The concept of zero trust has been gaining much traction in recent years with a growing number of applications, programs, and organizations adopting it as their primary cybersecurity policy, thanks to its no-nonsense approach to security that does not automatically trust any user or device inside the network.
This approach is designed to reduce the attack risk of an organization and make it more difficult for attackers to move laterally within the network, especially if continuous identity verification and monitoring of activity is in place. In addition, organizations meet regulatory compliance requirements, such as those related to data privacy and security. By continuously verifying the identity of users and devices and monitoring their activity, organizations can better protect sensitive data and meet their compliance obligations.
Types of zero trust solutions
Zero trust is itself not a single security solution. In fact, there are different security solutions based on the zero trust model. The most prominent of these zero trust solutions are listed below:
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) - MFA is a security process in which users are required to provide two or more authentication factors to verify their identity before they can access a system or resource. These authentication factors can include something the user knows (such as a password or PIN), something the user has (such as a security token or a mobile phone), or something the user is (such as a fingerprint or facial recognition). With these multiple authentication factors, MFA makes it more difficult for attackers to gain unauthorized access, even if they are able to obtain a user’s password.
Single-sign on (SSO) - SSO allows users to access multiple systems and resources with a single set of credentials, rather than having to remember and enter different login information for each system. SSO can simplify the user experience and reduce the risk of users choosing weak or easily guessable passwords, as well as reduce the risk of users reusing passwords across multiple systems.
Identity and access management (IAM) - IAM systems help organizations manage and control access to their systems and resources, ensuring that only authorized users have access to sensitive resources and that these users and their usage are tracked. Organizations are able to establish and enforce policies for who has access to what resources, and can continuously verify the identity of users and devices to ensure that they are authorized to access specific resources.
Zero trust network access (ZTNA) - Also known as software-defined perimeter (SDP), ZTNA controls access to network resources through the use of software-defined perimeters that are created around specific resources. These perimeters are dynamically established and enforced by a central control plane, and only authorized users or devices are granted access to the resources within the perimeter. It is designed to be a more secure and flexible alternative to traditional network security architectures and can be used to protect resources in both on-premises and cloud environments, and is often used to secure access to critical resources, such as data centers and sensitive applications.
Secure access service edge (SASE) – SASE combines network security, such as firewalls and intrusion prevention systems, with secure access technologies, such as virtual private networks (VPNs) and zero trust network access (ZTNA), to provide secure access to resources for users and devices. It aims to provide secure and seamless access to resources for users and devices, regardless of their location or the type of device they are using. SASE solutions often include cloud-based security services that can be delivered over the internet and can continuously verify the identity of users and devices, as well as monitor their activity to ensure there is no suspicious behavior.
Best practices in zero trust implementation
Regardless of the zero trust solution to be used, it is important to take note of some best practices that will ensure the efficiency of the zero trust approach in security:
Define the organization’s specific security needs and goals
Choose solutions that are easy to deploy and manage and that can be integrated with the existing security infrastructure to reduce the complexity and effort usually required for zero trust implementation.
Take into account not only the costs in deploying zero trust system but also the ongoing maintenance and support costs, as well as potential costs associated with integrating the solutions into the existing security infrastructure.
Use network segmentation and micro-segmentation technologies to easily manage and control access with different segments of the organization’s network.
Implement security analytics and threat detection solutions to help identify and respond to potential security threats in real time.
Regularly review and update zero trust security strategies to ensure that it continues to meet the organization’s changing needs and goals.
As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve and become more dangerous, zero trust has proven to be an effective approach to deter these threats. Implementing the most stringent zero trust solutions can help organizations ward off cybercriminals and build trust among their clients and partners who have entrusted their data to them.
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