Beyond the Perimeter: Using Zero Trust to Enhance Cyber Security
Robert Griffin
COO at SeedSpark | 20+ Years in Tech, Healthcare, & Banking | Driving Growth, Profitability, and Governance | Cybersecurity Expert | Championing Client Experience | Passionate about Tech-Driven Business Strategy ??
For digital-based businesses, the traditional castle-and-moat approach to cyber security – where trusted users roam freely within secure perimeters – is crumbling in the face of modern threats.
Data breaches, sophisticated cyber attacks, and the global shift to remote work have exposed vulnerabilities in our IT environments, prompting a re-thinking of how we protect our information.
The traditional security paradigm of assuming everyone inside your network is trustworthy is now insufficient to guarantee protection against ever-evolving threats. Without a modern strategy to improve security posture internally, uncertainty and risk become serious problems.
This is where Zero Trust comes in. It’s a new way of thinking that reshapes how we secure our information and resources by demanding continuous verification for every access attempt to your business network, regardless of who or where they are.
What does Zero Trust mean?
Zero Trust is a strategic approach to cyber security that advocates for rigorous and constant identity verification of every user and device attempting to access resources in a network - irrespective of whether they are located within or outside of the network perimeter.
Unlike conventional security models that trust devices and users within a network perimeter, a Zero Trust framework treats every access attempt as a potential threat. It mandates continuous authentication, strict access controls, and network segmentation to minimize risks significantly.
Forget automatic access based on network location or past credentials. Zero Trust puts everyone – employees, contractors, even remote devices – through a security gauntlet.
This is because the Zero Trust security model is underpinned by the mantra "never trust, always verify.” This concept fundamentally shifts the approach to network security by assuming that threats can exist both outside and inside traditional network boundaries.
In short, Zero Trust is a belief that organizations should not automatically trust anything inside or outside its perimeters without verifying the authenticity of those seeking access.
What is the origin of Zero Trust architecture?
Zero Trust was not always the cyber security darling it is today. Its evolution from a niche concept to a fundamental cyber security strategy is tied to the dissolution of traditional network perimeters and the morphed threat landscape that came with the rise of digital transformation.
The modern framework for Zero Trust was established in 2010 by John Kindervag, a principal analyst at Forrester Research, as a response to the limitations of traditional network security, which relied on a strong perimeter defense. Their basic premise was that everything inside the network was trusted, while threats were predominantly from outside. Back then, the idea of scrutinizing every access attempt, internal or external, seemed radical or excessive.
However, this previous security model became increasingly inadequate with the surge in remote workforces, mobile devices and cloud computing adoption, which has made the perimeter-centric defenses of yesteryear obsolete.? These highly flexible access points effectively blurred the lines of "inside" and "outside”, driving the adoption of Zero Trust.
Today, over 82% of respondents to a Zero Trust study by Beyond Identity are currently working on implementing the new model, with over 90% citing the 2023 Federal Zero Trust Strategy as a primary motivating factor to change their cyber security strategy.
Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Cyber Security in 2024
What are the core components of Zero Trust?
The foundation of a robust zero trust architecture is built on four essential strategic pillars:
1. Identity verification: Strong multi-factor authentication (MFA) and robust identity and access management (IAM) solutions replace blind trust with meticulous user validation. Every access attempt, whether from an employee in the office or a remote worker halfway across the globe, faces this multi-layered scrutiny to ensure only authorized individuals gain access to resources.
2. Device authentication: Gone are the days of trusting any device within the network. Laptops, phones, and tablets no longer stroll in scot-free and are thoroughly scanned for vulnerabilities and malware before granting access to sensitive data. Device posture assessment, security configurations, and patch level evaluations are enforced before granting access. This prevents compromised devices from becoming footholds for attackers.
3. Network segmentation: Just like separating departments within your office, Zero Trust is centered around segmenting your network. Critical data sits in secure zones, accessible only to authorized personnel with minimal privileges. This limits the potential damage if someone bypasses the first two hurdles.
4. Least privilege access: The principle of granting "just enough, not too much" access reigns supreme in Zero Trust. The implementation of granular role-based access control (RBAC) ensures users only possess the minimum permissions required for their specific tasks, reducing the attack surface and mitigating the impact of compromised credentials.
These four components, when implemented together, work together to make it much harder for attackers to infiltrate. External threats must breach each layer of preventative measures, making it a time-consuming and difficult task, while internal threats have their movements restricted and monitored, limiting the damage they can cause.
In addition to these pillars, continuous vigilance across the business is key. A Zero Trust business differs from static security models in that it is always on the lookout for suspicious activity. Using data analytics to scan user behavior, analyze network traffic and detect anomalies automatically is one method to help you continuously monitor your digital environment.
What are best practices for implementing Zero Trust?
Implementing Zero Trust doesn't require a complete security overhaul overnight. Every business will implement a framework based on unique needs and circumstances, but you can also take a phased approach to prioritize your efforts where needed and maximize impact.
Most important resources first: Start by identifying your most critical data assets and network applications, then focus on securing those first with your IAM solution. This minimizes risk while allowing you to learn and refine your implementation before tackling the entire network.
Find the right tools: Continuous monitoring is key. Spend some time assessing the best security analytics tools with a cyber security solutions consulting partner like SparkNav to enable your team to detect anomalies and suspicious activity across your network. These tools and partners become your digital watchtowers, constantly scanning for potential threats and alerting you to take action.
Leverage automation: You can’t manually watch everything all the time. We recommend integrating automated workflows to streamline routine tasks like user provisioning, access management, and device verification. This frees up IT resources for more strategic initiatives while ensuring consistent enforcement of your Zero Trust policies.
Here are some specific best practices for each phase:
Phase 1: Prioritize and Assess
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Phase 2: Secure the Core
Phase 3: Expand and Optimize
If you are a small-to-medium business (SMB) or organization that lacks an in-house IT team to spearhead these best practices, now is the right time to begin evaluating managed IT service providers (MSPs) with expertise in cyber security.
What are the challenges in adopting Zero Trust?
There is an increasing push for Zero Trust to be implemented into organizations across several sectors today. However, there are also several challenges your business must evaluate for before you can successfully adopt this new cyber security model.
It’s true that addressing these challenges takes a lot of preparation, but none are impossible to overcome - if you employ the right approach. Here are some recommendations from our team:
How have businesses currently implemented Zero Trust?
Zero Trust isn't just for tech giants. SMBs across industries are reaping the benefits of this robust security approach. Here are three inspiring examples:
1. Service sector: Cimpress, a global company specializing in customizable print products implemented Zero Trust across its autonomous subsidiaries. They faced challenges managing disparate systems across business units, but succeeded with a tailored architecture that could scale with the organization as they went, and a device-first, cloud-based approach.
2. Healthcare: Dayton Children’s Hospital implemented Zero Trust architecture driven by the need for patient safety. They focused on securing connected devices like ATMs and security systems, but also on unique devices specific to the hospital, such as robotic machines used during patient surgery.
3. Industry advisors: In a case study involving Microsoft Zero Trust solutions, a Forrester Consulting report found that organizations implementing zero trust solutions experienced a 92% return on investment (ROI) over three years. Additionally, the study noted a 50% reduction in the likelihood of data breaches and significant efficiency gains across security processes.
What is the future of zero trust?
Zero Trust is no longer a futuristic buzzword; it's a reshaping of cyber security happening now.
But where is this transformation headed? Here’s a summary of what industry experts think.
These insights paint a picture of a dynamic, user-centric future for Zero Trust. It's a future where security is woven into the fabric of digital businesses, adapting and evolving alongside technology.
As we embrace these trends, Zero Trust will become more than just a security strategy; it will become the foundation of a more secure and resilient digital ecosystem for everyone.
Learn more: The future of cybersecurity for SMBs
Why is Zero Trust so important?
The reality is our data - the lifeblood of any business - is accessible beyond brick-and-mortar walls. Threats can bypass traditional protections and operate from within - including, but not limited to:
Zero Trust addresses these new challenges, shifting business focus from protecting the castle walls to securing the treasury – our data and applications – irrespective of user location or device. Without it, organizations cannot guarantee protection against modern threats.
Implementing Zero Trust isn't without its challenges, but the benefits outweigh the complexities. Enhanced security, improved data protection, and reduced risk make it a crucial investment in the digital age that aligns well with today’s dynamic business environment, where remote work, cloud-based assets, and mobile applications require a more robust and flexible approach to security than traditional perimeter-based defenses can offer.
The "never trust, always verify" philosophy is ultimately a game-changer in today's always-online world. It's not about building walls around your data; it's about securing the data itself, regardless of where it lives or who wants to access it.
Zero Trust: Next Steps
If you are currently on your journey to adopting a Zero Trust model in your business but require IT expertise and partnership, learn how SparkNav's Cyber Security Assessment and Managed Application Control offering can help kickstart your journey to better security posture today.