Disability Services of the Southwest Zero Trust Network Access Case Study

This case study details the transition of Disability Services of the Southwest (DSSW) from a legacy VPN to Appgate's Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solution. The organization, which empowers individuals with disabilities, faced challenges with its previous VPN, including inadequate security, poor performance, and unreliable multi-factor authentication (MFA). DSSW required a solution that could enforce MFA consistently and support identity-centric access control as part of its Zero Trust initiative. The selected Appgate ZTNA solution provided direct-routed, identity-based access, enhancing security and performance while eliminating the limitations of traditional VPNs. Key results included achieving 99.99999% uptime, reducing latency, and enabling granular access control. The implementation allowed DSSW to streamline its deployment process and improve user experience, establishing a scalable foundation for its long-term Zero Trust objectives. The case study emphasizes the importance of evolving security strategies to meet modern access requirements.