5 Top Zero Trust Security Providers

Let's take a look at what the data tells us about zero trust. 

• Key research shows:
• Analysts value the zero-trust market at $41.72 billion USD in 2025, and expect it to more than double by 2030. (Mordor Intelligence)
• By 2025, 70% of new remote-access projects will already favor Zero Trust network access (ZTNA). (Gartner)
• 63% of surveyed organizations worldwide have implemented a Zero Trust strategy. (Gartner)
• Nearly 30% of organizations may abandon their Zero Trust strategies by 2028 due to challenges like complexity or integration issues. (Gartner)

These findings emphasize the importance of selecting the right Zero Trust security provider. However, choosing the right one is easier said than done.

This guide compares the top Zero Trust security providers side-by-side, helping you weigh use-case fit, key features, integration effort, and more.

Whether you need an enterprise-grade platform or a lightweight control to enforce least-privileged access, the five vendors below provide a clear starting point. You'll also see how a Zero Trust virtual private network (VPN) strengthens protection without adding extra complexity.

ZTNA options compared

Tip: To better understand how ZTNA works, consider the specific requirements of your organization. By clearly evaluating these options, your team can confidently select a Zero Trust solution that aligns with your security needs, budget, and user experience expectations.

1. OpenVPN

OpenVPN is a reliable, long-standing VPN provider trusted by over 20,000 organizations worldwide. Known for its flexible, practical solutions, OpenVPN provides robust zero-trust tools specifically tailored to the needs of SMBs.

By incorporating straightforward yet powerful security practices rooted in Zero Trust principles, OpenVPN helps organizations confidently secure their networks without the complexity of typical enterprise solutions.

Flexible deployment options

OpenVPN offers two adaptable deployment models to meet different business needs:

• Access Server (Self-hosted): Ideal for organizations wanting complete control over their VPN environment. Deploy Access Server on your infrastructure, whether it's on-premises hardware, virtual machines, Docker containers, or major cloud platforms. This gives IT teams maximum visibility and ownership over security policies and data flow.
• CloudConnexa (Cloud-delivered): A fully-managed SaaS solution that simplifies Zero Trust deployments. SMBs benefit from rapid setup, built-in scalability, and a straightforward subscription model without worrying about infrastructure management. Most deployments can be up and running within an hour, ensuring secure remote access quickly.

OpenVPN benefits 

Based on customer sentiment from review platforms G2 and Capterra, here's how users rate OpenVPN's strengths:

• Ease of use: Highly rated by users, highlighting straightforward management and an intuitive user experience.
• Easy setup: Quick and simple deployments, with reviews praising the effortless setup. In most cases, you'll be up and running in under an hour. Plus, with OpenVPN Data Channel Offload (DCO), network speeds remain fast.
• Strong security: Reliable, secure connectivity emphasized by user reviews, making it well-suited for SMBs needing practical security without complexity. Enforcing Zero Trust is now simpler with encrypted tunneling and continuously verified security controls, ensuring access is granted only from trusted locations to authorized and compliant devices.
• Fast implementation: Recognized for easy installation, allowing SMBs to deploy rapidly and with minimal disruption. Whether you choose Access Server or CloudConnexa, implementation is quick and easy.
• Comprehensive VPN features: Users consistently appreciate the VPN service's reliability and feature-rich environment, earning positive feedback from reviews. For example, CloudConnexa offers features that go beyond traditional VPN services, including Cyber Shield IDS/IPS and Content Filtering to block malicious content. 
• Superior network visibility: With Access Visibility and DNS Log, you gain unmatched insight into application access and suspicious web activity, thereby enhancing Zero Trust initiatives and closing security gaps.

OpenVPN remains a solid choice for SMBs seeking accessible, affordable Zero Trust solutions that balance ease of use with reliable security. Its flexibility between self-hosted and cloud-based deployments ensures every business can find an option tailored to its unique environment and security goals.

2. Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks provides an enterprise-grade, comprehensive Zero Trust solution ideal for larger organizations that need robust threat intelligence, strict compliance, and deep integration across hybrid infrastructures.

Its Prisma Access platform delivers secure, cloud-native connectivity that replaces traditional VPNs, combining security and flexibility for distributed teams.

Key features

• Prisma Access: Cloud-delivered service blending VPN functionality, firewall as a service (FWaaS), secure web gateway (SWG), and ZTNA.
• Zero Trust network access: Enforces least-privilege policies based on identity, device posture, and application context.
• Global cloud infrastructure: Ensures fast, reliable connectivity through extensive global coverage.
• Advanced threat protection: Incorporates DNS security, sandboxing, and malware analysis.
• Unified management: Central console for streamlined policy management and monitoring.
• SD-WAN integration: Easily integrates with Palo Alto's SD-WAN solutions for secure branch office connections.

Palo Alto Networks pros and cons

Based on real-world customer feedback from G2, here are Palo Alto Networks' strengths and challenges.

Pros:

• Advanced security capabilities: Deep packet inspection, advanced malware prevention, and comprehensive threat intelligence are highly rated.
• Robust integration: Palo Alto Networks tightly integrates with Palo Alto's ecosystem (firewalls, Cortex XDR endpoint protection, and AutoFocus threat intelligence).
• Granular control: Strong identity-based access management enables precise policy enforcement.
• Hybrid environment support: Palo Alto Networks effectively secures hybrid and multicloud deployments.
• Scalable architecture: Cloud-native approach ensures scalability for large enterprises.
  
  

Cons:

• Complex licensing and costs: Customers frequently highlight concerns about escalating per-user or bandwidth-based licensing fees.
• Steep learning curve: Effective deployment requires strong familiarity with Palo Alto's ecosystem, often making initial setup challenging.
• Complex configuration: Firewall rules, split tunneling, and user-based access controls can be error-prone and complex to manage.
• Agent installation required: Users must install software agents to access platform capabilities fully.
• Reduced agility: Palo Alto Networks is less flexible compared to newer, lighter VPN alternatives.

Palo Alto Networks is ideal for larger organizations prioritizing robust security, comprehensive integration, and enterprise-grade compliance. However, businesses with smaller IT teams or limited resources might find setup and ongoing management challenging.

3. Zscaler

Zscaler delivers a cloud-native Zero Trust exchange platform — part of its secure access service edge (SASE) suite — designed to secure access to apps and services without exposing users or networks to risk.

Built on a global fabric of over 160 data centers, it enables least-privilege access across users, devices, and locations with granular policy control and built-in threat protection.

Key features

• Zero Trust exchange: Central platform enabling secure, identity‑based, context‑aware access across all enterprise traffic.
• Zscaler private access (ZPA): Connects users to specific private apps, never the network, eliminating lateral movement and reducing attack surface.
• Zscaler internet access (ZIA): Combines secure web gateway, DNS filtering, and SSL inspection at scale in the cloud.
• AI-powered SSE: Uses machine-learning to inspect traffic, detect threats, and protect data across cloud workloads.

Zscaler pros and cons

Customer reviews on G2 and Capterra highlight Zscaler's strengths and limitations.

Pros:

• Fast, secure access without VPN: Users report ZPA provides app-level access “without the need for a VPN,” improving productivity.
• User-friendly management: Reviewers describe the interface as clean and straightforward to use.
• Strong threat protection: Inline SSL inspection, malware analysis, and data loss prevention (DLP) guard against advanced threats.
• Scalable infrastructure: 160+ global PoPs enable consistent performance and low latency for distributed teams.
  
  

Cons:

• Costly for smaller teams: Users note that the platform can be expensive compared to simpler VPNs.
• Occasional performance issues: Some users have reported slowdowns when accessing specific applications.
• Setup complexity: Deployment may require more planning and security expertise, particularly for hybrid or on‑premises use cases.

Zscaler is a good fit for IT teams migrating from legacy VPNs to a holistic cloud-native ZTNA and SASE solution. It delivers strong security and visibility, but at a price and setup effort that may be higher and require a full-time employee to serve as administrator.

4. Twingate

Twingate is a modern, cloud-native alternative to traditional VPNs, purpose-built for application-level Zero Trust network access. Its simplicity and distributed architecture appeal especially to smaller teams and hybrid-cloud setups, offering secure access without exposing networks to the public internet.

Key features

• Zero Trust access model: Implements least-privilege, identity- and context-based access. All traffic is evaluated before entry is granted.
• No network exposure: Private resources are invisible on the public internet, even after successful authentication.
• Identity provider integration: Seamless integration with Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace, and other major SSO providers.
• Lightweight client connectivity: Users install a small agent that establishes an encrypted tunnel, eliminating the need for manual configuration.
• Split tunneling: Only business-related traffic routes through Twingate, improving speed and reducing unnecessary data flow.
• No public IP needed: Internal apps remain hidden; connections happen in the background via secure peer-to-peer routing.

Twingate pros and cons

User feedback from G2 and Capterra reflects Twingate's strengths and limits.

Pros:

• High user satisfaction: Praise for ease of use, security, and seamless setup.
• Fast performance and simplicity: Users describe it as “seamless, secure, and reliable,” offering speedy connections without VPN overhead.
• Strong security posture: Enforces secure, identity-based access without network-level exposures.
  
  

Cons:

• Challenging to deploy at scale: Multiple reviewers report difficulty deploying to groups; several noted it was easier to simply assign access to individuals. 
• Limited customization and features: Advanced use cases or complex topologies may require extra planning.
• Not a full-tunnel VPN: It lacks traditional VPN functions, such as full internet routing, IP masking, and kill-switch capabilities.

Twingate delivers a modern, effective Zero Trust VPN alternative for teams seeking a simple, secure solution. It excels at protecting internal apps with minimal friction and maintenance.

While it may not be the best choice for users requiring comprehensive VPN features or in-depth network customization, its ease of use and security make it a top candidate for small to mid-sized organizations.

5. Fortinet

Fortinet delivers a unified security fabric that tightly integrates firewalls, endpoint protection, access controls, and VPN technology into a cohesive Zero Trust platform.

Its VPN solutions (FortiClient agent and FortiGate SSL/IPSec VPN) combine secure remote access with centralized visibility, making them a strong fit for distributed environments in mid-sized and large organizations.

Key features

• SSL & IPSec VPN support: Offers both SSL VPN for user-friendly access and higher-performance IPSec tunnels.
• FortiClient endpoint agent: Provides secure VPN access along with endpoint compliance checks and malware defense.
• Centralized management: FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer provide unified configuration, monitoring, and logging capabilities.
• Multi-factor authentication: Supports both built-in and third-party 2FA for stronger access control.
• Hardware acceleration: FortiGate appliances include dedicated processors (SPUs) to boost VPN performance.
• Seamless integration: Part of Fortinet's Security Fabric, allowing unified treatment of VPN, SD‑WAN, firewall, and endpoint tools.

Fortinet pros and cons

User feedback from Gartner Peer Insights and G2 demonstrates Fortinet's strengths and considerations.

Pros:

• High performance and reliability: Reviewers praised the platform for its ease of use, remote work connectivity, and security controls for a hybrid workforce.
• Enterprise-grade security fabric: Deep packet inspection, IPS, antivirus, and traffic filtering provide layered protection.
• Granular policy control: Centralized management and real-time visibility help with compliance and detailed administration.
  
  

Cons:

• Complex setup and administration: Users report a steep learning curve associated with configuring firewalls, SD-WAN, VPN, and other components.
• Licensing and bundling complexity: Multiple tiers for devices, support, FortiGuard, SD-WAN, and VPN users can sometimes make it challenging to manage costs.
• Hardware dependency: Achieving peak performance often requires Fortinet hardware; integrating third-party systems can be a cumbersome process.
• Recent vulnerabilities: Notable CVE disclosures in 2021 and 2024 underscore the importance of diligent patching and ongoing security monitoring. (Data From 15,000 Fortinet Firewalls Leaked by Hackers) 

Fortinet suits organizations that require high performance, centralized visibility, and compliance-ready tools, all integrated within a single vendor ecosystem. That said, many teams may find the architecture and licensing complex, especially if they don't already use other Fortinet products.

Choose a Zero Trust solution that works

Selecting the right Zero Trust solution comes down to your organization's unique needs, such as balancing ease, security, and flexibility.

OpenVPN stands out among the top Zero Trust security providers by offering solutions specifically built to be practical, straightforward, and accessible for SMBs.

With fast deployment, flexible hosting options, and a proven record of reliability, OpenVPN ensures your business can enforce Zero Trust without complexity or steep costs.

Ready to secure your business with simplified Zero Trust access? Get started with OpenVPN today.