ZTNA in 2026 has crossed the adoption threshold Gartner predicted: over 70% of new remote access deployments now use ZTNA instead of traditional VPN. The standalone ZTNA market is rapidly converging into SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) and SSE (Security Service Edge) bundles, making purchasing ZTNA independently a niche play. The 2025 Gartner SSE Magic Quadrant placed Zscaler, Netskope, and Palo Alto as Leaders, while Netskope’s IPO ($7.3B valuation) and Fortinet’s sole Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice recognition (4.9 out of 5.0) marked the year’s key events.
How We Evaluated
We assessed access control quality including identity-aware, context-driven, and adaptive access policies. Application coverage mattered across SaaS, private applications, legacy apps, and client-server protocols. Architecture options including cloud-delivered, agent-based, agentless, and hybrid deployment were important. Performance factors like latency, bandwidth, and global PoP distribution counted. SASE integration quality with bundled CASB, SWG, DLP, and SD-WAN capabilities weighed heavily. User experience, client simplicity, SSO integration, and end-user friction rounded out the criteria.
1. Zscaler Private Access
Score: 95/100
Zscaler retook the top position in the 2025 Gartner SSE Magic Quadrant and serves roughly 40% of Fortune 500 companies. ZPA provides inside-out connectivity where applications are never exposed to the internet, with AI-powered policy recommendations and app segmentation.
The platform serves roughly 40% of Fortune 500 companies with the largest ZTNA customer base. Inside-out architecture means applications are never exposed to the internet. Zero Trust Exchange processes over 500 billion daily transactions across more than 150 global data centers. AI-powered app segmentation and policy recommendations improve over time. Deception technology through ZPA AppProtection detects lateral movement attempts. Integration with Zscaler Internet Access and Digital Experience provides full SASE.
Best for: Large enterprises wanting the most proven, largest-scale ZTNA platform with comprehensive SASE integration
2. Netskope Private Access
Score: 93/100
Netskope’s IPO at $7.3B valuation in 2025 validated its position as a SASE leader. NewEdge, Netskope’s purpose-built global network, provides direct peering in over 75 regions, delivering consistently low latency for private application access.
NewEdge network with direct peering in over 75 regions enables low-latency access. Netskope One Client provides ZTNA, CASB, SWG, DLP, and browser isolation in a single agent. UEBA-powered adaptive access policies adjust based on user behavior risk. Strong data protection includes inline DLP and DSPM integration. Client-based and clientless access options are both available. The platform is a Gartner SSE MQ Leader with strong SASE positioning.
Best for: Organizations prioritizing network performance and wanting ZTNA with best-in-class CASB and DLP from a single platform
3. Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access
Score: 91/100
Prisma Access delivers ZTNA as part of Palo Alto’s comprehensive SASE platform, backed by machine learning-powered threat detection and GlobalProtect connectivity. The platform benefits from integration with Cortex XDR, Prisma Cloud, and the pending CyberArk acquisition for identity-aware access.
ZTNA integrates with ML-powered threat prevention and URL filtering. GlobalProtect provides seamless transition between ZTNA and traditional VPN. Autonomous Digital Experience Management monitors user-to-application performance. Integration with Cortex XDR enables access-correlated threat detection. CyberArk integration will add privileged access awareness to ZTNA policies. SD-WAN integration covers branch office connectivity.
Best for: Palo Alto customers wanting ZTNA as part of a comprehensive SASE platform with integrated threat prevention
4. Cloudflare Zero Trust
Score: 89/100
Cloudflare’s ZTNA leverages its global anycast network, one of the world’s largest, to provide consistently low-latency access to private applications. The platform’s strength is simplicity and speed-to-deploy, particularly for organizations already using Cloudflare for web infrastructure.
Global anycast network across over 310 cities provides inherently low-latency connectivity. Warp client provides ZTNA with encrypted tunneling and device posture checks. Browser isolation renders untrusted applications in remote browsers. Cloudflare Tunnel provides agentless, outbound-only application connectivity. Email Security (Area 1) integration adds identity-aware phishing protection. Competitive pricing includes a generous free tier for small deployments.
Best for: Organizations wanting fast, simple ZTNA deployment leveraging Cloudflare’s global network with competitive pricing
5. Fortinet Universal ZTNA
Score: 87/100
Fortinet is the only vendor named 2025 Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for ZTNA with 4.9 out of 5.0 across 235 reviews, the highest customer satisfaction score in the category. Universal ZTNA works identically whether users are remote or on-campus, eliminating the access policy split between VPN and on-network access.
4.9 out of 5.0 Gartner Peer Insights score makes it the sole Customers’ Choice for ZTNA in 2025. Universal ZTNA applies the same access policies on-campus and remote. FortiSASE integration provides cloud-delivered ZTNA, CASB, SWG, and SD-WAN. Deep integration with FortiGate enables on-premises ZTNA proxy functionality. ZTNA tags enable dynamic application access based on device posture. Competitive total cost of ownership benefits Fortinet Security Fabric customers.
Best for: Fortinet customers wanting Universal ZTNA that works identically on-campus and remotely, with the highest customer satisfaction
6. Cisco Secure Access
Score: 85/100
Cisco Secure Access combines ZTNA with VPN-as-a-Service in a single client, designed for organizations migrating from AnyConnect VPN to zero trust access. The platform benefits from Cisco’s network infrastructure integration and ThousandEyes digital experience monitoring.
A single client replaces AnyConnect VPN with ZTNA plus VPN-as-a-Service. ThousandEyes integration enables end-to-end digital experience monitoring. Cisco Umbrella integration provides DNS security and SWG. Talos threat intelligence enables access-correlated threat detection. Duo MFA integrates natively for identity verification. The platform provides a natural migration path for existing Cisco AnyConnect customers.
Best for: Cisco AnyConnect customers migrating to ZTNA who need a gradual transition path from VPN
7. Cato SASE Cloud
Score: 83/100
Cato Networks delivers ZTNA as part of its converged SASE platform, built from the ground up as a single cloud service rather than assembled through acquisitions. The single-pass architecture processes traffic through all security functions simultaneously, reducing latency.
Purpose-built converged SASE platform was not assembled through acquisitions. Single-pass processing through ZTNA, SWG, CASB, DLP, and FWaaS happens simultaneously. Over 85 global PoPs have the full security stack at every location. SD-WAN is natively integrated, not bolted on. Simplified management runs through a single console. The platform works well for mid-market and distributed enterprises.
Best for: Distributed enterprises wanting a converged SASE platform built as a single service rather than multiple integrated products
8. Appgate SDP
Score: 81/100
Appgate SDP implements a strict Software-Defined Perimeter architecture based on the Cloud Security Alliance SDP specification. The platform’s strength is its granular microsegmentation and dynamic, context-aware access policies.
Strict SDP architecture implements the CSA specification. Microsegmentation with single-packet authorization hides infrastructure from unauthorized users. Dynamic entitlements adjust access in real-time based on context changes. Direct-routing architecture sends traffic directly to applications, not through a proxy cloud. On-premises, cloud, and hybrid deployment options are all available. Strong government and defense sector adoption validates security.
Best for: Security-sensitive organizations wanting strict SDP implementation with microsegmentation and direct-routing architecture
9. Lookout SASE
Score: 79/100
Lookout (formerly CipherCloud plus SafeGuard Cyber acquisitions) provides a mobile-first SASE platform with strong ZTNA capabilities, particularly for organizations with significant mobile and BYOD workforces.
Mobile-first security architecture is designed for smartphone and tablet access. Continuous risk assessment factors in mobile device posture, app risk, and network conditions. Inline DLP with advanced data classification is included. Cloud-delivered ZTNA comes with CASB and SWG. Strong BYOD support works without requiring full device management. Mobile threat defense integrates with ZTNA policies.
Best for: Mobile-first organizations and those with significant BYOD populations requiring continuous device risk assessment
10. Axis Security (HPE Aruba)
Score: 77/100
Axis Security, acquired by HPE Aruba, integrates ZTNA with Aruba’s networking infrastructure. The platform specializes in clientless application access, providing browser-based access to private applications without requiring endpoint agent installation.
Clientless, browser-based access to private web applications requires no agent. Integration with HPE Aruba networking and SD-WAN infrastructure is included. Agentless deployment simplifies rollout for unmanaged devices and third parties. Application discovery identifies private applications across the network. Digital experience monitoring tracks user-to-application performance. The platform is competitive for organizations already invested in HPE/Aruba networking.
Best for: HPE Aruba networking customers and organizations needing clientless ZTNA for third-party and contractor access
Where the Market Is Heading
Several trends are shaping ZTNA in 2026.
ZTNA is consumed as SASE. Standalone ZTNA purchasing is declining. Over 80% of new ZTNA deployments are part of SASE or SSE platform deals.
VPN replacement is real. Over 70% of new remote access deployments choose ZTNA over VPN. But VPN coexistence will persist for years in enterprises with legacy client-server applications.
Universal ZTNA is the expectation. The distinction between “remote ZTNA” and “on-campus NAC” is dissolving. Fortinet’s Universal ZTNA approach, where the same policy applies everywhere, is becoming what organizations expect.
AI-powered policy is emerging. Vendors are introducing AI-recommended access policies based on observed user behavior and application usage patterns.
Browser-based access is growing. Clientless ZTNA through enterprise browsers and browser isolation is expanding, reducing agent deployment requirements for third parties and BYOD.