Name: Beyond VPNs: A Practical Guide to Replacing Legacy Remote Access with ZTNA
Start: 2026-01-29T16:00:00Z
End: 2026-01-29T16:00:30.000Z
Location: BrightTALK

Enterprise IT is driving digital transformation, cloud migration, omni-media experiences, devops enablement, application reliability, and technology innovation including 5G, IoT, WiFi6, SASE, and the software-defined Enterprise.

The Software-Defined Webinar channel is a source for Enterprise IT and business trends, technology ideas, and detailed explanations of design and architecture.  The channels includes education for CIOs, CISOs, S/VPs, Directors, Managers, Architects, Engineers, SecOps and NetOps.

Versa Networks is an expert and leader in Secure SD-WAN which combines full-featured SD-WAN, complete integrated security, advanced scalable routing, genuine multi-tenancy, and sophisticated analytics to meet WAN Edge requirements for small to extremely large Enterprises and Service Providers. Versa Secure SD-WAN is available on-premises, hosted through Service Providers, Cloud-Delivered, and via the simplified Versa Titan cloud service designed for Lean IT.  The company has transacted hundreds of thousands of software licenses globally through its global Service Providers, partners, and Enterprises.

Building on the success of “Choose Your Own SSE Adoption Pathway” (February 2025), this follow-up session—“From Pathway to Mastery”—focuses on the next phase of SSE maturity. While Part 1 introduced the Crawl-Walk-Run framework, this webinar dives into advanced strategies for scaling, optimizing, and operationalizing SSE across the organization.

Join Gartner Veteran Brad LaPorte as he breaks down how to enhance the five core SSE capabilities—SWG, CASB, ZTNA, NGFW, and DLP—through AI-driven insights, unified platforms, and emerging innovations that improve security posture and reduce complexity.

Attendees will learn how to:

Strengthen and scale SSE deployments using advanced Crawl-Walk-Run techniques
Leverage AI for real-time policy optimization and automated detection
Streamline operations with unified SSE architectures
Add next-gen capabilities like IoT access monitoring and behavioral analytics
Build a future-proof SSE roadmap aligned with agility, compliance, and resilience
This 30-minute session provides IT and security leaders with an actionable path to elevate SSE strategy and unlock greater operational efficiency and protection.

From Pathway to Mastery – Elevating Your SSE Adoption Game

Many legacy VPNs are reaching end of life (EOL), leaving small and midsize enterprises exposed to rising security risks, support gaps, and poor user experience. Remote and hybrid teams now rely heavily on cloud apps and SaaS, but traditional VPNs introduce latency, hairpinning, and frequent connection drops that slow productivity and strain IT teams.

In this session for security and network leaders, you’ll learn how to evaluate ZTNA as a modern, secure, and easier-to-manage replacement for aging VPNs. We’ll cover:

How ZTNA eliminates VPN bottlenecks and improves user experience

The five must-have capabilities to look for in an enterprise-grade ZTNA

How unified ZTNA delivers continuous verification, posture checks, and inline threat defense

Practical steps to migrate from VPN to ZTNA without downtime or disruption

Join the Versa team to learn how small and medium enterprises are modernizing secure access with improved network access performance and inline threat protection to futureproof their security strategy before VPN EOL forces a rushed decision.

VPN Replacement Made Simple: How SMEs Can Modernize Secure Access with ZTNA

User experience is a top priority for modern enterprises to drive productivity and agility. In reality, IT leaders are forced to manually identify and resolve glitches and delays that negatively impact application performance, leading to poor collaboration and increased operational expenses.
To achieve a better user experience, they require a robust solution that delivers:
Application assurance based on network and application SLAs for all applications—including SaaS and cloud apps
AI-powered observability to provide deep insights, allowing them to focus on core issues impacting the experience
A self-optimizing network that minimizes the impact on users while IT teams focus on solving core issues and driving future innovation
Predictive analytics, fueled by AI, that enables them to solve issues before they occur
Versa assures user and application experience, reduces Mean Time to Resolution, and optimizes network operations without compromising security.
Join us to explore how one platform converges SD-WAN, security, observability, and digital experience monitoring (DEM) through an AI-fueled engine that enables flawless, real-time applications—seamlessly and at scale.

AI-Powered Observability: The Secret to Exceptional User Experience for All Apps

Join us for an exclusive deep dive into the newly released 2025 CyberRatings Report—where Versa NGFW once again earned the highest marks for security effectiveness, performance, and total cost of ownership.

In this 30-minute live session, our experts will break down how Versa’s next-generation architecture outperformed other leading firewalls across real-world enterprise scenarios, delivering superior threat prevention, encrypted traffic inspection, and unmatched value.

You’ll also learn how Versa NGFW provides a seamless path to SASE, helping organizations modernize security without disruption. Whether you’re planning your next firewall refresh or evaluating Zero Trust-ready architectures, this session will give you clear, data-backed insights into why analysts now view Versa as the benchmark for secure, enterprise-grade NGFW.

Versa NGFW Rated #1 Again: What the 2025 CyberRatings Mean for You

AI-driven workloads are redefining how modern data centers operate. Traditional architectures struggle to meet the performance, scalability, and security demands of today’s AI-trained models. Join Dogu Narin, VP of Products at Versa Networks, to explore how to design a next-generation data center built for the AI era — delivering predictable throughput, elastic scale, and zero-trust segmentation. Learn how Versa’s unified architecture helps you modernize your legacy environment for performance, agility, and security.

The Non-Negotiable Blueprint for Next-gen Datacenters

As enterprises move beyond legacy VPNs, the decision on how to implement Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) becomes critical to both security and user experience. But not all ZTNA architectures are created equal. Connector-based designs often introduce scaling limits, operational overhead, and blind spots in threat inspection — challenges that can undermine even the most strategic Zero Trust initiatives.

In this webinar, Versa Networks experts will break down what to look for when selecting a ZTNA solution that can truly replace your VPN infrastructure. Learn how a unified ZTNA architecture delivers scalable, inline security with hop-by-hop encryption, eliminates connector sprawl, and provides complete visibility across users and applications.

You’ll walk away understanding how to:

Evaluate ZTNA architectures for scalability, inspection, and performance

Eliminate VPN and connector bottlenecks while improving user experience

Insert advanced inline security services (DLP, IPS, CASB) without breaking encryption

Build a foundation for Zero Trust that integrates seamlessly with your broader SASE strategy

Who should attend:
CISOs, security architects, network engineers, and IT leaders modernizing remote access or launching Zero Trust initiatives.

Don’t miss this opportunity to design your next-gen ZTNA strategy — one built for performance, visibility, and true Zero Trust.
Register now to reserve your spot.

Don’t Get Left Behind: How to Choose the Right ZTNA to Replace Your VPN—Before It Becomes Your Weakest Link

VPNs were built for a perimeter that no longer exists. In today’s hybrid, cloud-first environment, they create risk and complexity — from credential theft and exposed gateways to performance bottlenecks and visibility gaps.
First-generation ZTNA tools improve on VPNs but often fall short. Cloud-only delivery can add latency, appliance-based models recreate VPN fragility, and point solutions increase policy silos without delivering true end-to-end protection.
A modern Zero Trust approach unifies ZTNA within a broader SASE fabric. With flexible deployment options across cloud PoPs, private data centers, and branch locations, organizations gain consistent policy enforcement, granular segmentation, inline threat prevention, and a scalable architecture that fits regulatory and performance needs. The result: stronger security, simpler operations, and a better user experience.

Replacing VPNs: Planning and Deploying a Modern Zero Trust Network Access

Are you automating repetitive network and security tasks—but still struggling with inefficiencies, audit gaps, or response delays? Versa’s new MCP servers bring large-language-model intelligence into SASE workflows, transforming automation into actionable intelligence.

This session shows how to:

Leverage ChatGPT or Claude-powered AI assistants to automate configuration validation, policy audits, and troubleshooting workflows
Trigger dynamic policy checks and generate compliance reports instantly
Offload routine admin with safe, context-aware automation
Learn how deploying MCP servers within your SASE architecture can help with audit readiness and overall security posture.

LLM-Enhanced SASE: Real-World Use Cases with Versa MCP Servers

In this session, you’ll explore how modern NGFWs extend protection beyond traditional perimeter defenses, including:

Remote Zero Trust adaptive access with dynamic micro-segmentation and continuous risk scoring

AI-driven threat prevention — sandboxing, IPS, URL/IP reputation, and deep packet inspection optimized for IoT/OT traffic

OT-aware network architectures that secure operational technology environments

Unified policy enforcement via Versa’s SASE architecture, combining NGFW, SD-WAN, DLP, CASB, ZTNA, and centralized visibility

We’ll walk through real-world scenarios like securing remote OT assets, preventing lateral movement, and enforcing compliance with AI/ML-powered device posture assessment.

Securing IoT & OT Networks with Next-Generation Firewalls

Is Your LAN Ready for Today’s Demands?

As hybrid work, IoT, and SaaS adoption accelerate, enterprises are under pressure to deliver consistent performance, visibility, and security across both WAN and LAN environments. While SD-WAN has modernized the WAN edge, the LAN edge is often left behind—creating blind spots, security gaps, and operational complexity.

Traditional VLAN-based architectures and siloed tools can’t keep up with the explosive growth of headless devices and the evolving threat landscape. IT teams face challenges like inconsistent policy enforcement, lack of lateral movement control, and fragmented management.

In this webinar, we’ll explore how Versa’s unified, software-defined approach extends Zero Trust principles into the LAN—integrating switching, routing, and security into one powerful platform. Learn how to eliminate complexity, improve visibility, and modernize your LAN for the hybrid enterprise.

Watch now to learn how Versa delivers performance and protection—at both the WAN and LAN edge.

Think Your Enterprise is Ready for the Today’s Demand? Only If Your LAN Is Too.

With the rapidly evolving secure networking and SASE landscape, businesses often find themselves overwhelmed by analyst reports, Magic Quadrants, Waves, and vendor ratings. It’s critical to not only understand these insights but also apply them effectively to shape your strategy, evaluate vendors, and align with business priorities.

Join Brad LaPorte, a former Gartner Analyst and expert in Analyst Relations, and Kevin Sheu, Versa’s VP of Marketing, as they break down the latest trends from leading analyst firms like Gartner, Forrester, and IDC. This session will go beyond the surface, providing actionable guidance on how to translate analyst insights into strategic decisions for your organization.

This Session Will Cover:

Decoding Analyst Research: Understanding what vendor ratings, Magic Quadrants, and Waves reveal about product maturity, platform capabilities, and vendor positioning.

Navigating Enterprise Priorities: How shifting trends in unified SASE, SD-WAN, and SSE reflect evolving enterprise needs.

Best Practices for Vendor Evaluation: Leverage analyst insights without letting them dictate your roadmap.

Real-World Testing Insights: How to balance analyst opinions with hands-on testing and real-world use cases.

Turning Analyst Insights Into Action: Navigating Market Analyst Research for Strategic Insights

Is your organization overspending on a fragmented security stack? With the average enterprise managing 80+ tools across nearly 30 vendors, complexity and integration gaps are driving costs up—and effectiveness down. 

Join this strategic session designed for CIOs, cybersecurity leaders, and security architects to explore: 

The hidden operational and integration costs of stitched-together point solutions 

How a unified platform with a single policy engine and single-pane-of-glass visibility improves security posture 

Why platform-based SASE reduces time-to-detect by over 70 days on average 

How leading organizations are saving 20–50% on cybersecurity costs without sacrificing protection 

Learn how to align cost control with stronger security—without trade-offs. 

Register here.

Platform Approach to Reduce Cybersecurity Costs Without Compromising Security Posture

Where is SASE headed in 2025? Join us for a live briefing with GigaOm and Versa Networks to explore the latest insights from the newly released GigaOm Radar for SASE. 
 
As organizations converge networking and security into a unified architecture, the need for clarity around secure access service edge (SASE) strategy has never been greater. In this session, GigaOm analyst Chris Ray and Kevin Sheu, VP of Product Marketing at Versa Networks, will unpack the findings of the 2025 GigaOm Radar for SASE—highlighting the market trends, evaluation criteria, and architectural shifts that are defining the next phase of SASE. 
 
You’ll gain an understanding of: 
- Key market dynamics shaping SASE adoption, including platform consolidation, AI/automation, Zero Trust, and data protection 
- The technical and operational criteria used to assess SASE platforms in the GigaOm Radar 
- Architectural approaches gaining traction—and their implications for complexity, performance, and manageability 
- Common challenges organizations face during adoption and how they're being addressed 
 
The session will close with a perspective from Versa Networks on how enterprises are applying these insights to modernize infrastructure, reduce risk, and simplify secure access at scale. 
 
Don’t miss this opportunity to get a clear, research-driven view of where the SASE market is going—and what it means for your strategy.

The State of SASE in 2025: Trends, Evaluation Criteria, and Strategic Insights

s your enterprise prepared for the security, compliance, and data protection risks introduced by generative AI? With over 14,000 tools in use and evolving threats like prompt injection and data exfiltration, unmanaged GenAI usage poses a serious risk to organizations. 

Join us for a deep-dive webinar where we’ll explore how the Versa GenAI Firewall can help you: 

Detect and control Shadow GenAI use across your organization 

Apply AI-specific access policies to mitigate data leakage risks 

Leverage data protection profiles to stop sensitive file exfiltration 

Align with global compliance requirements like the EU AI Act 

Learn how to enable secure, responsible GenAI usage in your enterprise—without disrupting innovation.

Secure GenAI Adoption with a Purpose-Built Firewall for Visibility, Control, and Compliance

The Next Evolution of NGFWs — Defending Against Modern Cyber Threats
Date: June 18
Time: 8:00 AM PT

As hybrid work becomes the norm and IoT devices proliferate across enterprise campuses and branches, cyber threats are becoming more advanced and persistent. Legacy firewalls can no longer keep up.

Join Versa Networks for an in-depth look at how next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) are evolving to meet today’s complex security challenges. This session will cover how modern NGFWs go beyond traditional filtering to detect, prevent, and respond to sophisticated threats—including zero-day attacks—using sandboxing, behavioral analysis, machine learning, and more.

We’ll also explore NGFW capabilities for securing IoT and OT environments through micro-segmentation, delivering enhanced visibility and protection for critical workloads.

Key takeaways:

How NGFWs are adapting to defend against modern cyberattacks

The role of AI/ML in threat detection and prevention

Strategies for securing IoT/OT environments

Implementing micro-segmentation for stronger security posture

Future-proofing your network architecture

Register now to reserve your spot.

The Next Evolution of NGFWs — Defending Against Modern Cyber Threats

Operationalizing UEBA & Versa XDR – Real-World Deployment, Analytics, and Feedback
Date: June 12
Time: 11:00 AM PT

Traditional security tools often miss the early warning signs of advanced threats. Join Versa Networks for a deep dive into how User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) and Extended Detection & Response (XDR) work together in the Versa platform to deliver proactive, AI-driven threat detection and response across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

This session will feature:

UEBA & XDR fundamentals: anomaly detection, peer group analytics, and correlated telemetry

Real-world deployment demos and attack scenario walkthroughs

Feedback loop optimization using Versa Management System (VMS)

Best practices for unified log ingestion and cross-platform analytics

Who should attend: CISOs, security architects, SOC analysts, and IT leaders seeking to consolidate detection workflows and accelerate incident response.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore end-to-end detection, alerting, and response in action.

Operationalizing UEBA & Versa XDR: Real-World Deployment, Analytics, and Feedback

As cyber threats evolve, traditional defenses fall behind. Join Versa Networks on May 29 at 11 AM PT to explore how AI/ML-based techniques revolutionize both malware detection and data loss prevention (DLP). Discover real-world use cases, advanced model deployment strategies, and practical guidance on integrating AI-powered security into your architecture.

This session will cover:

Building robust malware classifiers using supervised/unsupervised ML models

Real-time detection and prevention using cloud-based inference

Intelligent DLP with transformer-based document and content inspection

Integrating AI controls with CI/CD pipelines and performance monitoring

Who Should Attend:
CISOs, CTOs, security architects, and IT professionals seeking to upgrade or consolidate their security stack using scalable, AI-driven threat prevention and data protection.

What You’ll Learn:

How to apply AI/ML to detect zero-day malware

Techniques to enhance DLP using semantic content classification

Best practices for deploying and operationalizing AI-based controls in hybrid environments

AI-Driven Malware Detection (ATP) & Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

As legacy VPN solutions reach end of life (EOL), small and midsize enterprises are increasingly exposed to security gaps, operational overhead, and poor user experience. Hybrid work and SaaS-first adoption have outgrown VPN-based architectures—introducing latency, traffic hairpinning, and unreliable access that strain both users and IT teams.

In this session for security and network leaders, we’ll show how Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) serves as the foundation of a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) strategy—enabling organizations to modernize remote access today while laying the groundwork for broader security consolidation.

You’ll learn:

Why VPNs fall short in cloud-first and hybrid environments
How ZTNA replaces VPNs while acting as the entry point to SASE
The essential ZTNA capabilities to look for when building toward a SASE architecture
How unified ZTNA enables continuous verification, device posture checks, and inline threat protection
A practical, phased approach to migrating from VPN to ZTNA without downtime or disruption

Join the Versa team to learn how SMEs are using ZTNA as the first step toward SASE—improving access performance, simplifying operations, and strengthening security before VPN EOL forces a rushed transition.

Beyond VPNs: A Practical Guide to Replacing Legacy Remote Access with ZTNA

Zero Trust

Secure Access

Secure Cloud

Artificial Intelligence

Cloud Security

Welcome to the virtualization community on BrightTALK! Whether it affects servers, storage, networks, desktops or other parts of the data center, virtualization provides real benefits by reducing the resources needed for your
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practices for avoiding virtual machine sprawl and other common virtualization pitfalls as well as how you can make the most of your virtualization environment.

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Beyond VPNs: A Practical Guide to Replacing Legacy Remote Access with ZTNA

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