ZTNA is a component; SASE is the platform

 

TL;DR (for busy owners and managers)

• ZTNA replaces clunky VPNs with app‑level, identity‑aware access: users get only what they need, only when posture and context check out.

• SMBs implement ZTNA to cut breach risk, stop lateral movement, simplify remote/contractor access, and reduce support headaches.

• SASE is the larger cloud framework that includes ZTNA plus secure web gateway (SWG), CASB, FWaaS, SD‑WAN, great when you want networking + security in one cloud platform.

• Costs start low: Cloudflare ZTNA from $7/user/month, Microsoft Entra Private Access $5–$12/user/month depending on suite, Zscaler typical $140–$375/user/year for ZTNA. (Examples and budgets below.)

 

What is ZTNA in SMB terms?

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) enforces “never trust, always verify”: before any user or device touches an internal resource, identity, device health, and context are checked; access is granted per application, not the whole network. Think of every door inside your office having a smart badge reader that validates the person and device for that door, every time.

This approach aligns with NIST SP 800‑207 Zero Trust Architecture, the federal standard—where policy engines continuously evaluate identity, device posture, and telemetry, and enforcement points grant per‑session least‑privilege access.

Key technical traits of ZTNA:

• User‑to‑App micro‑tunnels (TLS) instead of network‑level VPN; apps are hidden (no exposed IPs) and reachable only after explicit authorization.

• Context‑aware policies (identity groups, device posture, geolocation, risk) evaluated on every request.

• Deny‑by‑default; no broad network access, which blocks lateral movement if an account or device is compromised. 

Why SMBs should implement ZTNA now

1. Reduce breach blast radius

Traditional VPNs drop users “inside the castle.” If one account gets phished, attackers roam. ZTNA connects each user only to the specific app segment they’re authorized for, slamming the door on lateral movement.

2. Remote & contractor access that’s simple and safe

Browser‑based or lightweight agents make secure access feel like SaaS, no clunky VPN clients, fewer tickets, and faster onboarding/offboarding. Cloudflare reports ZTNA can reduce remote access support tickets by ~80% vs VPN.

3. Compliance & best‑practice alignment

NIST 800‑207 is the go‑to blueprint; ZTNA implements its least‑privilege, continuous verification tenets without forklift upgrades.

4. Economic upside

Independent TEI studies show strong ROI for ZTNA programs (examples include 200%+ ROI in three years for a composite org). Even if your SMB is smaller, the direction is clear: consolidate remote access and identity controls and retire VPN complexity. 

ZTNA vs. SASE: what’s the difference?

• ZTNA = secure, granular access to private apps based on identity and context. It’s usually your first Zero Trust step (and the cleanest VPN replacement).

• SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) = cloud‑delivered networking + security stack (SD‑WAN, SWG, CASB, FWaaS, ZTNA) with unified policy and a global edge. Use SASE when you also want secure web filtering, SaaS governance, data protection, and branch connectivity in one platform.

In short: ZTNA is a component; SASE is the platform that may include ZTNA plus Internet security and WAN modernization. Many SMBs start with ZTNA, then expand toward SASE as needs grow. 

 

Technical components (at a glance)

ZTNA stack basics

• Identity Provider (IdP): Entra ID/Okta/etc. with MFA and Conditional Access.

• ZTNA Broker/PEP: Cloud service or gateway that authenticates users/devices and creates per‑app tunnels (e.g., Cloudflare Access, Microsoft Entra Private Access).

• Device posture: Endpoint signals (EDR, OS version, certs) in access policy.

• App connectors / tunnels: Outbound‑only connectors to private apps; apps remain dark to the public Internet.

SASE adds

• SWG (secure web gateway): DNS/HTTP filtering, phishing/ransomware defense.

• CASB/DLP: SaaS discovery, data controls, token governance.

• FWaaS & SD‑WAN: Network firewalling and optimized branch/site connectivity via a global edge.

 

Market momentum & stats

• ZTNA market size estimates range widely depending on analyst scope, but all show ~20–26% CAGR growth through 2029–2030 (e.g., $41.3B → $131.9B by 2029; other studies peg lower absolute values with similar growth).

• SASE adoption is accelerating among mid‑market: MSP programs and right‑sized offerings are bringing SASE down‑market to SMBs that want consolidated tools and lower overhead.

(Note: figures vary because some reports include broader Zero Trust categories or adjacent services; use growth trends directionally when budgeting.) 

 

 

What does ZTNA cost (realistic SMB numbers)?

Below are typical public pricing references and planning ranges (final pricing depends on features, support, and term).

Cloudflare Zero Trust (ZTNA/SSE)

    • Free for ≤50 users (POC/very small teams).

    • Pay‑as‑you‑go: $7/user/month (annual) for core ZTNA/SSE.

 

 

Microsoft Entra Private Access (ZTNA)

    • Requires Entra ID P1; Private Access is available standalone ~$5/user/month or included in Entra Suite ~$12/user/month. (Microsoft public pricing pages plus community/licensing guidance.)

 

 

Zscaler (ZPA/ZIA bundles)

    • Typical ranges reported: ZPA (ZTNA) $140–$375 per user/year depending on tier; platform bundles vary. Independent buyer guides cite mid‑market annual spends from $7.5k–$75k+ depending on users/features.

 

 

Example SMB budgets (50 users):Cloudflare ZTNA core: ~$4,200/year.

Microsoft Entra Private Access standalone: ~$3,000/year (+ Entra ID P1 you likely already have via M365 Business Premium).

Zscaler ZPA mid‑tier: ~$7,000–$18,750/year (range).

 

Deployment & service costs (typical for SMBs):

• Initial setup: identity integration, posture rules, app connectors, policy baselines ($2k–$8k depending on complexity).

• Managed service (optional): policy tuning, onboarding/offboarding, log reviews ($300–$1,000/month).

(We tailor fixed‑fee packages for Treasure Coast SMBs; see below.) (Estimates derived from common SMB engagements; vendor licensing is cited separately.)

 

Measurable outcomes you can expect

• Fewer tickets, happier users: moving from full‑tunnel VPN to per‑app ZTNA significantly reduces helpdesk load (Cloudflare cites ~80% reduction vs VPN).

• Lower breach exposure: app cloaking + least privilege prevents discovery and lateral movement.

• Compliance posture: continuous verification aligns with NIST Zero Trust tenets.

• ROI: Independent TEI analyses show strong multi‑year returns for ZTNA programs (specific TEIs vary by vendor and environment). 

 

When to choose ZTNA only vs SASE

Choose ZTNA first if:

• Your pain is VPN: split‑tunnel leaks, credential theft, slow remote access.

• You mainly need private app access and contractor/BYOD onboarding.

Choose (or grow into) SASE if:

• You also need Internet security (SWG), SaaS control (CASB/DLP), branch connectivity (SD‑WAN), and one policy plane across users/sites/clouds.

Many SMBs start with ZTNA (fast win), then add SWG/CASB and SD‑WAN features later—i.e., migrate toward SASE as scale or compliance demands grow. 

 

How Beaman Development helps (implementation road map)

We bring a highly technical background and translate it for SMB owners and teams. Here’s our typical, low‑friction path:

1. Discovery (½ day): inventory private apps (RDP/SSH/HTTP(S), databases), identity, devices, and existing VPN issues; map roles and risk.

→ Deliverable: ZTNA/SASE readiness brief with vendor options and budget. (Vendor details anchored to public pricing above.)

2. Pilot (2–3 apps): enable Cloudflare Access or Microsoft Entra Private Access for one critical app, enforce MFA and device checks; measure helpdesk impact.

3. Policy & posture hardening: align rules to NIST 800‑207—least privilege, per‑session access, continuous evaluation; add logging to SIEM if available.

4. Expand to contractors/BYOD: switch risky external access to clientless/browser or lightweight agents with per‑app entitlement.

5. (Optional) SASE add‑ons: layer SWG/CASB/DLP for Internet/SaaS control and SD‑WAN/FWaaS if you want branch modernization.

 

 

Local SMB packages (indicative):

• ZTNA QuickStart (≤50 users): fixed fee $2,950 — pilot for two apps, identity integration, posture policies, go‑live support (2 weeks).

• ZTNA+ Managed: $650/month — policy tuning, new app onboarding, monthly access reviews, quarterly posture updates.

• SASE Planning Add‑on: $1,200 — SWG/CASB/DLP/SD‑WAN readiness, route designs, vendor plan comparison.

We’ll right‑size to your budget, prioritize high‑risk apps first, and avoid over‑engineering.

If you’re already on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Entra Private Access is often the most cost‑efficient starting point; if you want clientless contractor access fast, Cloudflare Access is friction‑free. 

 

 

References & further reading

• Cloudflare Learning: What is ZTNA?; Cloudflare Access product/pricing; ZTNA Policy Design.

• Microsoft Security: What is ZTNA?; Microsoft Entra Private Access; Entra pricing/licensing.

• NIST SP 800‑207 Zero Trust Architecture (official).

• Zscaler pricing overview (guide).

• SASE vs ZTNA primers (Fortinet).

• Market outlooks (Research & Markets, Mordor Intelligence).

 

 

Ready to modernize access?

If you’re in the Treasure Coast, we’ll come onsite to map your apps and users, then pilot ZTNA in under two weeks, contractors included, without a VPN cutover shock.

Call Beaman Development or book a consult: we’ll turn Zero Trust from jargon into fewer tickets, safer access, and clear monthly costs tailored to your SMB.