As more businesses adopt cloud, multi-cloud or hybrid infrastructures, traditional perimeter security approaches are no longer effective to protect corporate assets and sensible data from malicious actors. That’s mainly because the traditional perimeter security approach assumes that everything inside the perimeter is secure and trusted.
Businesses need enhanced security for their cloud-based resources and applications.
When these complexities and possible cyber threats are taken into account, the Zero Trust Security approach is the best solution for protecting corporate assets and valuable data.
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What Is Zero Trust Security?
Zero Trust Security (ZTNA) is a comprehensive and enhanced approach to modern network security that is based on several principles. This architecture aims to provide the most advanced security, wide visibility & automation, secure identities, devices, and safe access to applications.
If we look at the notion’s brief evolution, “zero trust” was first seen in Stephen Paul Marsh’s doctoral thesis on computer security in 1994. In his thesis, trust was a finite element that can be expressed numerically. Almost two decades later, John Kindervag of Forrester Research used the notion of “zero trust model” to define firmer cybersecurity applications and access management to businesses’ IT resources.
In computing infrastructure, unquestioned trust and grant access were replaced with measurable trust and limited access to authorized users. Trust became a concept that should be measured, all the time. Thus, the Zero Trust Security model is based on the idea “trust none, always verify.” In other words, it is designed to never trust users, devices, or applications. It presumes every device, is a threat and doesn’t permit access without identity authentication.
Each time users try to access the corporate network, Zero Trust Security demands identity authentication and gives authorized users access to necessary resources and data to do their jobs efficiently. Therefore, users and applications have limited access to the corporate network.
Top Benefits of Zero Trust
In a web-oriented business environment, enhanced network security and safe access to applications are important more than ever. Security breaches on sensitive corporate data can harm a business’ credibility, leave long-term consequences, and cost millions of dollars.
By implementing Zero Trust Security architecture, a business can gain comprehensive cybersecurity benefits including improved network security, enhanced protection against breaches & possible threats, wider visibility & automation within the enterprise, and secure access to a remote workforce. After all, these benefits have long-term positive impacts on businesses.
Advanced Network Security
Network security is one of the most important key benefits which the Zero Trust security approach provides to your business. This model is designed to secure and monitor your corporate network all the time. It gives users the minimum amount of access to corporate resources and always questions their identities. Therefore, users require to authenticate their identities multiple times.
With the multi-authentication feature, zero trust makes sure only authorized users are granted access to necessary cloud-based resources and data. It constantly monitors who is demanding access on which device and location, every time, they request to access sensitive corporate data.
Enhanced Protection Against Breaches & Possible Cyberthreats
The Zero Trust security approach enables network segmentation which prevents users from lateral movement across the corporate network. So, it reduces surface areas that users can access. In possible breaches, attackers can’t move to other areas within the corporate network. Therefore, this approach minimizes the impacts of possible breaches on the corporation.
Zero Trust Security analyzes user behaviors, devices, and locations. In cases, where user ID doesn’t match with locations, devices, or behaviors, Zero Trust security doesn’t permit the user to access the network as it perceives this user’s ID is compromised. After all, this approach provides greater control and analytics to detect unusual and suspicious behavior or possible cyberthreats, so that IT admins can respond at once and prevent it.
Wider Visibility & Automation Within The Enterprise
The Zero Trust Security provides wider visibility and automation within the enterprise and corporate network. By implementing this architecture, you’ll be able to see user, devices, locations, and their behaviors. Additionally, IT admins can see which information is seen by whom, when, and from where. They can monitor all activities, and keep the corporate network secure with control panels.
The wider visibility and automation within the enterprise allows IT admins to respond immediately, in the possible event of cyber-attack or suspicious behavior. After all, in today’s complex work environment, visibility and automation are some of the most critical benefits of Zero Trust Security.
Secure Access To A Remote Workforce
As more remote employees are recruited every day, they need secure access to the corporate network and cloud-based resources. Their diversified network connections increase the risk of cyber threats. The Zero Trust approach provides secure access to applications and corporate networks, regardless of their location.
Subsequently, Zero Trust Security aims to reduce the risk of possible breaches and keep the corporate network secure, at all times. It takes enhanced measures such as network segmentation, multi-authentication, constant monitoring, and analyzing.
By implementing Zero Trust Security, the remote workforce will have secure access to the corporate network. Eventually, securing a remote workforce will reduce possible risks and keep corporate assets, and sensible data safe.
Final Words
We work in a web-oriented business environment, advanced cybersecurity is more important than ever. Cloud, multi-cloud, or hybrid infrastructures are attractive targets for malicious actors. Without enhanced cybersecurity measures, a single breach can cost millions of dollars, and damage your business credibility and reputation.
To prevent these risks, and minimize the impacts of possible breaches, Zero Trust Security is exactly what you need. This holistic approach provides the most enhanced network security, wider visibility, automation, and control across the enterprise.