Netskope Private Access is an integral component of the Netskope Security Cloud platform that provides zero-trust secure access to enterprise applications and data in hybrid IT (public cloud and data center) environments. It offers comprehensive policy management, compliance assessment, and supports any application, protocol, and device to reduce risk and simplify security operations.
The most valuable features of Netskope Private Access include its planned-out architecture, which eliminates inbound connectivity and conducts all checks at the cloud level. This ensures security and compliance. Additionally, users are restricted to accessing only the specific private access granted to them, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
Unlike traditional VPNs, Netskope Private Access requires minimal maintenance and does not incur additional charges. It is also more cost-effective compared to other solutions that place VPN concentrators in the environment. Furthermore, the pricing is aligned with standard standards, unlike VPNs that often increase pricing due to maintenance charges.
Lastly, each user has their own internet visibility and can access private apps without bandwidth limitations, which eliminates latency concerns. Another valuable feature is the ability to see who is accessing the application, regardless of whether it is a managed device or a bring-your-own device published by Netskope.
Users have identified a couple of areas where Netskope Private Access could use some improvement. Firstly, the on-premises check needs to be enhanced. When users are outside the network, it is expected that they will connect to their private app through the network. However, the current limitation is that Netskope Private Access only supports one DNS mapping for an IP address. As a result, when users are on-premises, Netskope should disable its Private Access tunnel because users can access the private apps locally.
Presently, Netskope Private Access permits only one DNS server mapping, and if a user utilizes a secondary DNS on-premises, Netskope fails to disconnect them. This issue requires attention. Additionally, users have mentioned that the cost of Netskope Private Access could be more competitive, as there are cheaper alternatives available.
The ROI from Netskope Private Access is highly satisfactory. Users praise its ability to enhance security measures and provide seamless remote access. It was noted that the software effectively protected sensitive data, leading to increased trust and peace of mind. Additionally, users appreciated the ease of use and the overall positive impact on productivity.
Netskope Private Access is affordable and cost-effective compared to other solutions. It offers a per-user-based per-year license, making it suitable for organizations with a large number of users.
The primary use case of Netskope Private Access is to facilitate the migration of customers from legacy VPN solutions and ensure compliance standards and secure connectivity. It is specifically used for customers who rely on VPNs and need outbound connectivity.
Additionally, the solution supports digital transformation for employees working both on the perimeter and remotely, enabling access to apps within proprietary work servers and ensuring secure field trust access.
The customer service and support of Netskope Private Access had some initial challenges related to technical issues and prerequisites. Previously, the software could be deployed with CentOS, but now it requires Ubuntu, causing difficulties for customers who needed to migrate their existing architecture. However, the support team assists users with these issues and provides the necessary technical support, particularly regarding connectivity loss and resolution. Once the migration was completed, there are no further problems. The technical support is also fast and available in Mexico, with Spanish-speaking engineers.
The initial setup for Netskope Private Access is described as simple, straightforward, and user-friendly. Users only need to register one machine, create policies, and they are ready to use the platform. The provided documentation is easy to follow, allowing anyone to create a private app and manage accessibility.
Netskope Private Access stands out in terms of initial setup compared to other solutions. It offers the advantage of having a unified console where users can create a policy across various solutions, including NPA, DLP, and next-generation options. This simplifies the process of managing policies across the portfolio.
The scalability of the solution of Netskope Private Access is highly rated. It has a high throughput and can handle a large number of concurrent connections without any latency or disruption. It is capable of handling thousands of users and even larger deployments without any issues.
The stability of Netskope Private Access is highly rated. The occasional switch between data centers is the only aspect that does not impress some users. This switch occurs when the traffic is routed through a tunnel to the Netskope cloud, which then directs it to the data center. If a user is connected from a mobile location, they will be directed to the nearest data center. However, in rare cases of data center failure, traffic is rerouted to a secondary process, resulting in a temporary disconnection for NetSuite Private Access users.
Overall, the stability of Netskope Private Access is excellent, instilling confidence in its usage.
