Zero Trust
What is zero trust?
Zero trust is a security strategy built on the principle of "never trust, always verify". No user, device, or application is automatically trusted, and every access request requires continuous verification and least necessary privilege access is only provided.
What is zero trust security model?
The zero trust security model is the cybersecurity framework built on this strategy, incorporating technologies like multi-factor authentication (MFA), microsegmentation, and identity and access management (IAM).
How zero trust differs from traditional security models?
Traditional security models trust everything inside the network after a one-time authentication, offering broad access with minimal monitoring. In contrast, zero trust eliminates implicit trust and requires continuous verification for every access request. It enforces least-privilege access, granting only the minimum permissions necessary to access a resource. By dividing the network into smaller, segmented zones, zero trust restricts lateral movement even if an attacker gains initial access.
Why is the zero trust security model essential today?
With the rise of sophisticated cyberattacks such as phishing, ransomware, and insider threats, along with the widespread adoption of hybrid work environments and the use of cloud applications, mobile devices, and IoT in corporate networks, traditional perimeter-based security models have become insufficient.
The zero trust security model effectively addresses these challenges by eliminating implicit trust and enforcing continuous verification of every user, device, and application, regardless of their location within or outside the organization’s network perimeter.
What are the core principles of zero trust?
Zero trust works on the following three core principles:
1. Continuous monitoring and validation
Every time a user, device, or application requests access to a network resource, it goes through a strict authentication and authorization process. This verification happens continuously and depends on factors like identity, device health, and location, regardless of where the request comes from. In zero trust, nothing is trusted by default.
2. Least privilege access
Each user, device, or application is given only the minimum level of access needed to do their job. Once the session is over, the access is taken away. This limits the damage if something goes wrong or an account gets compromised.
3. Assume breach
Zero trust assumes that a cyberattack or data breach can happen or might have already happened. This means that networks are designed with the assumption that attackers may already be inside. So, it is designed with strong monitoring, quick detection, and clear incident response plans. This approach helps contain any potential damage and keeps systems resilient.
Together, these principles ensure that access to data and systems is always verified, limited, and monitored, reducing the impact of any potential breach.
What are the benefits of adopting Zero Trust security model?
The primary benefits of adopting a zero trust security model in an organization are:
- Stronger overall security posture that promotes business.
- Reduced data breaches through continuous verification and least-privilege access.
- Strengthened compliance with global data protection laws like GDPR and HIPAA.
- Enhanced operational resilience against cyber threats and system failures.
- Minimized operational disruptions caused by security incidents.