The study reveals that a composite organization representative of interviewed customers deploying AppGate ZTNA realized substantial benefits across security, productivity and operational efficiency, achieving a $11.6 million net present value (NPV) and a six-month payback period over three years. Beyond the financial results, AppGate believes the research underscores how their direct-routed, identity-centric approach to Zero Trust Network Access drives superior technical and strategic outcomes compared to legacy VPNs and cloud-routed ZTNA solutions.
The Value of AppGate’s Differentiated ZTNA Architecture
AppGate ZTNA is purpose-built to deliver secure, high-performance access in dynamic hybrid environments. Unlike traditional cloud-routed ZTNA solutions that introduce latency and potential exposure points, AppGate’s direct-routed architecture establishes secure, encrypted connections directly between users and the resources they are authorized to access. This design reduces network complexity, improves performance, and enhances security posture.
Customers interviewed by Forrester emphasized how AppGate’s direct-routed design sets it apart from other ZTNA vendors. One cybersecurity manager in the manufacturing industry explained:
“We did evaluate [cloud-routed solutions] and chose to [conduct a proof-of-value exercise] with AppGate, specifically because they were not cloud-routed. AppGate is a self-routed ZTNA, which makes them very unique in the space. It’s all my infrastructure. Everything is running over my wires, so I’m not dependent on a cloud service for my solution to work.”
This firsthand perspective underscores AppGate’s commitment to direct, customer-controlled connectivity, eliminating reliance on third-party cloud relays and enabling organizations to maintain full control over their infrastructure while achieving stronger security and better performance.
Quantified Results from the Forrester TEI Study
The Total Economic Impact™ framework evaluates both the costs and benefits of adopting new technologies. For the composite organization in the study, AppGate ZTNA delivered measurable improvements across key operational and security metrics:
- $11.6 million net present value (NPV) —This figure represents the projected value of future cash flows discounted to today’s value.
- Payback period of less than six months — This outcome was driven by rapid time-to-value and streamlined management.
- Significant administrative savings — Ongoing operations required less than one-tenth of an FTE, due to simplified policy automation and centralized control.
- Reduced risk exposure — Identity-centric segmentation minimized lateral movement and improved threat containment.
- Enhanced user experience — Direct-routed access improved performance and reliability for distributed and hybrid users.
Best-of-Breed Focus in a Consolidation-Driven Market
While many vendors promote platform consolidation as a cost-saving measure, AppGate believes Forrester’s findings illustrate why ZTNA demands a best-of-breed approach. AppGate’s exclusive focus on secure access allows it to deliver the depth of control, scalability and performance that bundled or generalized solutions often cannot achieve.
By decoupling secure access from cloud backhauling or multi-function SASE architectures, organizations benefit from superior security outcomes, reduced latency and greater deployment flexibility, without sacrificing integration with existing security investments.
Why Organizations Choose AppGate ZTNA
AppGate ZTNA enables enterprises to:
- Securely connect users to resources across hybrid and multi-cloud environments with direct, encrypted pathways.
- Simplify operations through automation and centralized management.
- Strengthen security posture by enforcing context-aware, identity-driven access controls.
- Optimize performance with a direct-routed architecture that eliminates unnecessary network hops.
These differentiators are helping organizations transition from perimeter-based security to a dynamic, adaptive Zero Trust model that protects what matters most—their data, systems, and people.
Read the Full Forrester Study
The Forrester Total Economic Impact™ Study of AppGate ZTNA provides an in-depth look at the financial, operational and strategic value of adopting a purpose-built ZTNA solution. Download the full study to explore how AppGate delivered measurable ROI, stronger security, and a future-ready Zero Trust foundation.