Securing the Digital Perimeter: Identity-First Security

Introduction

The traditional network perimeters no longer sufficiently protect against cyber threats, shifting focus to securing identities. Identity-First Security places the identity of users, devices, and services at the center of cybersecurity strategies, recognizing that every access request is tied to an identity, making it the new security perimeter. The new digital security perimeter is bounded by borderless digital and virtual environments.[1] The identity-first security mechanism is an agile security model focused on user identity and access control to secure organizations from cyber threats.

Digital Trust Risks: Case Study

One of the weakest links in security is social engineering, as even the most tech-savvy individuals can be deceived. Attackers exploit this vulnerability by tricking people into revealing sensitive information or by manipulating them to gain unauthorized access.

Moreover, the risks to digital identities extend beyond social engineering. From password theft and ransomware to bypassing multifactor authentication, bad actors are constantly evolving their tactics to compromise digital identities and gain unauthorized access to valuable resources.

The SolarWinds attack is a prime example of how compromising identities can lead to significant breaches. The attack caused over 18,000 SolarWinds clients installing updates containing a malicious code, which was used to steal data and spy on other organizations. Manipulating privileged access and compromising identities within the digital supply chain can allow attackers to infiltrate multiple organizations or segments of an organization. The SolarWinds incident served as a wake-up call for business leaders to prioritize the protection and maintenance of identity infrastructures[2].

Why Identity-First Security?

1.????? Identity-first security model can help mitigate insider threats – which are difficult to detect and control.

Data shows that there has been an increase in insider threats by over 34% since 2020[3]. Experts estimate that two out of every three data breaches are caused by insider threats.[4] The average time spent containing insider threats increased from 77 days in 2020 to 85 days in 2022, with cyber breach incidents taking more than 90 days to contain at an average cost of $17.19 million.[5]

2.????? The emergence of remote work, rapid digitization of the work environment, and cloud services demand enhanced identity management security techniques. Identity-first security is fundamental in the modern work environment to ensure that only authorized users can access specific organizational resources and systems. Identity-first security ensures that despite the location of an individual or the device they use, specific entitlements and authorizations are assigned according to specific duties and organizational policies, which are audited regularly to prevent unauthorized access to systems and resources.[5]

3.????? Identity-first security prevents lateral movement if identity is compromised.

4.????? Storing data across multiple locations and jurisdictions in a distributed environment require identity-first security mechanism to protect the data by logging and authenticating every user who accesses the data as a regulatory compliance requirement.[6]

5.????? Identity-first security helps reduce and consolidate fragmented identity data to minimize security gaps, errors, and costs with the management of access controls.

6.????? ?Identity-first security helps strike the right balance between security and user experience to reduce conflict from users that could impact productivity and satisfaction.

7.????? Automating identity-first in the digital landscape helps to accurately solve the tedious but critical process of verification in an organization.[6]

8.????? Identity-first security gives the right amount of access for the right amount of time.

9.????? Identity-first security helps build digital trust. It instils confidence in users, customers, and business partners by demonstrating a strong commitment to protecting identities and sensitive data.

10.????? Simplified User Experience. Implementing identity-first security can streamline the user experience without compromising security.

Establishing Digital Trust with Identity-First Security

To combat the risks associated with digital trust, enterprises must adopt an identity-first security strategy. This approach involves placing identity at the center of security measures to ensure trust and protect valuable resources. Here are some key considerations for implementing identity-first security:

Centralized Control: An effective identity-first security strategy must include centralized control to manage the growing number of identities that require digital trust for accessing networks and resources. Centralized control allows for better visibility, enforcement of security policies, and streamlined management of identities.

Flexible and Cloud-First Digital Identities: Identity-first security should embrace flexible and cloud-first digital identities. With the rise of remote work and hybrid environments, digital identities need to be adaptable and easily accessible from anywhere. Cloud-based identity solutions offer scalability, convenience, and enhanced security.

Digital Certificates: Many security and risk leaders are recognizing the critical role of digital certificates in enabling identity-first use cases. Digital certificates, issued by Certificate Authorities (CAs), secure and authenticate both human and machine identities. They play a crucial role in passwordless authentication, machine identity management, and other identity-first security measures.

Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM): To ensure the effectiveness of digital certificates, enterprises should adopt a comprehensive Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM) approach. CLM allows for automated management, renewal, and revocation of certificates, reducing the risk of unauthorized access due to expired or compromised certificates.

Technologies Driving Identity-First Security

Federated Identity Management

Federated Identity Management (FIM) allows users to access multiple systems and applications with a single set of credentials. It leverages standardized protocols such as Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) and OpenID Connect to establish trust between identity providers and service providers. FIM simplifies the user experience, enhances security, and enables seamless access across different platforms, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and identity-related attacks[7].

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-Factor Authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide multiple forms of verification to access systems or applications. This typically includes a combination of something the user knows (e.g., password), something they have (e.g., mobile device), or something they are (e.g., biometrics). MFA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, as compromising multiple factors simultaneously becomes exceedingly difficult for attackers[8].

Zero Trust Architecture

Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is a security framework that assumes no implicit trust for any user or device, regardless of their location or network. It focuses on verifying identity and validating devices and continuously monitoring their activities. ZTA incorporates technologies such as micro-segmentation, network security controls, and continuous authentication to ensure that access privileges are granted based on real-time trust indicators. This approach minimizes the potential attack surface and improves overall security posture.

Blockchain for Identity Management

Blockchain technology offers a decentralized and tamper-resistant platform for identity management. By leveraging blockchain, enterprises can establish a self-sovereign identity system where users have full control over their identity information. Blockchain-based identity management enhances security, privacy, and data integrity, reducing the risk of identity theft and unauthorized access. It also enables seamless and trusted identity verification across different organizations or domains[9].

Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)

Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) is a granular access control model that grants or denies access based on specific attributes of the user, resource, and context. ABAC evaluates attributes such as user roles, permissions, location, time, and environmental factors to make access control decisions. This dynamic and policy-driven approach provides fine-grained control over access privileges, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and streamlining identity management[10].

Need to Set Up Identity-First Security in Your Organization?

Setting up solid identity-first security in your organization is a fundamental step for mitigating cyber risks. As seen, there are numerous benefits of identity-first security model that any organization should leverage. Contact Enovise Group for setting up robust identity-first security in your organization bolster your cyber security posture.

Sources

[1] Jon, R. G. et al. “Identity as a new security parameter.” ISACA. (2023). https://www.isaca.org/resources/news-and-trends/newsletters/atisaca/2023/volume-21/identity-as-a-new-security-perimeter

[2] Fortinet. “SolarWinds cyber attack.” (2019). https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/solarwinds-cyber-attack

[3] Mathcraft Technologies. “How insider threats are evolving in 2022”. (2022). https://mathcraft.com/how-insider-threats-are-evolving-in-2022/

[4] Liu, N. “Great resignation shines a spotlight on insider threats.” (2022). https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/analysis/great-resignation-shines-a-spotlight-on-insider-threats/2022/02/

[5] Jon, R. G. et al. “Identity as a new security parameter.”

[6] Turner, D. M. “Identity-first security and the importance of digital identities.” Utimaco. (2021). https://utimaco.com/news/blog-posts/identity-first-security-and-importance-digital-identities

[7] Awati, R. “Federated identity management.” TechTarget. (2024). https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/federated-identity-management

[8] IBM. “What is multi-factor authentication (MFA)? (2024). https://www.ibm.com/topics/multi-factor-authentication

[9] Okta. “Practical thoughts on blockchain and identity.” https://www.okta.com/resources/whitepaper/practical-thoughts-on-blockchain-and-identity/

[10] NIST. “Attribute based access control (ABAC). https://csrc.nist.gov/Projects/attribute-based-access-control

About the Author

Sadique Kwatsima is an ardent cybersecurity enthusiast and researcher at Enovise Group. He is passionate about Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) in cybersecurity.

The opinions expressed in this article are based on research and professional experience.