Why identity-based security is rapidly replacing legacy VPNs in the modern Australian enterprise.
The traditional corporate network was built like a castle: strong perimeter defenses with implicit trust given to anyone who managed to get inside. In the modern era of remote work and cloud applications, the perimeter has dissolved, and the "castle-and-moat" strategy has become a massive liability.
Zero Trust is not a specific software product; it is a framework. It assumes that threats exist both inside and outside the network. Under Zero Trust, no user or device is trusted by default, even if they are connected to a permitted corporate network or were previously verified.
ACS implements Zero Trust by focusing on Identity and Access Management (IAM), requiring continuous authorization based on user context, device health, and location. By moving away from legacy VPNs to context-aware access, organisations drastically reduce their attack surface and mitigate the risk of lateral movement by attackers.