What is Zero Trust security and how do I get started?

Security strategies from the past 20 years are no longer working. Failures continue and the pace of large-scale breaches is only accelerating, calling for enterprises to rethink their security architectures for today’s hybrid work models and distributed workforces. This tipping point has directed attention to Zero Trust strategies, which offer a much more resilient security approach that is gaining traction quickly. But what is Zero Trust, and how does it work? Let’s dive in.

Avatar for Jody GilliamBy Jody Gilliam|Sep 7, 2021|7:30 am CDT

What is a Zero Trust security strategy?

Zero Trust architecture abolishes the idea of a trusted network inside a defined corporate perimeter. It mandates that enterprises create micro-perimeters of control around their sensitive data assets to gain visibility into how they use data across their ecosystem to win, serve, and retain customers.

Just like a zero-tolerance policy makes no exceptions to a rule, a Zero Trust strategy essentially trusts nothing and makes no assumptions on the trustworthiness of identities or peer systems. The approach doesn’t differentiate between internal and external network traffic, because doing so would be making an assumption or exception to the rule. Therefore, it treats all traffic and users the same–regardless of origination. This foundational “ground rule” sets the tone for building a complete Zero Trust architecture which essentially hardens the security of all important infrastructure making access to the data much more restricted, and hence much more resilient to attack.

While some argue that the basic concept of Zero Trust has been around for more than 20 years as the “original best practice” for firewalls and network security, the term itself started to gain traction in 2010 among analysts at Forrester.

Zero Trust is also being associated with the popular SASE security model, or Secure Access Service Edge. That’s because SASE solutions and frameworks include Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solutions. What is ZTNA? Think of it as Zero Trust for network access security. As a network-level realization of the overall Zero Trust model of cybersecurity, these tools apply Zero Trust’s ground rules to network access.

A Zero Trust architecture abolishes the idea of a trusted network inside a defined corporate perimeter. It mandates that enterprises create micro-perimeters of control around their sensitive data assets to gain visibility into how they use data across their ecosystem to win, serve, and retain customers.

Source: Forrester — Five Steps to a Zero Trust Network

How does Zero Trust work?

Zero Trust steps up security because it establishes a discipline around these best practices:

What problems does Zero Trust solve?

With the status-quo no longer sustainable, CISOs are attempting to address the deficiencies of their traditional security practices. Zero Trust tackles two of today’s biggest underlying security issues:

How do I get started with Zero Trust?

To build a Zero Trust architecture, follow these basic steps:

  1. Identify sensitive data, then map its flow through the IT ecosystem. Explore the enterprise directory, performing any cleanup or updates user access rights. Highlight and lock down any globally granted access rights that should no longer be global, as these policies run counter to Zero Trust principles.
  2. Base your security architecture design and network segmentation on the way transactions flow and how information is accessed
  3. Enforce access controls, inspecting traffic and implementing change management processes and controls
  4. Enable automated detection and response on the segmented network and data so that any malicious activity can be promptly identified and mitigated

Conclusion: The hurdles are worth it

In 2021, Zero Trust is demonstrating value as a proven and practical approach for work-from-home security, but the path to get there might be a bumpy one. Enterprises attempting a Zero Trust strategy reported that it requires a philosophical pivot in the way leadership thinks about security. Additionally, CISOs experienced challenges with the resources and tools needed for implementation and deployment. The benefits, however, are outweighing these challenges as Zero Trust prepares the enterprise for success. It’s gaining traction for good reason and there’s no doubt that it’s a strategy that will continue to escalate.

Ready for more? Get the Nemertes Research white paper, “Cutting through the Acronyms: Finding a Path to Zero Trust.”

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