LAS VEGAS, NV – Google Cloud and Palo Alto Networks teamed up to provide cloud-delivered, next-generation zero-trust network access (ZTNA), aiming to secure access for a hybrid workforce.

The service brings together Google Cloud’s BeyondCorp Enterprise, which offers zero-trust services, and Prisma Access from Palo Alto Networks, which delivers next-generation ZTNA.

Google Cloud introduced BeyondCorp Remote Access in 2020, based on the zero-trust approach to network security that Google has been using internally. The cloud-based service lets employees access internal web apps from most devices and from any location without a traditional remote-access virtual private network (VPN).

And Palo Alto Networks has been calling the security industry to shift to next-generation ZTNA, which the vendor calls ZTNA 2.0. Palo Alto Networks claims its Prisma Access solution is designed to meet the ZTNA 2.0 requirements that identify applications at layer-7, enables access control at the applications and sub-application levels, and offer continuous trust verification, security inspection of all traffic, and control of data across all applications.

"Legacy VPN and ZTNA 1.0 solutions provide access to users that is too broad and lacks continuous security inspection, putting cloud-first and hybrid organizations at risk," said Kumar Ramachandran, SVP of products at Palo Alto Networks.

The combination of the two services allows users to work securely from any location, regardless of the device they are using. They can use ZTNA 2.0 to secure devices, branch offices, and applications for a hybrid workforce, and BeyondCorp Enterprise Essentials for applications and resources access protection for the unmanaged devices.

The service is also based on Palo Alto Networks and Google’s threat intelligence, data processing, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) capabilities. Google recently completed its Mandiant acquisition, which added Mandiant’s threat intelligence team and detection and response capabilities to Google Cloud.

“This partnership will allow organizations to benefit from the performance, scale, and reliability offered by Google Cloud's global network, coupled with the security expertise of Palo Alto Networks,” Ramchandran said in a statement.