Zero trust is a condition introduced by Forrester Research’s John Kindervag in 2010. This Zero Trust model considers any connection, endpoint, or user as a potential vector for an attack, and therefore it is necessary to shield the network from all threats, both internal and external.
It may sound a little paranoid, but this is precisely what companies need in a world where mission-critical IT is highly dispersed, with systems deployed in the cloud and at the edge, millions of IoT devices, and many workers working from home or on their mobile devices. The old notion of the network boundary is disappearing, being replaced by the notion of the no-trust network.
In practice, here’s how the zero-trust security system operates in a networked power grid organization:
Access is controlled to grant users limited access to resources, enabling zero trust. Zero trust is verified to prohibit inappropriate connections and follow organizational security policies. Zero trust authenticates and verifies each device, connection, and network flow according to dynamic policies, using context from various data sources.
These security measures guarantee that if even a single user or device accesses a network resource in an undesirable or unauthorized user, it will be blocked, and security will be instantly alerted. This operation offers impenetrable protection against even the most advanced of threats, even while they are already inside the network.
Why Is Zero Trust Gaining Popularity?
Zero trust is an approach to security that doesn’t rely on predefined perimeters. Instead, zero trust security verifies every user, device, and application before granting access to data and resources. Zero trust is gaining popularity because it’s a more effective way to protect data in the age of cloud computing and BYOD.
With traditional security models, organizations define a perimeter around their network and assume that anything inside the perimeter can be trusted. This doesn’t work in the age of cloud computing and BYOD when users can access data from anywhere at any time. Zero trust security verifies every user, device, and application before granting access to data and resources. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to sensitive data.
Zero Trust Architecture Principles
A wireless network is a highly dynamic and complex environment with no defined boundary. Remote Office and bring your own device (BYOD) paradigms allow workers and partners to connect to the network intermittently to log on to resources. The supply chain includes several partners and suppliers that can integrate with the network to supply services or products.
A user may be a human employee or a network partner API that connects to the network as needed and can see connections from various devices and regions on the network. As a result, there is no defined border, and it can be difficult to discern malicious connections and valid connections.
Endpoint threats
In a world of increasing cyber threats, enterprises must adopt a Zero Trust security model to protect their data and systems. Zero Trust is a security philosophy that holds that no one should be automatically trusted, regardless of their position or location. By adopting the principles of Zero Trust, enterprises can build a more secure environment in which to conduct business.
The first principle of Zero Trust is to verify all users and devices before granting access to corporate data and systems. This verification process can be accomplished through the use of strong authentication methods, such as two-factor authentication. Once verified, users and devices are then granted the appropriate level of access to corporate resources.
The second principle of Zero Trust is to continuously monitor all activity on the network, regardless of whether it is originating from inside or outside the organization. By monitoring all activity, enterprises can quickly detect and respond to any suspicious activity.
Zero trust principles
Zero trust is a security model that requires organizations to verify the identity of users and devices before granting them access to data or applications.
The zero trust model was designed to address the shortcomings of the traditional network security model, which relies on a perimeter-based approach to security.
The zero trust principles are:
- Assume that all users and devices are untrusted.
- Verify the identity of all users and devices before granting them access.
- Use the least privilege to grant access to data and applications.
- Isolate systems and data from untrusted networks.
- Continuously monitor activity and quickly detect anomalies.
Zero Trust Technologies
Zero trust is not simply a concept; it is also a group of technology designed to support companies in putting its tenets into practice. The following technologies are the most crucial ones that can assist a company in implementing zero trust.
Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
The Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a new and innovative zero-trust technology that provides secure access to data and applications regardless of location. SASE can connect users to resources securely and efficiently, without the need for a VPN or other traditional security solutions. By using SASE, organizations can improve their security posture by reducing the attack surface and eliminating the need for complex network security solutions.
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
There is no single silver bullet for cybersecurity, but the Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) approach is a promising way to help secure enterprise networks. ZTNA is a security model that assumes that all users and devices are untrustworthy and must be verified before being granted access to network resources.
The traditional approach to network security, known as the castle-and-moat model, relies on perimeter defenses to keep intruders out. This doesn’t work so well in today’s world of mobile devices and cloud computing, where users can access corporate data from anywhere, at any time.
With ZTNA, instead of trying to keep bad guys out, enterprises focus on verifying the identity of users and devices before granting them access to sensitive data. This verification can be done through a variety of methods, such as multi-factor authentication or biometrics.
Next-generation Firewall (NGFW)
NGFWs are the next generation of firewall technology that provides better security than traditional firewalls. NGFWs use a variety of technologies to improve security, including application control, intrusion detection and prevention, and content filtering. NGFWs can also be used to enforce a Zero Trust security model, which is an emerging security paradigm that assumes that all users and devices are untrustworthy.
Zero Trust is a security model that assumes all users and devices are untrustworthy. Zero Trust requires strong authentication and authorization controls to prevent unauthorized access to data and systems. NGFWs can be used to enforce a Zero Trust security model by providing robust authentication and authorization controls. In addition, NGFWs can also help detect and prevent malicious activity by monitoring traffic for suspicious activity.
Identity and Access Management
When it comes to security, organizations can no longer rely on traditional perimeter-based defenses. Instead, they need to implement a Zero Trust security model that verifies the identity of users and devices before granting them access to data and applications.
Identity and access management (IAM) is a key component of Zero Trust security. IAM solutions like Okta verify the identities of users and devices and control their access to data and applications. By implementing Okta, organizations can be sure that only authorized users have access to sensitive data.
Zero Trust security is the future of enterprise security, and Okta is leading the way with its innovative IAM solutions. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help keep your organization safe from threats.
Microsegmentation
Microsegmentation is a zero-trust technology that has been gaining popularity in recent years. It is a security technique that involves dividing a network into small segments, or microsegments, and then securing each segment with its own set of security controls.
One of the benefits of micro-segmentation is that it can help to contain the spread of malware or other malicious activity within a network. By isolating each segment, it becomes much more difficult for an attacker to move laterally across the network and compromise multiple systems.
Another benefit of micro-segmentation is that it can improve performance and availability by reducing the need for unnecessary traffic between segments. This can be especially beneficial in large networks where traffic between segments can be a bottleneck.
Microsegmentation is not without its challenges, however.
How Zero Trust Will Change Security
The way we think about security is changing. In the past, we operated under the principle of trust: if someone was inside our network, we assumed they were supposed to be there. But that’s no longer good enough. We now live in a world where bad actors are constantly trying to find new ways to gain access to our systems and data. That’s why we need to adopt a new security paradigm: zero trust.
Under a zero-trust model, no one is automatically trusted just because they’re inside our network perimeter. Instead, all users are treated as potential threats and are subjected to strict authentication and authorization checks before they’re allowed to access any resources.
This approach has already been adopted by some of the biggest companies in the world, including Google, Facebook, and Microsoft.
