In short
The main benefits of zero trust for a business are a smaller attack surface, less lateral movement after a compromise, simpler access for remote staff and contractors, one policy for office and home, and clearer records of who accessed what. Each comes from a control such as MFA, ZTNA or segmentation, not from the label.
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Why is zero trust important?
Two things changed how businesses work: staff work from anywhere, and many applications now sit in SaaS and cloud platforms rather than the office server room. NIST SP 800-207 describes zero trust as a response to exactly these trends: remote users, bring your own device and cloud-based assets outside any company-owned network boundary. Perimeter firewalls help keep attackers out, but NIST notes they are less useful for attacks from inside the network and cannot protect users outside it.
The NCSC's Introduction to Zero Trust (opens in a new tab) explains the risk this creates: it is common in breaches for an attacker to gain a foothold and then move laterally, because everything already on the network is trusted. Zero trust is important because it removes that assumed trust.
The benefits, and the control behind each
Each benefit arrives once the control behind it is in place, which is also a good way to judge any zero trust proposal:
| Benefit | Control that delivers it | What changes for the business |
|---|---|---|
| Smaller attack surface | Applications behind ZTNA connectors that make outbound connections only | Internal apps are no longer visible or reachable from the internet; the VPN gateway stops being a target |
| Less lateral movement | Per-application access and segmentation | A compromised laptop reaches only its user's permitted applications, not the whole network |
| Stolen passwords matter less | MFA and device health checks on every request | A password alone, or a login from an unknown device, gets nowhere |
| Simpler remote and contractor access | ZTNA, including browser-based access for unmanaged devices | No VPN client to issue to every contractor; access is granted per application and removed in one place |
| One policy for office and remote staff | The same policy engine for every location | Fewer rule sets to maintain; moving offices or adding a site does not change who can reach what |
| Clearer access records | Central logs from the policy engine and connectors | You can show who accessed which application, from which device, and when: useful for audits, customers and insurers |
| Easier cloud moves and mergers | Access tied to identity rather than network location | Applications can move between data centre and cloud, or a new company can be onboarded, without re-plumbing the network |
How much each benefit is worth depends on your starting point and how completely the controls are applied, so they are described here as changes rather than figures.
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Perimeter security vs zero trust
Zero trust vs traditional security, in one view:
| Perimeter security | Zero trust | |
|---|---|---|
| Trust is based on | Being inside the network | Identity, device health and policy, per request |
| Remote access | VPN onto the network | Per-application access through ZTNA |
| Inside the network | Largely open | Segmented; each connection authorised |
| Contractors and BYOD | VPN accounts or shared credentials | Browser-based, per-app access with time limits |
| Visibility | Firewall and VPN logs show connections | Policy logs show user, device, application and decision |
| Effect of one stolen login | Potentially wide | Limited to that user's permitted apps, and detectable |
For the remote access part specifically, see ZTNA vs VPN.
Examples of zero trust in practice
These examples of zero trust show where businesses feel the benefits first:
- Contractor access: an external developer needs one test server for three months. Instead of a VPN account, they get browser-based access to that one application, with MFA, and it ends on the agreed date. See agentless ZTNA.
- Bring your own device: sales staff use personal phones and tablets. They reach email and the CRM through single sign-on with device checks; file shares and finance systems stay limited to managed laptops.
- A merger or acquisition: two companies need to share a few applications quickly. Zero trust access by identity avoids connecting two networks together, and the overlap can be removed cleanly later.
- Moving applications to the cloud: as servers move to a cloud platform, users keep reaching them through the same ZTNA policy, so nobody needs a new VPN profile.
- Admin access to servers: IT staff need RDP and SSH. Just-in-time MFA on those protocols, as Zero Networks offers, stops an attacker reusing stolen admin credentials.
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Challenges of zero trust architecture, and how to plan for them
Zero trust advantages and disadvantages are worth weighing up. The NCSC's Demystifying Zero Trust (opens in a new tab) says it can be costly, disruptive and resource-intensive if pursued without clear objectives. Each challenge has a practical answer:
| Challenge | How to plan for it |
|---|---|
| Identity is messy: old accounts, no MFA, shared logins | Clean up identity first; it is the foundation of every access decision |
| Nobody has a full list of applications | Build an application inventory and access matrix before choosing a product; see zero trust assessment |
| Legacy applications that cannot use modern sign-in | Put them behind a connector or enclave gateway, or keep them on the VPN for now |
| Users notice change | Pilot with one group and a few applications, then extend policy by policy |
| Old access routes stay open | Plan the removal of VPN profiles, open ports and remote desktop routes as part of the project |
| Policies need tuning at first | NIST expects an initial tuning phase; start with monitoring, then enforce |
All of these are covered step by step in how to implement zero trust. The NCSC also advises keeping existing controls in place until the new ones are mature.
Getting the benefits in your business
We can help you work out which benefits matter most to you, whether that is retiring the VPN, controlling contractor access or limiting what a compromised device could reach, and recommend the products that deliver them. Contact us for free advice or a quote.
How Forever Systems helps with ZTNA
Forever Systems supplies and supports several zero trust network access platforms, so we can recommend what fits how your people work and the tools you already run.
- Assess first: we look at your current VPN, firewall, identity set-up and the applications people need to reach before suggesting anything new
- Vendor-aware advice across the ZTNA products we supply, including Cisco Secure Access (opens in a new tab) and Check Point Private Access
- Pilots and phased roll-out: we can help you start with one group of users or one application, then extend access policy by policy
- VPN replacement: planning the move away from remote access VPNs, including identity provider integration and device posture checks
- Ongoing support: policy changes, licence reviews and renewals, with the details confirmed at quote
We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations. Pricing depends on users, features and term, so ask us for a quote.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main benefits of zero trust?
A smaller attack surface, less lateral movement after a compromise, less damage from stolen passwords, simpler access for remote staff and contractors, one policy for every location, and clearer records of who accessed what. Each depends on a specific control being in place.
Why is zero trust important for businesses?
Because staff work from anywhere and applications live in the cloud, being inside the network no longer says much about who someone is. The NCSC notes that attackers commonly gain a foothold and move laterally; zero trust removes the assumed trust that makes that possible.
What are the disadvantages of zero trust?
It takes planning and time: identity clean-up, an application inventory, handling legacy systems and user change. The NCSC says it can be costly and disruptive without clear objectives. A phased approach, starting with the riskiest access, keeps that manageable.
Is zero trust worth it for a small business?
The core steps often are: MFA, managed devices and per-application access instead of a VPN protect against the most common attacks and suit small teams. Several ZTNA products are built for smaller businesses; see ZTNA for small businesses.
Does zero trust reduce cyber insurance costs?
Insurers set their own terms. What zero trust gives you is evidence: MFA everywhere, device checks and logs of who accessed what, which are the kinds of controls insurance questionnaires ask about.
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