The world is evolving, and along with it, so are the risks small and medium-sized businesses face from cyber threats. No longer are cyber threats something that only big businesses need to actively guard against. These days, even modestly-sized businesses need to be aware of the possible threat from cyber, which is why having good security architecture is vital. In terms of the best architecture for your security parameters, the Zero Trust Model is the most effective and adaptable.
What Is the Zero Trust Model?
The Zero Trust Model is both a type of security architecture and a school of philosophy about cybersecurity. As a concept, Zero Trust suggests that organizations should not trust any data inside or outside of their own data storage. Instead, organizations should verify all data and all services connected to their systems before access is granted and data is shared.
Essentially, the Zero Trust Model says that to protect an organization’s network, the organization must authorize any user access, both inside and outside the network system, to any business data, services, or devices. By doing this, organizations can enjoy a greater level of security since verification processes will ensure that anything connected to the network is meant to be there – and this would protect against potential hacking.
What Are Fundamental Characteristics of a Zero Trust Model?
One of the more appealing aspects of Zero Trust is that it can be customized to the organization’s size and needs using this security architecture. Because no two organizations share the same cyber needs, using an adaptable and scalable security model is an ideal solution to protect organizations with different levels of cyber threat. That said, all Zero Trust networks share fundamental characteristics.
The first characteristic is that all networks, even if they have been previously trusted, are assumed hostile. The second characteristic is that external and internal threats to the network’s data security exist at all times. Third, every network connection, user, and device hooked up to the network must be authenticated and authorized to access the network. Fourth, the locality of a network is not permission to trust a network. And fifth, cyber policies must protect data from multiple sources.
Over 80% of all attacks involve credentials use or misuse in the network.
What’s the Difference Between Traditional Network Security and Zero Trust?
Historically, basic network security architecture breaks parts of a network or several networks into zones bracketed by different firewalls. Each zone has a standby level of trust that will determine how much trust each zone has and how much data that zone can access. For example, a remote employee could use a VPN gateway to get into a trusted network zone to work within the company from home.
But Zero Trust turns this model upside down. While firewalls still exist, Zero trust has different stopgaps within the network, but the switching and routing differences allow the installation of advanced security techniques that leverage better security policy overall. The central focus of this architecture is the control plane, which is where requests for access to network resources are made and authorized. Different policies within the control plane will help verify and direct traffic throughout the network and create encrypted tunnels for trusted users and devices through specific credentials.
What Are the Three Zero Trust Pillars?
Effective Zero Trust security networks approach cybersecurity from different pillars to form a stable foundation for the organization’s overall security. The three pillars for a Zero Trust security architecture include:
Workforce
The workforce refers to users such as employees, contractors, partners, and vendors who are accessing the network through personal or business devices. This pillar focuses on ensuring that authenticated users and secure devices can access data and applications within the network, even from remote locations.
Workload
Workload refers to the data within the cloud or data centers of the organization, which includes applications and possible on-site data stored within higher security settings. This pillar is all about providing secure access to users within the network through applications connected to the database.
Workplace
The workplace is the physical side of this security model that focuses on providing secure access to devices connected to the network. Devices can include user endpoints, physical and virtual servers, laptops, printers, cameras, smartphones, and other devices that could conceivably require access to the data within the network.
How Can You Implement a Zero Trust Security Model?
Zero Trust is the to effective means to successfully guard against potential cyber-attacks. So, how do you implement such a model? With the help of a cybersecurity service that prioritizes integrity and respect, you can easily set up a security model for your network with boundless computing capacity. Setting up a Zero Trust Model is much easier than it first seems and will include steps such as:
Define Your Protection Goals
Because Zero Trust relies on protecting data that continually evolves, the protection goals for your organization need to go beyond the macro-level protection of traditional cybersecurity. Your first step will be defining your protection goals, which can include data such as credit card information or protected health information, applications like software, assets and devices, and other network services, such as DNA and DHCP.
Map Network Traffic
The way the traffic within your network moves is an essential component to creating security for how your Zero Trust network will function. Documenting the way traffic moves throughout your network to access resources will help your organization provide context to the security controls you set up to protect your data.
Create Zero Trust Policy
After your new network architecture is set in place with next-generation firewalls, you will need to create policies that will define the authentication parameters for users and those who want to access data within the network. Your policies should define who is allowed to access specific resources, what applications can be used to access the network, and when resources can be accessed. These policies will create consistency for network access that will keep your data secure.
Cyber threats are constantly evolving, so it’s best for your organization if your data security is also evolving to keep up with new threats. Small and medium-sized businesses can greatly benefit from the adaptability of Zero Trust. For more information about the best cybersecurity for your organization, contact Edafio Technology Partners.
