In recent years, cybersecurity for businesses has become a big worry because of the increased adoption of digitalization. With the introduction of multi-cloud hosting, the Internet of Things (IoT), and the shift to hybrid working practices, it has become necessary to create a secure work environment, both on-premises and off-premises. As a result, “zero trust” has gained significant traction in cybersecurity as a means to protect networks and increase security across organizations.
In this new threat landscape, trust can no longer be implicitly assumed in an internal corporate network, leading industry players to design and deploy a zero-trust security model. However, what zero trust means in practice still needs to be clarified. This article aims to simplify zero trust for your organization.
What is Zero Trust?
The term “zero trust” is often simplified as “trust no one and nothing” or “trust but verify first.” However, the concept behind zero trust is more complex. It is the idea that assuming trust in anyone or anything, even underlying components, in an interconnected system creates a significant security risk. To mitigate these risks, trust must be established and continuously validated using dynamic, contextual security policies and various technology mechanisms.
| IBM report: Security AI and automation save organizations an average of USD 1.76M compared to those that don’t use them. |
5 Core Principles of Zero Trust
- Assume the network is always hostile: Previously, it was assumed that accessing a known network meant it was secure, but with zero trust, it assumes that no network is secure.
- Constantly monitor: The zero-trust model continuously monitors and analyzes network activity to identify potential threats and anomalies.
- Integrated identity management: All-access subjects should be identified per session. These methods can include security questions, email verification, text messages, biometric ID checks, and more.
- Micro-segmentation: Micro-segmentation enhances security by dividing networks into units and controlling access to data and applications for on-premises and cloud environments.
- Application-level access control: The access is evaluated at the application rather than the network layer.
Benefits of Zero Trust
- Reduces the risks of data breach and attack surface.
- Enables detailed control over cloud and container environments.
- Mitigates the impact of successful attacks and reduces cleanup time and cost.
- Sustains compliance initiatives
Challenges of using the zero-trust model
Adopting a zero-trust model can be time-consuming and challenging, with several difficulties. Some of the biggest challenges of zero trust are:
- Consistency: Zero trust can provide superior security as advertised; however, consistency with strategy is crucial for its effectiveness. Organizations may need to make changes in stages as they move away from traditional security solutions.
- Hampers productivity: Zero trust adds extra security steps to most workflows and can affect productivity if they are implemented incorrectly. The key is finding the right balance in strategy because if processes become too disruptive, individuals may try to avoid them.
- Combating insider threats: Zero trust is not a silver bullet solution to all cybersecurity challenges within organizations. So, to be effective against insider threats, you must be able to detect any pattern anomalies throughout your organization.
- Updating policies: Your business is constantly growing and evolving, which means zero-trust policies and permission structures must be continuously updated.
How can Reaktr help?
In the current era of digitization, safeguarding internet-connected devices and services from malicious cyber attacks by hackers, spammers, and cybercriminals is paramount.
As we move towards an AI-powered future, Reaktr’s SecAi provides proactive cybersecurity services with a comprehensive suite of tools that help fortify your digital presence.
Our approach includes:
- Advanced threat detection
- Real-time regulatory control and compliance visibility
- Lifecycle management proactive defense mechanisms
- Data protection against evolving cyber threats and more.
DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for general information purposes only and is not intended to serve as legal advice. Laws governing the subject matter may change quickly, and Reaktr cannot guarantee that all the information on this site is current or correct. Should you have specific legal questions about any of the information on this site, you should consult with a licensed attorney in your area.
