Cybersecurity / Secure Access

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

ZTNA replaces VPNs with identity- and policy-based access to specific applications. Instead of putting a user on the network and trusting them, ZTNA verifies who they are, what device they’re on, and whether they should reach this specific app — every time.

Get Matched to ZTNA Providers Talk to an Advisor

13
ZTNA providers vetted

Per-app
access, not full network

3–4
shortlist candidates

$0
cost for our guidance

When should you be evaluating Zero Trust Network Access?

Rubber Duck has worked extensively with our Zero Trust Network Access providers to understand where they have seen the most success and the biggest ROI for clients adopting the solution. Here is what the data reflects.

  • Your VPN is slow, hard to manage, and grants too much network access once a user is in
  • Remote workers and contractors need access to specific apps but should never see the rest of your network
  • You’re consolidating dozens of VPN gateways into a unified zero-trust platform
  • You need conditional access — different policies based on device, location, time, or risk score
  • You’re moving from “trust the network perimeter” to “verify every request” architecture

What you actually get with ZTNA

ZTNA is the rare security project that removes attack surface and improves user experience at once — if the rollout is staged properly.

Identity-first access policy

Per-application, least-privilege grants from your IdP, with device posture checks at every connection.

VPN retirement plan

Concentrators decommissioned in phases, with coexistence during migration — no access outages.

Invisible infrastructure

SDP architecture makes applications dark to unauthorized users — no exposed ports to scan.

Third-party and contractor access

Scoped, time-boxed access without shipping laptops or granting full-tunnel VPN.

Certification depth

Federal-grade options — FIPS 140-3, Common Criteria, DoD impact levels — where compliance demands them.

Pricing benchmark and redlines

Per-user quotes across finalists with module and support-tier redlines.

IL2-IL6

DoD impact levels certified for Appgate

0

inbound ports exposed under SDP architecture

4,100+

edge PoPs enforcing Akamai ZTNA close to users

days

to a first-application pilot, not quarters

Figures as published by the named providers or typical of advisor-led procurements; verify current specifications during evaluation.

Providers delivering ZTNA

Every provider below has been vetted for policy granularity, user experience, and post-sale accountability. Want the three best fits for your environment? That’s one conversation.

5 providers with published profiles shown — every logo links to the partner’s full profile, including products, certifications, and coverage.

Browse the full directory → · Or get matched in 10 minutes →

Products & platforms

Deep-dives on the specific platforms our partners deliver in this category.

Appgate

SDP-based ZTNA

  • Dynamic one-to-one encrypted connections make infrastructure invisible
  • DoD IL2-IL6, NIAP Common Criteria, FIPS 140-3 certified
  • Federal and Fortune 500 deployment history
View partner profile →

Akamai

ZTNA enforced at the edge

  • Access policy enforced across 4,100+ global PoPs
  • Pairs with WAF, bot defense, and microsegmentation
  • Scales to the largest global workforces
View partner profile →

Coro

Zero-trust access for mid-market

  • ZTNA delivered inside one consolidated security subscription
  • One agent covers endpoint, email, and network security
  • Priced and staffed for lean IT teams
View partner profile →

Proof in the field

Shortlist the right ZTNA provider in one conversation

13 vetted options, three or four that fit you, zero cost for the guidance. Bring your questions.

Start a Security Assessment Schedule a Consultation

The Process

How your Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) engagement runs

The same disciplined path every time — so you always know what happens next and who is accountable for it.

1

Day 1

Assess

We map your environment, contracts, and goals. No pitch — an honest read on where you stand and what it should cost.

2

Week 1

Shortlist

You get 3–4 fits from 475 vetted providers, with the reasoning attached — capabilities, pricing leverage, trade-offs.

3

Weeks 2–3

Evaluate

We run the demos, reference checks, and side-by-side pricing benchmarks so your team doesn't have to.

4

Weeks 3–4

Negotiate

Terms, SLAs, and pricing negotiated with portfolio-level leverage — anchored to real market rates, not list price.

5

Ongoing

Manage

We oversee implementation and stay your escalation point for the life of the service, through every renewal.

Typical timeline for mid-market engagements. Complex builds — colocation, dark fiber, custom AI deployments — carry longer evaluation and delivery windows, and we set that expectation on day one.

The Economics

Why source Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) through Rubber Duck

No retainers, no hourly billing, no markup on your contract. Here is how that works:

Same or better pricing

Your contract is signed directly with the provider at rates we benchmark against comparable deals — you pay the same or less than going direct.

$0 advisory fee

Providers fund our advisory through their partner programs, and every provider compensates us the same way — so recommendations are based on fit, never commission.

One escalation point

After go-live we stay accountable: implementation oversight, billing disputes, outage escalations, and renewal strategy all route through your advisor.

Common Questions

What buyers ask before their first call

Does the guidance really cost nothing?

Yes. Our advisory is supplier-funded: providers pay us through the same partner programs they fund for all technology advisors, and every provider compensates us the same way. You pay the provider directly, at rates we benchmark — the same or less than going direct.

How are you different from a reseller or an MSP?

We don't carry inventory, quotas, or a house brand to protect. A reseller earns more when you buy what they stock; we earn the same regardless of which vetted provider you choose — so the recommendation is driven by fit. Where a managed service is the right answer, we source and oversee it rather than sell you our own.

Do we keep a direct relationship with the provider?

Yes. Your contract, billing, and SLAs sit directly with the provider you select. We sit on your side of that relationship — running the evaluation and negotiation up front, then acting as your escalation point after go-live.

What if we're already under contract?

That's the most common starting point. We benchmark your current rates now, flag billing errors worth disputing immediately, and build the renegotiation plan around your renewal window — including co-terming services so future decisions happen on your schedule, not the vendors'.

How fast do we get to a shortlist?

For most categories you'll have a reasoned shortlist of three or four providers within a week of the first assessment call. Complex infrastructure — colocation, dark fiber, large contact-center builds — takes longer, and we tell you that up front.