Zero Trust in 2025: Navigating the Landscape of ZTNA Platforms

The shift to a data‑centric security model—known as zero trust—has accelerated in 2025. With the rise of hybrid work, cloud workloads, and increasingly sophisticated threat actors, enterprises are looking for platforms that can enforce least‑privilege access, continuously validate context, and integrate with existing identity and security stacks.

The Zero Trust Landscape

Zero trust is not a single product but an architectural mindset. The core pillars—identity, device, network, application, and data—require granular controls that traditional perimeter defenses cannot provide. In 2025, vendors have matured their offerings into full‑stack solutions that combine VPN‑replacement, threat protection, and policy orchestration.

“Zero trust presents a shift from a location‑centric model to a more data‑centric approach for fine‑grained security controls between users, systems, data, and assets that change over time.” – U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Platform Showcases

Check Point SASE

Check Point’s SASE platform, built on the acquired Perimeter 81 stack, offers an agentless ZTNA experience with IPSec and WireGuard tunneling, centralized policy management, and integrated threat protection. Its pricing starts at $8 per user per month, making it a strong fit for large enterprises that can absorb the cost.

Cato Networks ZTNA

Cato’s cloud‑native approach focuses on continuous device assessment and contextual policy enforcement. It excels in environments with a distributed workforce, providing real‑time risk scoring and automatic session termination for non‑compliant devices.

Twingate

Twingate stands out for its free tier—supporting up to five users—and transparent pricing at $5 per user per month thereafter. It delivers robust MFA, least‑privilege controls, and peer‑to‑peer connectivity without the overhead of a traditional VPN.

Tailscale

Built on WireGuard, Tailscale offers an easy‑to‑deploy solution that blends VPN functionality with zero‑trust principles. It is ideal for small teams that need rapid onboarding and granular access policies.

Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange

Zscaler’s cloud‑native ZTNA platform emphasizes AI‑driven risk assessment and just‑in‑time access. While pricing remains opaque, its enterprise‑grade features—such as data loss prevention and integrated threat detection—make it a contender for mid‑to‑large organizations.

Choosing the Right Platform

1. Cost and Scale – Large enterprises can justify higher per‑user fees for a comprehensive solution, whereas SMBs may opt for Twingate or Tailscale.
2. Legacy Integration – Organizations with extensive on‑prem infrastructure may prefer Check Point or Cato, which support hybrid deployments.
3. Security Posture – If continuous device validation is critical, Cato’s real‑time assessment model offers a distinct advantage.
4. Vendor Lock‑In – Open‑source options like Netbird or vendor‑agnostic platforms reduce dependency on a single provider.

A successful zero‑trust journey is iterative. Start with a pilot that aligns with your most critical assets, then expand policy granularity as the organization matures.

Conclusion

Zero trust is no longer optional; it is the baseline for protecting data in a world where work is distributed and threat actors are relentless. By evaluating platforms against cost, integration, and policy capabilities, organizations can choose a ZTNA solution that not only secures their perimeter but also empowers their workforce.

Source: ZDNET article “Best Zero Trust Security Platforms” (2025)