Zero Trust is a security policy that helps online businesses minimize their attack surface by allowing only authorized and authenticated access to their databases and networks. This methodology helps combat escalating threats like ransomware attacks, injection exploits, and supply chain attacks by taking nothing for granted. Let’s learn more about Zero Trust and understand its limitations.
What is Zero Trust?
Zero Trust is leading a massive shift in the way organizations approach security. While transitional strategies were more about verifying users before providing access, Zero Trust is promoting the denial of access altogether. This means that all stakeholders only have a limited set of permissions, something that also prevents hackers from doing additional damage even after specific accounts are breached.
By implementing this security policy, all users are assigned specific roles with only a predefined set of permissions. They can only access certain endpoints, something that’s becoming more and more important as remote work gains popularity globally.
The main pillars of Zero Trust include:
- Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) – While it doesn’t hinder productivity, PoLP limits possible network and data access to the bare minimum required to get the job done. This best practice is a big Zero Trust component as it essentially minimizes the attack surface, while significantly reducing malware propagation. This is also a big compliance booster.
- Ongoing Access Monitoring – Having the right controls in place is great, but Zero Trust also requires 24/7 monitoring of data that is being accessed. The time of access and the stakeholders performing the actions need to be tracked and documented as well. The organization should also be aware of the devices and networks being used to access and modify data.
- Microsegmented Ecosystem – Modern ecosystems are becoming increasingly complex. Third-party solutions are helping boost functionality and productivity, but are also creating multiple blind spots and dependencies that are hard to track. This means that environments should now be microsegmented and access should be granted accordingly.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – This security methodology involves the using of two (Two-Factor Authentication/2FA) or more factors to authenticate users. Companies can now opt for passwordless methods (biometric techniques, magic links, etc.) or One-Time Codes (OTCs) or Passwords (OTPs) that can be sent to mobile phones or email inboxes.
- Granular Role and Permission Management – Security teams now need to implement granular role and permissions management methodologies to enforce the aforementioned principles of Zero Trust security. Popular options include RBAC (Role Based Access Control), ABAC (Attribute Based Access Control), and NGAC (Next Generation Access Control).
Related: Risk Management: A Digital Security Essential
Top 5 Benefits of Zero Trust Security
Now that we have covered the basics of Zero Trust security and learned about how this policy can be orchestrated in today’s dynamic online space, let’s touch on the benefits of implementing this modern approach.
1. Business and Organizational Risk Reduction
With powerful authentication flows in place, online businesses handling sensitive data and private information can make sure that no communications are taking place without proper verification. There’s added clarity about what’s being transferred over the various networks at any given time. Overprovisioned software can also be eliminated to reduce risk to a minimum and secure all communications.
2. Gain Control of Environments
Context-based access policies used in Zero Trust ecosystems help security teams enforce sustainable security levels regardless of the environment – cloud-based, on-premise, or even hybrid setups. Cloud service provider (CSP) security levels have improved a lot in recent years, but Zero Trust takes things to a whole new level with predefined policies based directly on the workload identities themselves.
3. Reduce Attack Surface and Block Attacks
As explained earlier, Zero Trust is all about assuming the worst when it comes to accessing data or using networks. Not only is the ecosystem segmented to prevent malicious escalations, but access is given only after proper authentication.
4. Compatibility with Compliance and Regulations
Regulations like PCI DSS, NIST 800-207, and other related laws are becoming stricter as privacy takes centerstage. Online businesses need to achieve compliance and be able to demonstrate it in the relevant audits. This can be made possible by implementing Zero Trust and documenting all activity. This visibility is also helpful when breaches occur and the damage needs to be reported as soon as possible.
5. Less Stress on IT / Empower Remote Workers
With over 60% of organizations reporting a lack of cybersecurity awareness and skills in 2021, you need Zero Trust security. Segmented access protocols and strong authentication processes mean that your IT and support teams have less issues to deal with on an ongoing basis. Furthermore, remote workers and teams also experience less friction, something that improves their productivity significantly.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Ransomware
Zero Trust Security is Not a Silver Bullet
Zero Trust is an important part of the modern security strategy, but there are other components that need to be added to the playbook. There are some important technicalities that need to be taken into account before getting started.
First, there is the mindset shift that can be extremely challenging to implement overnight. Besides the onboarding and training that’s required, reorganizing and tweaking policies can also be tricky due to the huge numbers of third-parties and remote workers that need to be managed on an ongoing basis. You also have a wide range of smart devices, all with different OSs and software protocols.
But even after these roadblocks are overcome, cybercrime is still rising and making a dent in multiple sectors and industries. Here are just a few of the worrying trends from last year (2021) alone. Is Zero Trust helping? Probably not enough.
- Smishing (SMS Phishing) attacks rose by 300% in N.America.
- Over 70% of all SMBs in the United States have been breached.
- A new malicious attack is launched every 39 seconds.
- 66% of supply chain attacks go undetected when they occur.
- There was a 600% rise in cybercrime due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While Zero Trust is helping combat data leaks and theft, only a comprehensive cyber insurance policy can help you steer clear of trouble if and when you become a statistic. Not only does it give you peace of mind and freedom to implement Zero Trust properly, but it also helps you recover faster from the damages and remediate all issues that led to the malicious incident. You can never be too careful.