Cyber Security & Zero Trust Policy

Being IT professional we all give special weightage to data security and those who are from the same industry understands the requirement of Cyber Security, Information Security Management System, and Data Protection, and probably that is the reason the concept of Zero Trust came into existence.

Data is considered to be the new fuel of the industry! When we look around then we see many loopholes that attract hackers and it becomes a reason for Cyber Attacks or any other cybercrime, but what is the Key reason of all these cyber troubles?

Top companies are working extremely hard to protect their customer’s data by various means:

·??????Antivirus

·??????Firewall

·??????Regular updates

·??????Removing bugs

·??????Activating various security measures

·??????Protecting Cloud and End-points (Hardware – Computer, Mobile etc.)

·??????Many more such solutions are provided by the solution providers

But are we really getting the benefit of all these solutions or say that despite various security measures, hackers can still hack the system and access your personal data, bank accounts, etc...

How?

While it is true that unawareness or lack of awareness about cyber threats can contribute significantly to cyber insecurity, it might not be accurate to label it as the "major" threat. Cybersecurity is a multifaceted domain with various factors contributing to its challenges. Some key threats to cybersecurity include:

·??????Unawareness and Lack of Education:

·??????Sophisticated Cyber Attacks

·??????Insider Threats

·??????Lack of Up-to-Date Software and Patching

·??????Inadequate Security Measures

To address these threats effectively, a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy should include increasing awareness and implementing robust technical measures, fostering a security-conscious culture, conducting regular security assessments, and staying up-to-date with emerging threats and technologies.

Some of the common cyber threats

·??????Malware

·??????Phishing

·??????Ransomware

·??????Denial-of-service (DoS) attack

·??????Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack

·??????SQL injection attack

To protect yourself from these cyber threats, you should follow some basic cyber security best practices -

Zero Trust: The concept of Zero Trust in cybersecurity is a framework that assumes that a complex network’s security is always at risk of external and internal threats.

The main idea behind Zero Trust is to “never trust, always verify” everything that connects to the network, whether it is a user, a device, or an application.

Zero Trust requires continuous authentication, authorization, and validation of all entities' security configuration and posture before granting or keeping access to data and resources.

Zero Trust also aims to minimize the impact of a breach by limiting the access and privileges of each entity.

Zero Trust is based on several principles, such as:

???????????Assume breach: Do not rely on a network perimeter or firewall to protect the network. Assume that attackers are already inside and monitor all activities and transactions.

???????????Verify explicitly: Use multiple factors and methods to verify the identity and context of each entity before granting access. Use encryption and segmentation to protect data in transit and at rest.

???????????Least privilege: Grant only the minimum level of access and permissions needed for each entity to perform its function. Remove or revoke access when no longer needed or when anomalous behaviour is detected.

???????????Micro-segmentation: Divide the network into smaller zones or segments based on data sensitivity, user roles, or device types. Apply granular security policies and controls to each segment to isolate and contain potential threats.

???????????Automation and orchestration: Use advanced technologies and tools to collect and analyze data from multiple sources and automate security processes and responses. Integrate and orchestrate security solutions across the network for better visibility and coordination.

Zero Trust is not a product or a solution, but rather a mindset and a strategy for securing modern digital environments. It can help organizations address the challenges of hybrid, cloud, remote work, ransomware, data breaches, and regulatory compliance. It can also provide benefits such as improved network performance, simplified logging and monitoring, faster breach detection, and consistent policy enforcement.

Why it is important to be vigilant, and aware to protect our data-

I believe a common man cannot even imagine what can a criminal-minded person do with your data. It is no more restricted to banks; the consequences are way beyond our imagination and that is the reason many countries have established separate departments of Cyber Security.

A data breach is a serious security incident that involves unauthorized access, disclosure, or theft of sensitive information from an organization or individual. Data breaches can have various consequences, depending on the type, scale, and impact of the breach. Some of the common (but not limited to) consequences of a data breach are:

·??????Loss of trust and reputation

·??????Legal and regulatory penalties

·??????Psychological and emotional distress

·??????Identity theft

·??????Financial fraud

·??????Cyberbullying

·??????Harassment

·??????Espionage

Data breaches are not only costly but also harmful to individuals and organizations. Therefore, it is important to take preventive measures to protect your data and minimize the risk of a data breach.

Cyber security is a shared responsibility that requires awareness and action from all users. By following these tips, you can help reduce the risk of cyber-attacks and enhance your cyber security.

Note: The above article is based on experience, understanding, and articles from various sources like IBM, purdueglobal.edu, en.wikipedia.org, dataprot.net, upguard.com, securitymagazine.com, easydmarc.com, kybersecure.com, bing chat and many other online sources for the purpose to educate and create awareness.