PacketViper Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) - FAQ

PacketViper Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) - FAQ

1. What makes PacketViper’s approach to ZTNA unique compared to traditional IT-focused solutions?

PacketViper delivers agentless, inline, behavioral Zero Trust enforcement designed for both IT and OT. Unlike conventional ZTNA solutions that rely on identity-based access gateways, PacketViper continuously validates device and network behavior in real time—blocking, deceiving, or redirecting anomalies autonomously.


2. How does PacketViper handle unauthenticated or unmanaged devices that can’t run agents?

Through IAM redirection and behavioral enforcement. Unauthenticated sessions are redirected to IAM or custom authentication portals, where once validated, temporary rules are automatically created via API. If the device later deviates from approved behavior, PacketViper instantly blocks or deceives it.


3. What are the key configuration components for implementing ZTNA in PacketViper?

ZTNA enforcement is built on three foundational components:

  • Context Groups: Define trusted devices and ports.

  • Custom Rules: Determine who can communicate, on what ports, and during which time frames.

  • Sensors: Continuously validate behavior and automatically block deviations or trigger deception.


4. How does PacketViper’s routing and redirection enhance Zero Trust enforcement?

PacketViper can operate as either a transparent inline bridge or a routed enforcement point, redirecting or routing traffic based on source, destination, port, or authentication state. This flexibility enables adaptive enforcement while maintaining a full Zero Trust posture—even in complex or hybrid environments.


5. What role do Active Deception and Automated Moving Target Defense (AMTD) play in PacketViper?

Active Deception exposes believable decoys and deceptive responders to capture credentials and block probing sources. AMTD periodically shifts decoys to disrupt reconnaissance and lateral movement, forming a self-defending, dynamic perimeter that continuously validates and deflects threats.


6. How does PacketViper maintain enforcement if central management (CMU) connectivity is lost?

Remote Security Units (RSUs) continue enforcing policies autonomously, blocking locally detected threats and later propagating updates when connectivity is restored. This ensures uninterrupted Zero Trust enforcement across disconnected or air-gapped environments.


7. What is Applied Intelligence, and how does it differ from traditional threat intelligence?

Applied Intelligence, powered by AlertBox™, converts telemetry and risk scoring into instantly enforceable rules at the edge. Unlike traditional threat intelligence that relies on human review, Applied Intelligence enforces decisions automatically, reducing SIEM/SOC load by 30–70%.


8. How does PacketViper extend the life of existing security stacks?

By filtering and enforcing traffic at the edge, PacketViper significantly reduces the load on firewalls, IDS, IPS, and SIEM systems. This reduces processing strain, lowers operational noise, and avoids costly hardware or license upgrades—a measurable cost-avoidance benefit.


9. What operational results have PacketViper deployments demonstrated?

PacketViper has shown proven results across industries, including utilities, manufacturing, and defense sectors:

  • 75% firewall load reduction within 90 days.

  • 30–70% SIEM/SOC noise reduction.

  • 100% attacker containment during third-party penetration testing.

  • Autonomous operation during CMU/cloud disconnection, maintaining full enforcement at the edge.


10. In one sentence, how does PacketViper redefine ZTNA for OT?

PacketViper complements and extends traditional ZTNA by transforming Zero Trust from access control into inline, autonomous behavioral enforcement—making OT environments Zero Trust Enforced, not just Zero Trust compliant.### 11. How does PacketViper scale to support growing networks and device counts?
PacketViper’s distributed architecture—featuring Central Management Units (CMUs) orchestrating multiple Internal and Remote Security Units (ISUs/RSUs)—allows for scalable enforcement across expanding enterprise and industrial networks. Each node operates autonomously and can be added incrementally, maintaining consistent policy enforcement without performance degradation or centralized dependency.


12. How does PacketViper integrate with existing security tools and platforms?

PacketViper integrates with Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems such as LDAP and RADIUS, and complements existing firewalls, Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS), and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools. Through its applied intelligence layer (AlertBox™), PacketViper reduces log noise, optimizes rule correlation, and strengthens the entire security ecosystem without requiring rip-and-replace migrations.


13. What deployment and pricing options are available?

PacketViper supports flexible deployment models, including on-premises, cloud, and hybrid configurations. Licensing is typically capacity- or node-based, allowing organizations to scale deployments according to network size, geographic distribution, or critical asset zones. Incremental rollout options simplify adoption while ensuring predictable cost management.