ZTNA vs SD-WAN vs SASE

WHAT IS ...

=> ZTNA | Zero Trust Network Access

Secure, identity-based access to internal apps without VPN
User-to-App Access
e.g Zscaler ZPA, Palo Alto Prisma Access, AWS Verified Access

=> SD-WAN | Software-Defined Wide Area Network

Optimizes and routes traffic across multiple WAN links
Network Performance & Routing
e.g Cisco Meraki, Fortinet, VMware VeloCloud

=> SASE | Secure Access Service Edge

Converges networking and security into a cloud-delivered service
Unified Security + Connectivity
e.g Zscaler, Netskope, Palo Alto Prisma SASE


THE BIG PICTURE ...

🔐 ZTNA: The Gatekeeper

- Replaces VPN with identity-aware access.
- Grants access to specific apps—not the whole network.
- Enforces least privilege and device posture checks.
- Core to Zero Trust.

🌐 SD-WAN: The Traffic Controller

- Routes traffic intelligently across MPLS, broadband, LTE.
- Focuses on performance, cost savings, and failover.
- Doesn’t inherently enforce Zero Trust—needs security add-ons.

🧱 SASE: The Converged Fortress

- Combines ZTNA + SWG + CASB + FWaaS + SD-WAN.
- Delivered from the cloud, close to the user.
- Enables secure, optimized access to apps and internet.
- Ideal for distributed workforces and branch offices.


🧠 How They Interact

- ZTNA is often a component of SASE.
- SD-WAN can be part of SASE, but not Zero Trust by itself.
- SASE is the umbrella that blends ZTNA’s security with SD-WAN’s routing