Proofpoint alternatives and the governance gap in user-centric ZTNA

TL;DR: User-centric ZTNA can simplify remote access, but it does not solve the deeper identity problem of how databases, servers, Kubernetes, and privileged credentials are governed at scale, according to StrongDM. The real issue is whether access, observability, and offboarding are unified across human and non-human workflows, not whether the VPN disappears.

NHIMG editorial — based on content published by StrongDM: competitors and alternatives to Proofpoint 2026

Questions worth separating out

Q: How should security teams govern privileged access in user-centric ZTNA environments?

A: Treat ZTNA as the entry layer, not the governance layer.

Q: Why do hidden credentials change the NHI risk model?

A: Hidden credentials still exist as identities even when users never see them.

Q: What do security teams get wrong about session recording?

A: They often treat recording as proof of control when it is only proof of activity.

Practitioner guidance

• Separate ingress control from privilege governance Use ZTNA for user entry, but keep privileged database, server, and Kubernetes access under explicit entitlement and review workflows.
• Inventory hidden credentials as NHI assets Track every credential the control plane brokers on behalf of users, including SSH keys, database logins, and service tokens.
• Tie session logs to access expiry Use query, shell, and command recordings as evidence for review, then connect that evidence to entitlement expiry and recertification.

What's in the full article

StrongDM's full blog covers the operational detail this post intentionally leaves for the source:

• The product-by-product comparison of Proofpoint alternatives, including where each option fits in user-centric remote access.
• The specific deployment and pricing trade-offs StrongDM claims around databases, servers, and Kubernetes access.
• The feature-level description of session recording, query logging, and offboarding workflows for privileged users.
• The practical differences between VPN replacement and access brokering across hybrid environments.

👉 Read StrongDM's comparison of Proofpoint alternatives for secure access →

Proofpoint alternatives and the governance gap in user-centric ZTNA?

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