Glossary
A Jump Server, also known as a Jump Box, is a secure, intermediate system used to bridge access between a trusted network (such as an internal IT environment) and an untrusted or segmented network (such as an OT or DMZ zone). Users must first authenticate into the jump server, which then acts as a controlled gateway for accessing downstream systems like servers, routers, or industrial control systems. Jump servers are typically used to enforce segmentation, monitor access, and limit direct connections to sensitive environments. They are a traditional method of securing remote privileged access, often paired with VPNs and manual credential management.
Jump servers have historically played an important role in network segmentation and Privileged Access Management (PAM) strategies. By funneling administrative access through a central point, organizations can log user sessions, isolate traffic, and reduce the risk of direct exposure between users and critical assets. This architecture supports basic compliance requirements for auditability, accountability, and controlled access.
However, in modern threat environments, jump servers present significant limitations:
As zero trust architecture gains adoption and compliance mandates grow more stringent (e.g., NERC CIP, IEC 62443, NIS2, TSA SD02E), many organizations are seeking alternatives to traditional jump servers that provide better isolation, automation, and auditability.
Xona eliminates the need for traditional jump servers by delivering disconnected access through a browser-based platform that proxies protocols like RDP, SSH, VNC, and WEB, without placing user endpoints on the same network as critical systems. Unlike jump boxes, Xona does not require VPNs, client software, or network-level trust. Users authenticate through identity providers (e.g., AD, SAML, LDAP), and Xona enforces role-based, time-based, and MFA-protected access policies.
Xona also delivers credential injection, meaning users never handle or see passwords, eliminating one of the biggest risks in jump server architectures. Every session is recorded, monitored, and logged for compliance and forensics, meeting or exceeding requirements set by IEC 62443, NERC CIP-005, and TSA SD02E.
By replacing static, agent-based jump servers with dynamic, zero-trust access, Xona improves security posture, simplifies operations, and supports secure access for critical infrastructure across both IT and OT environments.
A jump server acts as a controlled intermediary that facilitates access from a trusted network to segmented or sensitive environments, such as OT or DMZ zones.
It centralizes administrative access, allowing organizations to log sessions, enforce access controls, and reduce direct exposure of sensitive systems.
If compromised, a jump server can become a lateral movement platform; it often requires full network connectivity and may expose credentials to users, increasing attack surface and credential theft risk.
Traditional jump servers are not ideal for OT or air-gapped environments due to their reliance on VPNs, network connectivity, and software agents, which can introduce complexity and vulnerabilities.
While allowed under some controls, many compliance standards like NERC CIP and IEC 62443 now emphasize stronger isolation, auditability, and zero trust principles that go beyond traditional jump server capabilities.
Xona replaces jump servers with a disconnected, browser-based access platform that proxies sessions without creating direct network paths, enforces identity-based access policies, and eliminates credential exposure through injection and full session monitoring.
Originally published November 24, 2025
