Zero Trust
Zero trust is a cybersecurity model that assumes that all users and devices within a network are potential threats, regardless of their location or whether they have been granted access to the network in the past. The goal of zero trust is to prevent data breaches, cyber attacks, and other security incidents by implementing strict access controls that are based on continuous monitoring and authentication of all devices and users within the network.
In a zero trust architecture, access to resources is granted only after strict authentication and authorization checks have been performed. This may include multi-factor authentication, device posture assessment, and continuous monitoring of network activity.
Key components of a zero trust architecture
- User and device authentication: Verifying the identity of users and devices before granting them access to resources.
- Segmentation: Dividing the network into smaller, isolated segments to reduce the attack surface and limit the impact of a breach.
- Micro-segmentation: Implementing fine-grained access controls within each segment to further restrict access.
- Continuous monitoring: Continuously monitoring network activity and device behavior to detect and respond to security threats in real-time.
- Least privilege: Granting users and devices the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job functions.
A variety of technologies claim to be zero trust, including software-defined perimeter (SDP), cloud access security brokers (CASBs), security information and event management (SIEM) systems, and more. It is important for zero trust adopters to critically examine these offerings with the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) definition of zero trust in mind. No tool or service is zero trust simply because the vendor claims it is.
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