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What is zero-trust security?

What is zero-trust security?

Fri, 09 Apr 2021

Zero-trust security is the architecture of network security that limits the users, devices, and individual packets that have access to each segment of a network. It comes from the concept of never trust, always verify security.

Zero trusts are an architectural security approach. Each Network segment is protected by its small perimeter. This allows a security administrator to add a layer of security around the most important data, assets, applications, and services in the company. Users have to pass strict identity and device verification procedures to access any single segment in zero-trust architecture.

Cloud computing, remote workers, and BYOD policies are making it increasingly difficult to defend enterprise firewalls. The zero-trust security model on the modern workplace is much more effective than the old one defending the castle model. Contractors, vendors, customers, and remote workers outside of the castle, or trusted network, may need the same usually reserved access for those inside the network.

Conversely, if they are inside the network, cybercriminals who penetrate the network or users who do not need access to sensitive content or apps should be confined to as little range as possible. A network with zero trusts is a solution to both challenges. Zero-trust security controls only grant access to small network segments at a time to users who confirm that they are authorized to access each network segment through multifactor authentication.

What is the importance of the zero-trust architecture model?

In a traditional model of network security, they have access to all parts of the network once a cybercriminal gets through the perimeter network defenses. The zero-trust model effectively stops criminals even after initial defenses have been broken because a zero-trust network blocks users every time they attempt to access another part of the network. This model results in greater security for web applications since applications and workloads have an additional level of network protection.

A zero-trust network also does not automatically grant access to a user or device simply because that user or device has accessed the network beforehand. Each user and device must demonstrate that they are authorized to access each segment of a zero confidence network whenever they wish to access it. Keeping a close eye on changing access privileges also eliminates vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit.

The zero-trust network should consider the following security controls:

  • Micro-segmentation
  • Comprehensive audit
  • Least-privileged access
  • Eliminated trust validation
  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Up-to-date access lists
  • Network security policies
  • Risk management analytics