Boundary vs Forcepoint ZTNA

Boundary provides authenticated, identity-based access to infrastructure without requiring users to connect directly to its underlying network. It supports just-in-time and least-privilege access, role-based authorization, and single sign-on through OIDC or LDAP. Users can reach TCP, SSH, RDP, HTTPS, RDS, Kubernetes, and database targets through familiar clients such as SSH tools, PuTTY, Remote Desktop, database clients, and web browsers. Boundary can broker credentials and integrate with HashiCorp Vault for short-lived dynamic credentials and credential injection. Target discovery can be automated, with dynamic host catalogs for AWS, Azure, and GCP available in HCP Boundary. Deployment options include managed HCP Boundary, optionally with customer-run workers, and self-managed Boundary Enterprise. The Community Edition is listed at free. HCP Boundary Standard and Plus have usage-based billing, with monthly rates per user depending on edition; Standard includes Vault credential injection and audit-log streaming, while Plus adds session recording. Enterprise is self-managed and has full feature parity with HCP Boundary. Boundary supports Terraform, a REST API, CLI, and SDK.

Forcepoint ZTNA provides controlled access to private applications from managed and unmanaged devices, including personal devices and contractor access. Its agentless and agent-based options let users reach internal applications without requiring a VPN service on their device. Administrators can base access policies on user or group, device type or operating system, management status, and location. Agent-based access supports private web applications and non-web protocols, including TCP applications through SmartEdge Agent. The product can proxy private-app traffic and apply inline data loss prevention controls intended to help prevent data leakage and malicious uploads or downloads. Forcepoint cites more than 190 predefined DLP policies and malware scanning for private web apps. Deployment requires a connector in the network hosting internal apps. Agent-based use requires SmartEdge Agent 1.6.1 or newer, and end-user machines must run Windows 10 or newer. Forcepoint says its AWS-based platform provides 99.99% service uptime with no planned downtime. The paid product has pricing on request and no free plan.