Portnox’s ZTNA Launch Is a VPN Killer Aimed at the Cloud-First Enterprise

In a market long dominated by clunky VPNs and complex zero trust deployments, Portnox is flipping the script. Today, the company unveiled its new Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solution—a cloud-native, frictionless platform designed to deliver high-speed, passwordless access to web-based applications, without the overhead and headaches of traditional remote access infrastructure.

At the heart of the announcement is a bold offer: unlimited users and unlimited web app connections, entirely free.

“Portnox ZTNA fundamentally changes how organizations approach remote access security,” said CEO Denny LeCompte. “We’ve engineered a solution that not only significantly strengthens security but also enhances the user experience—because the best security is virtually invisible: fast, seamless, and frictionless.”

ZTNA, Rebooted for Reality

As enterprises continue shifting to hybrid work and cloud-first environments, the need for secure, scalable, and simple access control has reached a critical inflection point. Portnox is positioning its ZTNA offering as a direct response to the fatigue caused by bloated VPNs and slow legacy ZTNA deployments.

This new approach brings several distinct advantages:

• Zero lag connectivity for instant access to internal applications.

• No software clients—just browser-based access with familiar URLs.

• Passwordless authentication built-in from the ground up.

• Role- and location-aware access controls, with device compliance checks.

• Outbound-only connections to eliminate firewall configuration headaches.

It’s an ambitious checklist aimed at cutting through the clutter of legacy security stacks, without sacrificing control.

A Unified Vision

ZTNA isn’t a standalone play for Portnox. The launch is a strategic expansion of its existing Unified Access Control Platform, which already includes RADIUS, TACACS+, and cloud-delivered Network Access Control (NAC). Together, the suite offers a full-stack, cloud-native alternative to patchworked security ecosystems that struggle to keep up with decentralized workforces and bring-your-own-device realities.

Installation of Portnox’s lightweight AgentP tool enables posture assessments before access is granted—ensuring endpoint compliance without slowing things down. While the free version includes only community support, paid tiers will unlock enterprise-grade features and support down the line.

Eyes on What’s Next

Today’s release focuses exclusively on web-based application access. But Portnox is already working on expanding ZTNA to support legacy applications that lack modern web clients—signaling a clear intent to grow into a comprehensive, zero trust solution for every enterprise workload.

From finance and healthcare to education and tech, the need for secure, user-friendly access tools is only growing. With this launch, Portnox isn’t just joining the ZTNA race—it’s attempting to redefine its starting line.

Whether organizations are ditching outdated VPNs or implementing their first zero trust strategy, Portnox is making its pitch clear: zero trust should be easy, fast, and free to try.

And in a cybersecurity landscape riddled with friction, that’s a message many IT teams are likely ready to hear.