Why Securing Mixed Infrastructure Is So Hard Today
Enterprise infrastructure doesn't live in just one place. It spans data centers, Kubernetes clusters, cloud workloads, and SaaS tools. Some of it's old. Some of it's modern. All of it needs to be secure.
But most access tools were designed for a world where everything was behind a firewall. VPNs, jump hosts, and static firewall rules assume that trust is based on location and not Identity or context. That assumption breaks the moment you try to secure apps and services spread across multiple environments.
The result is a tangled mess of exceptions, manual approvals, and inconsistent policies. Security teams can’t enforce Zero Trust. Developers are blocked by brittle workflows while IT is stuck maintaining outdated infrastructure just to keep access running.
What True Zero Trust Access Looks Like Across Environments
Zero Trust means never trust, always verify, but to implement it across legacy and modern infrastructure, you need a different foundation.
Instead of relying on network boundaries, Zero Trust shifts enforcement to the application layer, verifying identity and context for every request. For access, this means:
Trust is based on who the user, service, or agent is, not where they are coming from
Access is granted dynamically, based on time, device, role, and other signals
Policy is consistent whether you’re accessing a VM in a data center, container in Kubernetes, or a web based cloud application
Pomerium enables this approach with an identity-aware access gateway that works across all your environments without requiring agents, VPNs, or code changes.
The Cost Of Getting It Wrong (And The Benefit Of Getting It Right)
Inconsistent access controls don’t just increase risk, they slow your team down.
Every workaround you create to support your hybrid environments introduces another opportunity for over-permissioned access, missed audits, and manual toil. Secure access shouldn’t accrue technical or operational debt. And without a clear access model, it’s hard to answer even the most basic questions, like:
Who accessed what, when, and why?
Pomerium helps security teams reduce lateral movement, helps platform teams simplify access management, and helps developers get access faster without sacrificing control. When access is consistent and policy-driven, everyone moves faster and more safely.
How Teams User Pomerium To Solve This Today
Here’s how organizations use Pomerium to secure mixed environments:
Secure dashboards in any environment: Grant temporary access to Grafana in Kubernetes and Jenkins in your data center with one policy model. No VPN required.
Identity-aware SSH to legacy systems: Issue short-lived SSH certificates that enforce user identity, role, and session context. No static keys or bastion hosts.
Role- and time-based access to sensitive apps: Restrict access to tools like admin portals or EHR systems based on job role, device posture, and working hours.
Secure agent-to-service workflows: Apply the same policies to AI agents or backend services accessing internal APIs, even in hybrid or air-gapped environments.
How Pomerium Fits Into Your Stack Without Rewrites Or Rework
Pomerium is a context-aware gateway that operates at the application layer. It intercepts requests, authenticates identity, and enforces policy before traffic reaches your apps.
For users, it feels seamless. Everything works in the background to create a smooth, secure experience.
Pomerium:
Integrates with your IdP: Bring your own identity provider (OIDC or SAML). Pomerium supports both.
Evaluates policies per request: Define who can access what, when, and under what conditions.
Works across infrastructure: Whether apps live in a private subnet, Kubernetes, or the cloud, Pomerium enforces policy in a consistent way.
Deploys in your environment: Pomerium runs as a self-hosted binary or container. Your traffic and data stay under your control.
Because it works across both legacy and modern systems, Pomerium acts as a bridge between environments—helping organizations streamline access, reduce risk, and modernize workflows without disruption.
Meet Compliance Requirements Without Slowing Down Teams
Pomerium allows you to improve your security posture while staying audit-ready and fast-moving.
Audit-ready visibility: Every request is logged with full identity and context.
Policy as code: Access rules are defined, versioned, and reviewed like any other infrastructure code.
Least-privilege enforcement: Access is granted just-in-time and automatically expires when no longer needed.
Support for regulated environments: Whether you're operating under HIPAA, ISO 27001, PCI, or SOC 2, Pomerium helps enforce consistent and least-privilege access.
Compliance and security no longer need to slow teams down.
Modernize Access, One App at a Time
You don’t have to change everything at once. Pomerium allows you to modernize access in phases.
Start with a high-risk app, replace a brittle VPN connection, or improve one part of your stack. Expand from there as your confidence grows.
→ Explore the docs
→ Book a walkthrough with our team
→ Try Pomerium Zero in your environment
