Since the internet became a widespread social phenomenon, new ways to launch cyberattacks evolve as frequently as the technology itself. Organizations and businesses have tried to stave off these problems, via software, hardware, and staffing. Unfortunately, many anti cyberattack approaches are expensive and resource heavy, frustrating smaller companies who just want to keep their information safe.
Zero trust implementation can help solve your company’s security issues. This is because it’s an inexpensive and effective approach to protecting your systems and information. And the model is picking up speed across many industries.
What is Zero Trust?
With zero trust security, your organization does not trust anyone inside or outside of your network. Every access attempt is a potential threat. This is so even inside the security perimeter, as stolen credentials pose problems all too often. In fact, that is one of the fundamental shifts of a zero trust implementation: it recognizes that problems can happen within the confines of corporate firewalls.
With zero trust implementation, the idea is that everything is untrusted unless proven otherwise. Each request is individual. For example, even though you know who your users are and have given them credentials, multi factor authentication creates a zero trust approach. Someone with privileged access must still prove they are trustworthy, using a multi factor approach.
What Zero Trust Implementation Looks Like
The previous example of multi factor authentication is just one example of zero trust implementation. The foundation of zero trust implementation is that all access should be privileged. All access should require credentials.
A password manager and regularly updated passwords is also a critical aspect of privileged access and zero trust. This ensures that a user’s identity is appropriate before they have access to login credentials for other accounts.
Technology to monitor account access, in real time, is also important. This shows who is using the company network and what they are accessing. It indicates when someone is doing something out of the norm. And it can even track access to areas of regulatory compliance like health records.
Remote access must be secure for zero trust implementation, no matter who gains access or why. Access should be on a “need to know basis,” rather than providing full access to anyone with credentials. From unsecured WiFi to lax permissions, many hazards lurk on a network unless you secure every access point.
To sum up, zero trust implementation requires a system that accounts for users, tracks their information, and tracks devices. It requires an approach to control access for the requests coming from these users and devices, necessitating proof of identity. In addition, all of this must exist within a secure, policy framework.
The Benefits of Zero Trust Implementation
There are several key benefits to implementing a zero trust approach for cybersecurity. The most significant benefit is, of course, a greater level of control over threats. With zero trust implementation, security covers the endpoint too. Businesses can ensure that every device is under their umbrella. This approach also makes it much easier to detect when a breach or threat is underway, given the level of monitoring zero trust requires.
The high level of data protection from zero trust implementation benefits your organization and your customers. This reduces the risk of compliance failures, better protects sensitive customer data, and ensures your organization can be trusted. The level of monitoring and tracking provided through zero trust implementation puts your company in a better position for compliance. Because your business can see who is accessing systems and devices and how they are doing so, evidence of compliance provides itself.
We can help you set up a zero trust implementation for your cybersecurity needs. It’s an effective and efficient way to protect your business. Get in touch with us today to learn more about this approach.