Adoption of Zero Trust security models

The landscape of business remote access is transitioning from traditional Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) toward Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architectures. While VPNs provide network-level access, they are increasingly viewed as security risks due to the potential for lateral movement if credentials are compromised. Modern alternatives focus on least-privilege access, granting users permission to specific applications rather than entire networks.

As organizations move workloads to the cloud and adopt hybrid work models, Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is being utilized to secure cloud infrastructure and file sharing. This approach focuses on decoupling access decisions from enforcement, often following frameworks like NIST SP 800-207. By utilizing Policy Decision Points (PDP) and Policy Enforcement Points (PEP), organizations can assess requests based on identity and device posture.

In terms of file sharing, zero-trust principles require that every access request be authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated. This shift aims to mitigate risks associated with excessive access privileges, which were noted in a 2025 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report as being involved in 68% of breaches.