Zero Trust Access
Legacy VPN-based remote access grants authenticated users unrestricted LAN-level connectivity — an implicit-trust model attackers routinely exploit. Zero Trust Access replaces this with identity-aware proxying, per-request device posture verification, and least-privilege authorisation scoped to individual applications rather than the entire network segment.
Overview
Clevertek Zero Trust Access enforces a never-trust, always-verify architecture where no entity is trusted based on network location. An identity-aware reverse proxy terminates user connections at the application layer, authenticating each request against the corporate identity provider and simultaneously assessing the connecting device's compliance posture — patch level, endpoint protection status, disk encryption state, and device enrolment. Only after identity and device checks pass is the request forwarded to the target application, and only to the specific resource the user's role is authorised to reach. This eliminates the implicit trust model of VPN connectivity, where a single successful authentication grants access to the entire internal network. ZTNA integrates natively with our SD-WAN and SASE deployments, sharing a common identity and policy plane so that hybrid, remote, and office-based users all enforce identical access controls. Application access is recorded to a tamper-proof audit log, providing the forensic trail required for incident investigation and compliance reporting. A compromised credential, under this model, grants access only to the specific resource authorised for that session at that moment — the blast radius is a single application rather than the entire enterprise network.
Capabilities
What's included as part of this solution.
Identity-Aware Proxy
The enforcement point of zero-trust architecture: a reverse proxy that authenticates every connection request against the corporate IdP, validates device posture, and applies application-layer authorisation before proxying traffic to the target resource. Users never obtain network-layer connectivity — only proxied access to the specific application they are authorised to use.
- Per-application authentication via SAML/OIDC federation
- No implicit network-layer trust without location-based trust model
- Live session controls with time-out and re-authentication triggers
Device Posture
Pre-connect assessment of device health — OS patch currency, AV/enpoint detection running, disk encryption enabled, device management enrolment status — evaluated on every connection request. A device that fails any compliance check is blocked or routed to a remediation portal rather than granted access, preventing compromised or non-compliant endpoints from becoming the initial foothold.
- OS patch level, AV status, and disk encryption compliance checks
- Policy-driven block or remediate action on non-compliant devices
- Continuous posture re-evaluation with session revocation on drift
Least Privilege
Access is scoped at the individual application or resource level rather than the network subnet level. A third-party contractor reaches exactly the SaaS application or internal tool their role requires — not the adjacent file server, database port, or administrative interface. Service accounts access only the specific API endpoint or storage bucket needed for their function.
- Role-based application-level access policies
- Just-in-time (JIT) privilege elevation with automatic revocation window
- Immutable, tamper-proof session audit trail for each access event
Integrates with SASE
Zero-trust access is not deployed as a standalone point solution — it operates as a component within our SASE architecture, sharing identity federation, policy orchestration, and logging plane with SWG and FWaaS services. One unified policy model governs user access across web, SaaS, and private applications without requiring per-service policy authoring.
- Shared identity federation across ZTNA, SWG, and FWaaS
- Unified policy plane with rule inheritance for all access services
- Seamless overlay onto existing SD-WAN fabric without rip-and-replace
Where it's used
Real-world scenarios where this solution delivers measurable outcomes.
Give the hybrid workforce one posture
Office, home, and mobile users all traverse the same identity-aware proxy with the same device posture enforcement. A contractor on a personally-managed laptop reaches exactly the one application their contract scope requires; an enterprise-managed device reaches its authorised application set. No full-tunnel VPN that grants unrestricted LAN access to any authenticated user.
Retire the VPN's implicit trust
A VPN authenticates once and grants the user unrestricted network access. ZTNA authenticates every request and authorises only the target application. When a laptop credential is phished, the attacker's blast radius is the one resource that session was authorised for — not the file server, database, and domain controller accessible through the VPN tunnel.
Contain a leaked credential
A user password is captured via credential harvesting. In a VPN architecture, that password unlocks the internal network. With ZTNA, the login still requires device posture compliance and per-application authorisation; just-in-time grants with automatic revocation mean even a successful login session reaches far less of the estate than a traditional network-layer login.
Frequently asked questions
Does this replace our VPN?
In most deployments, yes. Identity-aware per-application access eliminates the implicit LAN-level trust that a VPN grants to every authenticated user. Users connect directly to the application they need rather than initiating a full-tunnel connection that requires monitoring and management.
Can it work with our existing SASE and SD-WAN?
Yes. ZTNA integrates natively into our SASE and SD-WAN deployments as part of a single policy plane with shared identity federation. You extend zero-trust controls without requiring a separate infrastructure deployment.
What happens to a device that fails a posture check?
A non-compliant device is either blocked entirely or routed to a remediation portal — OS update, AV activation, disk encryption enablement — based on configurable policy. The user receives a clear remediation instruction rather than a silent access failure.
Does this slow legitimate users down?
Verification occurs per-request at the proxy layer, but once a user and device session is established, subsequent application requests proceed without re-prompting. The authentication overhead applies to the initial connection, not to every page load within the session.
How does it limit the damage from a stolen password?
A valid password still requires the connecting device to pass posture assessment and the user to be authorised for the specific resource at that moment. Least-privilege, just-in-time grants ensure that even a successful authentication reaches a fraction of the estate that a traditional network login would expose.
Why choose Clevertek for Zero Trust Access
One accountable partner for end-to-end solutions — here is what buying from us actually gets you.
Least privilege by default
No flat-network trust model. Every request undergoes identity verification, device posture assessment, and application-layer authorisation before access is granted. A foothold on one resource cannot automatically pivot into the rest of the estate.
Part of one program
ZTNA integrates with SD-WAN and SASE under a single transformation programme and policy plane, rather than being procured as an additional point product that your team must integrate and maintain independently.
Device-aware
Posture checks at connection time prevent compromised or non-compliant devices from reaching any application. The device's compliance state is evaluated before any traffic is proxied.
Assume-breach mindset
Architecture designed on the assumption that an attacker is already inside the perimeter. Verification is continuous rather than one-time, and the blast radius of any single compromise is constrained to one application.
Ready to scope a solution?
Talk to a Clevertek solutions architect about your requirements — no obligation.