Why Traditional Access Methods Fall Short
Organizations continue to struggle with outdated remote access methods, with many still relying on traditional VPNs. This broadens the attack surface and makes it difficult to transition to a more secure Zero Trust model— and the number of reported CVE’s related to VPN compromise underscore that these approaches no longer meet the security standards modern organizations require.
When deploying ZTNA, many organizations initially attempt to replicate their legacy VPN access models. This approach grants overly permissive access, contradicting the core principles of Zero Trust. ZTNA mandates least-privilege access, restricting users to specific applications rather than entire subnets. The challenge is that organizations often lack the visibility to define granular entitlements effectively—ensuring they scale with the business, minimize security team overhead, and operate seamlessly through automation.
Furthermore, traditional access auditing methods such as manual log reviews are time-consuming, error-prone, and create significant roadblocks to Zero Trust adoption. IT teams often spend weeks or even months analyzing logs and interviewing stakeholders to map application usage and refine access controls. This manual approach not only slows progress but also increases security gaps and compliance risks, highlighting the need for a more efficient and automated solution.
What is Application Discovery and Why is it Necessary?
Application discovery is the process of automatically identifying which users are accessing which applications within a network. Appgate’s Application Discovery Service provides the visibility needed to transition from broad, VPN-like access to a Zero Trust model of granular control.
Here's why it's essential:
- Enables True Zero Trust: Appgate’s Application Discovery Service empowers organizations to move beyond broad entitlements and implement precise, least-privilege access.
- Reduces Risk: By identifying and eliminating overly permissive access, it minimizes the attack surface and the potential for lateral movement.
- Improves Efficiency: It automates a traditionally manual and time-consuming process, freeing up IT and security teams to focus on more strategic initiatives.
- Supports Compliance: Application Discovery helps organizations meet regulatory requirements by providing clear visibility into access and enforcing granular controls.
Discover Application Access Patterns and Enforce Policies that Align with Zero Trust
To address this challenge, Appgate has launched the Application Discovery Service. This cloud-delivered solution automates the analysis of network connection requests, providing organizations with the insights needed to enforce precise, least-privilege access controls. This new service leverages machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze network connection data, identify access patterns, and recommend refined entitlements. By automating this process, organizations can swiftly enforce Zero Trust principles, minimize administrative overhead, and reduce compliance risks.
Watch this video to see how it works:
What We Learned from Early Deployments
Early beta deployments of Appgate’s Application Discovery Service revealed just how impactful automation and visibility can be in accelerating Zero Trust outcomes.
Organizations attempting to build granular entitlements manually faced enormous time and resource demands—one enterprise estimated it would take four full-time employees more than a year to complete the work. With Application Discovery, that burden was reduced by 96%, effectively requiring just one person to fine tune the process as needed.
Another customer shared that creating and testing a single entitlement manually took a full day. With Appgate’s AI-driven recommendations, they generated hundreds in minutes, achieving a 100x efficiency gain.
But it's not just about speed; it’s about uncovering hidden risks. In one environment, Application Discovery surfaced more than 26,000 applications, many of which were unknown to the security team. Even in well-secured networks, the service exposed dozens of overlooked applications, highlighting the dangers of assumed visibility.
Many customers also discovered that overbroad active directory (AD) group permissions were unintentionally granting access to sensitive applications. In some cases, a single AD group created hundreds of unintended access paths, directly violating Zero Trust principles by granting access far beyond what users actually needed. For instance, one customer realized they simply did not know who was accessing what. Application Discovery changed that.
Finally, many Zero Trust projects stalled not because of lack of will—but lack of time. Over 80% of beta environments had delayed entitlement creation due to competing priorities. Application Discovery helped these organizations reclaim that time and jumpstart progress toward least-privilege enforcement.
Key Benefits of Appgate’s Application Discovery Service
- Faster Zero Trust Deployment: Automates entitlement refinement, reducing setup time.
- Enhanced Security: Minimizes lateral movement and unauthorized access by enforcing application-specific controls.
- Operational Efficiency: Eliminates manual discovery processes, freeing IT and security teams to focus on strategic initiatives.
- Regulatory Compliance: Enforces granular least-privilege access control to align with regulatory compliance requirements.
- Seamless User Experience: Ensures uninterrupted access while security teams refine entitlements in the background.
From Broad Access to Granular Control
Appgate’s Application Discovery Service is a critical component of a successful Zero Trust implementation. It solves the challenge of transitioning from broad access to granular control by automating the identification of application access patterns and simplifying the enforcement of least-privilege access. By embracing Application Discovery, organizations can accelerate their Zero Trust journey, enhance their security posture, and improve operational efficiency.
Register for our upcoming webinar to learn more about how your organization can get one step closer to Zero Trust with Application Discovery Service.