimeter-based security models, particularly in today’s dynamic and remote-first work environments.

ZTNA is a vital component of the broader zero trust security framework, addressing the challenges posed by legacy VPNs, including overbroad trust, traffic bottlenecks, and inefficiencies when accessing cloud or SaaS applications. As organizations continue to adopt remote and hybrid work models, ZTNA provides the secure, granular access needed to protect sensitive business assets while improving the user experience.

ZTNA vs VPN

The ZTNA approach answers these concerns and offers a superior security model. (In fairness, VPN is a technology that predates ZTNA by over a decade and it served its purpose well.) 

With a ZTNA model, users can access private apps and resources without backhauling traffic through a gateway. 

Importantly, a ZTNA connection is application-specific and does not join the endpoint to the private network, as with legacy VPN. This eliminates several categories of potential exploitation and right-sizes the trust relationship.

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The zero trust security framework

The zero trust security framework represents an important shift in the way we think about cybersecurity but its foundations are nothing new. The principle of least privilege, federated identity, and multi-factor authentication are concepts that have sustained both technical and commercial success across decades. 

Building on decades of hard-learned lessons, zero trust pushes the role of identity and authorization away from the network perimeter and onto each system or request. It assumes that compromise is inevitable and builds resilience through a distributed security architecture. 

Motivations for zero trust

The benefit of adopting zero trust architecture is clear: these are extremely large, complex, distributed organizations that manage huge volumes of sensitive data and are routinely targeted by malicious actors. 

The zero trust model is not limited to large organizations and scales remarkably well. Even at the individual level, companies like Apple and Google apply zero trust concepts to protect user accounts and prevent casual credential misuse.

The modern workplace needs modern security

The accelerating adoption of zero trust security in this decade is helped by the changing dynamics of the modern workplace. The shift from a central office model to remote or hybrid work makes the old network perimeter paradigm obsolete. At the same time, the shift away from on-prem servers to cloud and SaaS solutions continues apace. 

Put together, it’s now common for critical business data to flow between a home network that is outside corporate control to a SaaS provider’s network that is outside corporate control. The need for an evolved security paradigm is obvious. 

Legacy VPN has clear deficiencies

Legacy VPN presents both security and operational deficiencies that need to be addressed.

• Overbroad trust: legacy VPN joins an endpoint to a private network. This connection enables remote access, but it can also be exploited by a malicious actor to move laterally. 
• Traffic congestion: legacy VPN routes network traffic from the endpoint to a centralized VPN gateway. As more users connect to VPN, the gateway is a bottleneck that will reach saturation and degrade network performance. 
• Egress inefficiency: traffic destined for SaaS or cloud has to pass through the legacy VPN gateway, only to be sent back out through an egress point to reach the Internet. This inefficiency adds latency and cost without any benefit. 
• All or nothing: most legacy VPN clients will route all network traffic from the endpoint, regardless of its destination. In addition to the congestion and egress issues listed above, this raises privacy concerns for users who may be uncomfortable with sending all their network traffic through the enterprise network.

The last mile of zero trust

Applying the principles of zero trust architecture means considering the full end-to-end flow of information. One area that’s often overlooked is the last mile – where and how users interact with sensitive apps and data. 

Managing where users can access data is important so you can keep data off unsafe or potentially compromised devices. The most sophisticated security controls in the world are meaningless if data is freely allowed to exit the controlled environment. A lost or stolen laptop can become a serious data breach if last-mile controls like data encryption and endpoint protection are ignored.

Managing how users interact with sensitive data is important to ensure that sensitive data remains under control and doesn’t leak outside the organization. In the context of zero trust philosophy, we are adding granularity to user authorization: we do not implicitly trust a user to copy, print, or save data outside the browser even if they are authorized to view that data. In practice, this means adding context-aware controls to govern actions like printing, saving a page, copy & paste, taking a screenshot, or sharing content over Zoom or Teams. Adding these controls for sensitive apps and data completes the last mile of a zero trust security model.

Example from the U.S. healthcare sector

A hospital employee’s laptop was stolen from their parked car in the hospital parking lot. The laptop was used for work purposes, but it was not managed by hospital IT so it lacked key security mitigations like disk encryption. Unfortunately, the laptop contained personal health information of over 20,000 individuals. In 2020, the hospital paid over $1 million in a settlement agreement.

The Enterprise Browser with Island Private Access

For organizations who have implemented a ZTNA solution, the Island Enterprise Browser makes an ideal complementing technology that extends the zero trust model beyond the network through the last mile.

For organizations who are ready to implement a zero trust security model, the Enterprise Browser with Island Private Access offers the complete solution to protect all browser-based private and SaaS apps and resources. 

Because the browser already integrates with Island Cloud for policy enforcement, extending secure access to a private network is completely transparent to the end-user. The same browser they use for secure access to SaaS and public cloud apps can be used for private apps with no additional clients or agents.

Private Access Connectors 

Island Private Access Connectors are lightweight virtual machines that are easily deployed within a private cloud or data center to enable secure remote access. The connectors make an outbound connection from the private network to the Island Cloud, and all traffic is passed to the connectors through a reverse TCP secure tunnel. The private network stays private, with no ports open to the outside.

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Redefining zero trust for the modern workplace

The zero trust security framework has become indispensable in safeguarding today’s distributed, hybrid workforces. While its principles of "never trust, always verify" are well understood, the challenge lies in practical implementation. Solutions like ZTNA address critical gaps left by traditional VPNs, enabling secure, application-specific access. However, true zero trust extends beyond the network to the last mile, ensuring that sensitive data remains secure wherever it’s accessed or used.

The Island Enterprise Browser elevates zero trust implementation by bridging these gaps where more enterprise work is done — the browser. It combines robust security controls, granular policy enforcement, and a frictionless user experience, making it a cornerstone technology for organizations looking to operationalize zero trust effectively. Whether you’re securing remote workers, contractors, or sensitive SaaS applications, the Island Enterprise Browser offers a bold, modern approach to redefining workplace security.

If your organization is ready to close the loop on zero trust, get in touch with us. Let’s build a secure, efficient, and resilient future together.