What Is Zero Trust Model and What Are Its Key Components?

Zero Trust is an IT security model that requires all users and potentially connected devices to undergo strict identity checks. Zero trust applies to any attempt to access the resources of a private network. The principle thus departs from traditional trusted network approaches, in which all elements within a network enjoy full trust like a fortress with a moat. With Zero Trust, authentication takes place regardless of whether users or devices are located in a defined company perimeter or not – it is fundamentally necessary, always and for everything and everyone.?

As a framework, Zero Trust assumes that there are always external and internal security threats to complex networks. To combat these, a Zero Trust Architecture starts directly with data security and utilises various processes, protocols, digital solutions and applications. This allows the identities of users and devices to be checked, data, workloads and automation processes to be organised and networks and endpoints to be secured.?

More and more organisations are now switching to Zero Trust so that they can better manage current economic and security challenges. Compared to traditional network and security architectures, the future-proof approach offers decisive advantages and better equips organisations against attacks.?

How does Zero Trust work?

Zero Trust is a comprehensive framework that protects corporate assets via secure identities, devices and network access. To ensure protection is effective, Zero Trust architecture evaluates every internal and external connection and all endpoints as a potential threat.?

A Zero Trust network counters potential threats by taking the following steps:

• Log and analyse network traffic
• Restrict and control access to the network
• Check and secure network resources

Users therefore do not have standard access: they can only access the network, its data and resources under certain conditions in accordance with the principle of least privilege. A zero trust model checks and authorises every connection, every device and every data flow in a network. This ensures that every interaction fulfils the company’s security guidelines – from the first log-in of a new employee to the complete zero trust strategy for the Internet of Things.?

What are the minimum requirements for a Zero Trust architecture?

The Zero Trust Architecture controls the physical and virtual network infrastructure as well as the operating guidelines of an organisation. As a cyber security strategy, it includes access policies, the relationship between individual components and workflow planning.?

Zero Trust requires security functions that affect identities, data, devices, the network and its endpoints. However, the minimum requirements for a complete Zero trust architecture go beyond this:

• Identities: Communication must be secure and confidential regardless of the network location. Organisations must define and control their Zero trust security via dynamic policies. They manage access to all users and privileged accounts with single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication and lifecycle management.
• Access authorisation: This is done for individual company resources per session. All authentications and authorisations are dynamically organised and strictly enforced before each access.
• Data: All data sources and computing services are considered resources. Zero Trust security procedures protect critical data by recognising access and classifying and managing it depending on the risk.
• Devices and workloads: Secured applications as well as monitoring and management of endpoints.
• Analytics and visibility: View, monitor and diagnose the behaviour of all users, resources and data connections to monitor, analyse, enforce and improve Zero Trust policies.
• Automation and mitigation: Shared playbooks and orchestrated, rapid solutions and iteration simplify processes and help with security issues.?

These principles may vary and require different implementation depending on the environment, security requirements and risk analysis. There is no universal solution that can be used everywhere.

Which technologies are part of a Zero Trust infrastructure?

A Zero Trust infrastructure consists of technologies for authentication, authorisation, encryption and security analysis.?

1 Authentication and authorisation

The most important component of Zero Trust security is identity management, i.e. the authentication of users and devices. It takes place via identity and access management (IAM) and enables the right entities (people or things) to use the right resources (applications or data). In recent years, multi-factor authentication (MFA) has become the standard procedure for companies.?

Authentication is usually accompanied by an authorisation process based on the principles of Privileged Access Management (PAM). It grants users ‘privileged access’ to certain applications and systems based on the assigned authorisation.?

2. Encryption

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) stipulates the protection and encryption of sensitive data via password-protected databases. As part of a Zero Trust security policy, it makes sense for companies to also protect their own important document and system information. Instead of developing their own processes for this, companies can utilise ready-made encryption solutions. They encode data directly at the desired level.?

3. Security analysis?

The security analysis of a Zero Trust architecture uses data from logs in real time to analyse and detect threats. Web application firewalls (WAF) and gateways are used for this purpose.?

What are the challenges of implementing Zero Trust?

Implementing Zero Trust is a complex process that involves several challenges. One of the biggest hurdles is integration into existing IT infrastructures, as many companies work with outdated systems that cannot be easily adapted. Zero Trust also requires a detailed analysis and classification of data, users and devices in order to define access rights correctly.

Another aspect is the increased administrative effort, as continuous monitoring, authentication and access checks need to be implemented. Finally, resistance within the organisation can also pose a challenge, as employees are often reluctant to make changes that affect their work processes. Despite these obstacles, implementation is worthwhile as Zero Trust offers significantly greater protection against cyber attacks.

However, there are also suitable solutions for every challenge:?

• The complexity of implementation can be reduced by working with a security provider that specialises in Zero Trust.
• Targeted and comprehensible information about the Zero Trust model supports the change in mentality in IT, security teams and the workforce.
• Working with a security provider specialising in Zero Trust helps to find an effective solution and avoid increased staffing requirements.
• The performance of applications can be controlled via an adaptive access control model.
• Companies also save costs in the long term by finding solutions that improve efficiency and IT security.
• Productivity is maintained when zero trust solutions utilise the most user-friendly system and audits possible.?

The development of the Zero Trust principle goes hand in hand with the growing security threats to networks and companies.? A Zero Trust network offers much greater cyber resilience than traditional VPNs and firewalls by securing access to all of an organisation’s applications through better authentication methods. Zero Trust is an intelligent solution to the proactive protection that companies need in the digital transformation. Once established, a Zero Trust architecture can provide the security team with valuable insights into a rapidly evolving attack surface and even improve the user experience for users. Therefore, you need to plan for a dual security model that does justice to the perimeter-based and the identity-based part.?