Modern Times Security: What’s Zero Trust Model?

Zero Trust is becoming mainstream. However, most people haven’t heard about the notion at all, which is a glaring omission, most notably for enterprises. Meanwhile, it is one of the most reliable technologies for data breaches prevention. It was invented a decade ago, so we decided to it’s high time to familiarize masses with the model.

What’s Zero Trust?

That is a security model designed by the ex Forrester employee John Kindervag. It means the elimination of the notion of trust from the organization’s network. It requires strict identity verification of each and every user or device that is attempting to acquire access to the system. It doesn’t matter, from inside or outside.

Such a model does not presuppose the application of one particular technology. Here we talk about the combination of policies and techniques that are providing the highest security rate. Thus, if earlier we trusted everyone inside the system and didn’t trust the 3rd parties (the castle-and-moat concept), this model as if claims, “We do not trust anyone and won’t grant access until we learn who you are.”

“Zero Trust is not about making a system trusted, but about eliminating trust at all.”

Why it’s effective for enterprises? According to researchers, cybercrimes will cost enterprises around $3 trillion each year by 2021. So, it’s much reasonable to prevent data breaches before things go wrong.

How does it work: Zero Trust policy

Request verified access to all network resources regardless of location

Start with authenticating and verifying all access attempts. Therefore, each time a user/machine is trying to reach some system resources, data storage, or an app, it is required to redo the authentication and authorization of this user/device.

All attempts to enter the system should be perceived as a peril until the opposite is proved. It doesn’t matter what the hosting type is and where the requests come from.

Use access control and POLP

It is the prime and simultaneously must-know basis. Using it, it’s possible to get the least privileges (POLP) and give company owners the ability to handle access licenses themselves. Complete such a certification regularly, that’s obligatory.

The POLP is a security practice that limits access rights for a user to the level he needs to complete his work. Doing this, you can stop bad guys from acquiring access to data through the compromising of one account.

Thus, only superuser’s accounts have unlimited access.

Inspect and log all traffic

Administrate and verify each access request you receive. Our advice is to practice analytics of all collected attempts info to identify all threats. For instance, confidential data exfiltration, brute force attacks or malware without struggles.

What technologies are used to assure Zero Trust?

Enterprises can secure their IT environments thanks to a load of ZT technologies based on the policies mentioned above. For instance:

Micro-segmentation: This is a method that makes it possible for you to assign protection policy data center applications down to the level of workload. In a nutshell, it is a data center security model.

Granular perimeter enforcement: This policy will allow you to configure policies for different groups of users, such as enforcing stricter security control for executives.

Multi-Factor authentication: It’s a method of controlling access to a computer in which a user must provide more than one “evidence of the authentication mechanism” to gain access to information: password, authentification token, biometrics.

IAM: Identity management’s goal is to ensure that any identity get access to the right resources (Okta, Centrify, etc.)

Orchestration: Connects security tools and integrate security systems for an automated provision of safety.

Analytics & Scoring: Analysis and scoring a company’s security posture.

Encryption: the transformation of information into a form in which it is impossible or substantially difficult to extract meaningful data without a key from it. Study the details about the most widely used privacy tools that implement safety encryption methods.

File system permission: That’s a method of assigning access rights or permission to certain users.

You are quite familiar with these technologies if you have had dealings with Amazon or Microsoft, which use microsegmentation technology presenting so-called Security Groups.

Google, for instance, drew its focus toward the complete Zero Trust model after Ed Snowden revealed some secrets to fence unauthorized users to internal data.

How to start with Zero Trust?

We encourage companies to focus on each item from the list below to develop the proper ZT model.

Data: It is what criminals try to take. Hence, it is entirely reasonable that the fundamental basis of ZT is data protection. You need to know how to examine, group, and keep your corporate info safe.

Networks: Hackers have to be able to navigate within the system to withdraw some pieces of info. So your responsibility is to make this process as much complicated as possible. Apply segmentation or isolation, take control over your network.

Users: As we know, people are the most vulnerable point in a protection strategy. Employ the policies mentioned above: limit and track everybody. Zero tolerance here. Employ the most effective access options.

Devices: IoT introduction led to a dramatic increase in the volume of devices connected to your networks. These gadgets are also possible attack targets, so they must survive a test.

Visual representation: Give your security department optical picture and analytics tools for them to have a better understanding of what is happening. Such safeguarding is a key point in successful resisting any potential hazard.

Self-regulation and Management: Self-regulation enables keeping all your ZT-based system working. People alone are simply can’t control the whole volume of actions that are happening there.

You can achieve Zero Trust without destroying your existing architecture. However, it will cost you a bit. There are 5 stages of building ZT architecture.

1. Identify the protection volume. It means you need to find toxic and sensitive data and its resources.

2. Map the transaction streams.

3. Develop a Zero Trust structure. According to your data resources and transition flaws, build a ZT architecture. Update and improve each component of your protection plan for yielding the rules of ZT.

4. Create your own policy. There, you need to lay down rules on your micro-segmentation and other Zero Trust Technologies. Set goals that you are capable of achieving. Make sure that the new means of protection you use also match your chosen strategy.

5. Track and maintain. Inspect and log, refresh the rules and policy if analytics shows some flaws.

Resume: Does Zero Trust Benefit Your Enterprise

That’s a policy that contributes to the enhancement of your safeguard methods against data breaches and contemporary web threats. In reality, it is not so complicated thing to perform.

No anti-malware or keys will stop them. That’s why it is vital to establish internal ‘walls’ and monitor everything that occurs inside and outside your network. Thus, you will predict and prevent undesired actions more effectively. Zero Trust is the best option as it:

Prevents user’s info from being sent to the server outside the network;
Decreases detection time of cyber attacks;
Increases the visibility of network traffic;
Improves user experience eliminating the need to remember passwords;

We hope, this article has you closer to getting the level of security you have always strived to.

Remember: Safety has priority, always.