Modern cyberattacks continue to put enterprises at risk. Attackers can exploit many vectors, from phishing and malware to compromised accounts and ransomware.
VPNs and other perimeter security solutions trust users and connections until a breach happens. Zero Trust, however, follows the tenet of “never trust, always verify.” It includes micro-segmentation to limit lateral movement once attackers make it past the perimeter.
The Benefits of Zero Trust Network Access
An efficient network security design known as “zero trust” dramatically reduces the attack surface and increases the difficulty of unauthorized access by hackers. It also provides a more robust defense against external threats and insider attacks.
A Zero Trust solution implements “never trust, always verify” and “less privileged access.” Each user and device is subject to continuous authentication and requires only the minimum permissions for a given task. It ensures that sensitive data remains protected even if a user account or device is compromised. Zero trust solutions can also be configured to limit lateral movement on the network, safeguarding sensitive data and resources.
The zero-trust approach is also more effective against insider threats than traditional ones relying on firewalls, proxies, and other perimeter security tools. It provides visibility into every activity on the network from a centralized dashboard and monitors devices, users, applications, and connection requests to detect anomalies. It also allows for the termination of connections that violate established policies or attempt to access unauthorized data. It reduces a breach’s “blast radius” and prevents the spread of malware or ransomware within the organization.
In addition, Zero Trust solutions can provide a secure remote connectivity experience for both BYOD and corporate-owned devices. The technology offers a more robust and dynamic security model than VPN technology, which often needs to improve performance and is challenging to configure at scale. It provides an optimal security experience for employees and enables organizations to support the anywhere-work model without compromising their cybersecurity.
For example, healthcare organizations face unique challenges with their diverse range of connected medical devices, and many services are delivered outside hospital walls. Zero Trust enables these organizations to deploy cloud-based apps and deliver care remotely while protecting critical systems like point of sale (POS) from the lateral movement of attackers. It covers patient health information and improves the customer experience.
Implementing Zero Trust Network Access
Zero Trust requires a significant shift in the way that networks operate. It challenges conventional notions of Trust based on security parameters and requires that every connection be perpetually validated, even for intranet resources. It also requires that access to internal applications be based on identity and context, not just network location or asset ownership. It is not an easy paradigm to adopt, and it will require a significant transformation of current cybersecurity strategies.
The good news is that ZTNA, or Zero Trust Network Access, offers a more secure business method than conventional approaches. Implicit Trust can be eliminated, identity-based segmentation and continuous verification can occur. It makes it harder for an attacker to move laterally within a network. It helps limit the impact of a breach and protects against sophisticated attacks.
Unlike traditional firewalls, a Zero Trust model terminates every connection and conducts deep data and threat inspection on each packet, including encrypted traffic. It allows granular policies to verify users, their devices, and contexts, such as location, device security posture, application, content, and more. These policies are adaptive and reassessed as the user’s position in the ecosystem changes.
ZTNA also eliminates the attack surface by connecting users directly to applications over encrypted one-to-one tunnels, eliminating the risk of lateral movement that hackers often utilize to gain entry. It can lessen the harm that malware, phishing scams, ransomware, and other threats do.
The first step in the Zero Trust Network Access journey should be implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). It requires users to use a second verification method, such as a token or biometric, to log into sensitive apps, servers, and databases. It also ensures that devices are kept up to date and running the latest operating systems and patch levels, which reduces the amount of time attackers can gain access from a compromised machine.
Developing a Zero Trust Network Access Strategy
As digital transformation continues to disrupt business processes and expose data to unauthorized users, enterprises must evolve their security posture to meet these challenges. A Zero Trust network access strategy provides the visibility and control needed to protect applications, devices, people, and data wherever they reside: in the cloud, on-premise, or in a hybrid environment.
Unlike traditional perimeter-based security solutions, which assume an implicit trust model, Zero Trust operates on the principle that “never trust, always verify.” This approach requires all devices, users, and applications to be authenticated and verified using identity-centric methods such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and user/device context. This verification is performed continuously and enforces the policies of an organization’s IAM infrastructure.
Application-level access control is one security measure in a Zero Trust network architecture that enables IT to grant or refuse access depending on a user’s identity, device status, risk profile, and the particular request context. Zero Trust also uses microsegmentation to segment data and services into secure zones. Each zone maintains strict access control boundaries and allows administrators to monitor, audit and block data flows between servers and applications.
Finally, Zero Trust leverages advanced threat analytics to identify suspicious behavior patterns and dynamically revoke a user’s access rights if they are detected as posing a potential attack. It enables organizations to quickly detect and respond to threats while maintaining an optimal user experience.
To successfully implement a Zero Trust network, it is vital to prioritize the use cases most critical to your business operations and plan a phased approach to deployment. Zero Trust does not eliminate the need for remote access VPNs, and it may take time to transition away from legacy solutions. However, Zero Trust does provide a faster and more secure alternative to traditional perimeter-based approaches.
