Unlike traditional security, which often grants implicit trust to users solely because they are inside the network, the Zero Trust model grants no implicit trust, and therefore continuously verifies all activity, ensuring that only the right people with the right level of access are authorized to reach the resources within the network. There are many open-source zero-trust software that facilitate this approach by ensuring that no entity, whether inside or outside the network, is trusted by default. Here are eight notable open-source Zero Trust software solutions.
Zero-Trust Software: Meaning
Zero Trust is an identity and access management (IAM) concept that assumes no one, inside or outside a network, should automatically be trusted. Instead, every user, device, and application must verify its identity and grant permissions before accessing any resource. Any IAM software that empowers organizations to achieve zero-trust network access (ZTNA) by offering continuous authentication and authorization is known as zero-trust software. Zero trust software helps prevent unauthorized access, reduce security risks, and protect sensitive data from potential breaches.
8 Top Open Source Zero Trust Software
Most Zero Trust software solutions follow a freemium model, offering a free, open-source basic version with limited features and a restricted number of users or endpoints. The business versions, available for purchase, unlock expanded capabilities, supporting a larger user base, more devices, and additional features. After evaluating over 20 Zero Trust software solutions in their free versions, we’ve shortlisted eight that deliver high value even in their open-source offerings.
1. Pomerium
An identity-aware reverse proxy that provides secure access to internal applications without the need for a corporate VPN. Pomerium integrates with various identity providers and enforces context-aware access policies, ensuring that only authorized users can access specific resources.
It offers continuous verification, which is a core principle of the zero-trust model. Pomerium is self-hosted and requires no client installation, removing the need for third-party data interception. This makes it one of the most authentic Zero Trust software solutions available.
Features:
Identity-Aware Access: It verifies users based on attributes such as identity, location, device security status, and IP address, instead of just relying on credentials. This ensures that even if an unauthorized user obtains login credentials, they still cannot access the organization's resources.
Access Control Policies: It can support policies using both, simple and complex rules, allowing administrators to enforce specific access conditions.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works with web applications, SSH servers, databases, and more, making it versatile for mixed environments.
Clientless Proxying: Provides access without client-side software, simplifying deployment and maintenance.
Integration: Integrates with multiple identity providers (IDPs) like Google, Okta, and Azure AD, enforcing access based on user identity and context.
Pricing:
2. Tailscale
Built on WireGuard, Tailscale creates a secure mesh network between your devices, simplifying the implementation of Zero Trust principles. It manages firewall rules and NAT traversal, allowing devices to communicate securely without exposing them to the public internet. While Tailscale offers proprietary features, its core is open-source, promoting flexibility and community contributions.
Features:
Mesh Networking: Uses WireGuard to create a secure, encrypted peer-to-peer network between devices.
Identity-Based Access: Allows fine-grained access control by linking devices to user identities, enabling Zero Trust policies.
Simple Management: Designed for easy setup, requiring minimal configuration and no firewall changes.
Multi-Platform Support: Works across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, providing a uniform experience.
Private DNS and Magic DNS: Offers secure DNS resolution for devices in the network, helping locate resources without revealing network details.
Pricing
3. Cloudflare Access
Part of Cloudflare's Zero Trust platform, Cloudflare Access replaces traditional VPNs by securing applications with identity-based policies. It integrates with major identity providers and offers features like multi-factor authentication and logging.
Features:
Identity-Driven Security: Integrates with major IDPs and verifies identity before granting access to applications.
Context-Aware Policies: Allows granular access based on user location, device security status, and other context factors.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enforces MFA requirements for extra security on sensitive applications.
Detailed Logs and Monitoring: Provides visibility into access events and activity, aiding in compliance and security audits.
Serverless Architecture: Utilizes Cloudflare’s global edge network for efficient, scalable performance.
Pricing:
4. OpenZiti
OpenZiti provides all the components required to implement a Zero Trust overlay network, including SDKs for various programming languages, tunneling applications, and a scalable overlay mesh network. It is an open-source zero trust software that focuses on embedding zero-trust networking principles directly into applications. This approach allows developers to integrate Zero Trust concepts directly into their applications, enhancing security at the application layer.
Features:
Developer-Friendly SDKs: Supports multiple programming languages, allowing developers to integrate Zero Trust security directly into applications.
End-to-End Encryption: Data is encrypted across the entire network path, enhancing data security.
Scalable Overlay Network: Facilitates connectivity across various network environments, including public and private clouds.
Fine-Grained Access Control: Enables precise control over access by user, device, or application.
Open-Source and Customizable: Offers flexibility for organizations looking to adapt Zero Trust for specific needs.
Pricing: Free
5. Pritunl Zero
An open-source BeyondCorp server that offers Zero Trust security for privileged access to SSH and web applications. Pritunl Zero provides a user-friendly interface and integrates with various identity providers, enabling organizations to implement Zero Trust principles without significant complexity.
Features:
Web and SSH Access Control: Manages secure access to both web applications and SSH sessions.
Integrates with Identity Providers: Works with popular IDPs to authenticate users before granting access.
No Client Software Needed: Users can securely access resources without the need for VPN clients or additional software.
Intuitive Dashboard: Provides a user-friendly interface for managing policies and monitoring access.
Detailed Auditing and Logs: Tracks and logs all access events, ensuring accountability and supporting compliance.
Pricing:
Basic: Free
Zero: $50/month
6. Teleport
Teleport is an open-source zero-trust software that consolidates access controls for SSH, Kubernetes, databases, and other infrastructure resources into a single Zero Trust-based platform. Teleport emphasizes identity-based access management, making it ideal for DevOps and engineering teams that need secure and simplified access to various infrastructure layers.
Features:
VPN replacement: Enables secure access to infrastructure without VPNs or IP-based whitelisting.
RBAC: Supports identity-based access for SSH and Kubernetes clusters, enforcing role-based access controls (RBAC).
Logs: Records sessions and logs actions for auditing and compliance, a critical feature for regulated industries.
Complex infrastructure: It supports organizations with complex infrastructure, such as Kubernetes clusters or multiple cloud accounts, where secure access needs to be managed centrally.
Gated features: Certain key features, like SSO integration or automated workflows, are gated behind enterprise plans, potentially limiting access for smaller organizations.
Pricing:
7. Twingate
Twingate is a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solution designed to replace traditional VPNs with a secure, identity-based access model. It provides streamlined and secure connections to private resources, whether on-premises or in the cloud, with minimal impact on the end-user experience.
Features:
Identity awareness: It is identity-driven, meaning users and devices are authenticated before accessing specific resources.
SDP: Uses software-defined perimeters (SDP), allowing for secure access without exposing network endpoints.
Integration: It provides seamless integration with identity providers, including Okta, Azure AD, and Google Workspace, enabling MFA and Single Sign-On (SSO).
Policy descriptions: Organizations with highly custom environments might need to configure Twingate with additional steps to meet specific needs. It can support only simple rules.
Lack of core zero-trust features: It lacks continuous verification, is not clientless, and does not offer application-layer (Layer 7) security.
Pricing
Starter: Free.
Team: $5/mo/user.
Business $10/mo/user.
8. Google Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP)
Google IAP is a managed solution that controls access to Google Cloud and on-premise applications by verifying identity and context. Instead of relying on traditional perimeter security, Google IAP operates on a zero-trust model, ensuring that users and devices are authenticated before accessing resources, regardless of location.
Features:
Robust access control: It allows fine-grained access control to applications based on identity and user attributes. It integrates with Google Cloud Identity to apply context-aware access policies.
MFA: Supports multi-factor authentication (MFA), providing additional layers of security.
Enterprise use: Easily scalable with Google Cloud infrastructure, making it suitable for enterprises that use Google Cloud extensively.
Limited capabilities: Primarily optimized for Google Cloud environments, which may limit organizations using multi-cloud or hybrid infrastructures.
Pricing:
Wrapping up on Zero Trust Software Providers
All the above solutions offer robust frameworks for organizations seeking to adopt a zero-trust security model using open-source software. Each has unique features and integrations, allowing for flexibility based on specific organizational needs. Pomerium is one of the most authentic open-source zero-trust software that has all the features you require to deploy ZTNA without any third-party interception.
