Secure access service edge (SASE) provider Netskope has updated its Universal Zero Trust Network Access (UZTNA) platform in a bid to get enterprises off what it considers “outdated” products like VPNs and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).

Netskope’s UZTNA solution is designed to act as a unified security architecture that spans the entirety of an enterprise’s IT or OT environment.

To reach areas of the enterprise stack VPNs and other legacy offerings cannot penetrate, Netskope’s updates see UZTNA extend to IoT devices, like machines and robots, incapable of running agentic software. Its 5G Netskope One Gateway provides connectivity to previously out-of-reach devices, while firewall capabilities provide effective security.

Further updates to UZTNA saw Netskope add the ability to inspect private app traffic to provide improved visibility of potential threats. Analysis of the traffic is shared across all of Netskope’s security services, a move the vendor claims helps to address potential threats before they reach the network.

Other additions include extending access to private applications in branch networks, with Netskope’s ZTNA hosted directly on its 5G gateway, and policy optimization abilities for its recently unveiled AI copilot offering.

“Legacy VPNs, network access controls (NACs), and early ZTNA tools weren’t designed for the scale, speed, or diversity of today’s enterprises,” said John Martin, Netskope’s chief product officer, Netskope. “Through smarter, risk-based policies, embedded protection, and seamless performance, we’re helping organizations cut complexity, reduce risk, and turn secure access into an enabler, rather than a barrier.”

Updates to its UZTNA solution come just a few weeks after Netskope cemented its place in Gartner’s rankings of SASE providers. Having joined the leadership echelons in 2024 alongside fellow newbie Cato Networks, Netskope was lauded for its customer experience and AI-enthused offerings.

The vendor was, however, knocked by the analyst firm for its lack of historical SD-WAN experience and complex pricing scheme. That didn’t stop Gartner from ranking Netskope the highest for private application access in the analyst firm’s report covering critical capabilities for the security service edge.