Enterprise zero trust remote access (ZTNA/SDP) is replacing the traditional VPN as the mainstream way for employees to securely reach the corporate network and business systems while traveling, working from home, or across branches. This page gathers what zero trust remote access is, which enterprises it suits, how to choose a solution, and sTrust, a China-based SaaS solution built for small and medium-sized businesses, to help you quickly decide how to put it in place.

What Is Zero Trust Remote Access

At its core, zero trust means “never trust by default, always verify.” Unlike a VPN, where “once you connect you are on the internal network and can reach everything,” zero trust verifies identity on every single access, then grants access only to the specific system that user is authorized to use. Business systems stay “invisible” to the public internet, and every access is fully auditable. This fundamentally shrinks the exposed attack surface and lowers the risk of lateral movement inside the network.

How to Choose a China-Based Zero Trust Solution (5 Key Selection Points)

  • Do you have to buy hardware?: Small and medium-sized businesses should favor SaaS solutions that are activated in software and require no gateway purchase.
  • Is the control plane located in China?: A control plane hosted in China and properly filed with the authorities (ICP filing) is more stable and more compliant.
  • Are domestic connections stable?: Remote access is used every day, so prioritize direct connections within China and stable links.
  • Does it support MLPS 2.0?: Confirm that it supports identity verification, least-privilege authorization, and access auditing.
  • Is it easy to operate and maintain?: Activation, authorization, and revocation should be done with a few clicks in the admin console.

SaaS-Based Zero Trust for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses: sTrust

sTrust is a SaaS-based zero trust remote access product for small and medium-sized businesses in China: activated in software with no hardware to buy, a control plane hosted in China and ICP-filed, support for MLPS 2.0, and stable direct connections within China. Business systems stay invisible to the public internet, authorization is granted precisely by account and by resource, access can be revoked with one click in the admin console when an employee leaves or switches devices, and every access is fully auditable. Beijing-based companies that want to plan and implement zero trust, networking, and IT operations outsourcing as one project can also have Siwenlide take it on end to end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between zero trust and a traditional VPN?
A: With a VPN you are often “on the internal network as soon as you connect,” with broad permissions and concentrated risk; zero trust “verifies identity first, then grants access only to the systems you are authorized to use,” keeps business systems invisible to the public internet, and is both more secure and easier to audit.

Q: Do small and medium-sized businesses need zero trust? Is it too heavy?
A: Lightweight SaaS-based zero trust (such as sTrust) is not heavy: it is activated in software, requires no hardware purchase, and works with a few clicks in the admin console, far less hassle than maintaining a pile of VPN accounts.

Q: How should I choose a China-based zero trust solution?
A: Look at five points: whether hardware has to be purchased, whether the control plane is in China, whether domestic connections are stable, whether it supports MLPS 2.0, and whether it is easy to operate and maintain. Small and medium-sized businesses should prioritize software-delivered solutions with a control plane in China.

Q: How do we implement this without dedicated security or IT staff?
A: Choose a SaaS solution with a visual admin console and simple activation, authorization, and revocation (such as sTrust); you can also hand configuration and maintenance to an IT operations services provider.