In today’s interconnected world, ensuring secure and seamless connectivity is paramount for businesses. Legacy virtual private networks (VPNs) have long been the go-to solution for remote access and secure communications. However, with the rise of cloud-based applications and evolving cyberthreats, migrating to a zero-trust network access (ZTNA) solution has become an essential consideration. Legacy VPN tools are not only challenging to manage and administrate but also grant users unrestricted network access and expose vulnerabilities to internet-based attacks whilst offering users a poor user experience.

This article is aimed at guiding you through the best approach for successfully transitioning from a legacy VPN solution to a new ZTNA solution, enabling your organization to embrace a more secure and scalable solution.

Assess Your Current VPN Infrastructure

The first step in any successful migration is thoroughly evaluating your existing VPN setup. You should identify the strengths and weaknesses of your current architecture, including any performance limitations, user experience issues and security vulnerabilities. This assessment will help you understand the specific pain points you must address with a new ZTNA solution and provide a solid foundation for your ZTNA migration plan.

Define Your Migration Strategy

A well-defined migration strategy is crucial to ensure a smooth transition. You should start by setting clear objectives and goals for the migration process. You will need to determine the scope of the project, including which applications, user groups or departments will be prioritized. It is best to create a timeline with achievable milestones to keep the project on track. It’s also critical that you establish a communication plan to keep stakeholders informed throughout the migration process.

Choose the Right ZTNA Solution

Selecting the right ZTNA solution is crucial for a successful migration. You should research and evaluate the various vendors based on the factors that you define. These could include elements such as ease of implementation, architecture, scalability, security features and integration capabilities. Look for a solution that aligns with your organization’s specific requirements and provides seamless integration with your existing infrastructure, minimizing disruption to daily operations.

It’s important to emphasize that adopting a ZTNA solution represents the initial step in a larger migration toward a security service edge (SSE) solution for many organizations. Consequently, exploring a unified platform solution at this point may be a wise course of action.

Design and Implement the ZTNA Solution

Once you’ve selected your ZTNA solution, the next step is to progress into the design and implementation phase. You should create a detailed access map and identify the necessary access control policies and user groups. At this point, you should define your authentication mechanisms, including your chosen identity provider (IDP) and whether you’ll configure multi-factor authentication (MFA) to bolster security.

While in the design phase, it’s crucial to keep scalability and future growth in mind, ensuring that the solution can adapt to accommodate organizational changes.

Pilot Testing and User Training

Before fully deploying the ZTNA solution, you should conduct thorough pilot testing. Start by selecting a representative group of users to test with and gather feedback. This process will help you identify any potential issues or fine-tuning requirements. You should simultaneously provide comprehensive training to your employees on how to securely access resources through the new ZTNA solution. Training and awareness will ensure a smooth transition and boost user adoption.

Gradual Rollout and Continuous Monitoring

Next, it is time to gradually roll out the ZTNA solution to different user groups or departments. I recommend starting with your less critical applications. You should monitor the system closely during this phase to identify and address any unforeseen issues as quickly as possible. You should regularly communicate with your users, collecting feedback and addressing concerns to ensure a positive user experience.

Decommission Legacy VPN

Once the ZTNA solution is fully operational and all users have successfully migrated, the last phase is decommissioning the legacy VPN infrastructure. However, it’s essential to ensure that all resources and applications have been seamlessly transitioned and are fully accessible through the new ZTNA solution before completing this phase. You should conduct thorough testing and seek feedback from your user base before fully decommissioning your legacy VPN to avoid any disruption to business operations.

Conclusion

Migrating from a legacy VPN infrastructure to a new ZTNA solution should be seen as a crucial step in enhancing your organization’s security posture and adapting to the changing IT landscape.

I believe in following a methodical approach, conducting thorough assessments, selecting the right ZTNA solution and prioritizing user experience. You can successfully implement a ZTNA solution that will provide secure, scalable and streamlined access to your critical resources and help future-proof your organization’s connectivity infrastructure.