The Zero Trust Approach: Rethinking Security in a Shifting Threat Landscape

In today's interconnected digital ecosystem, the attack surface exposed to malicious agents has expanded rapidly, leading to an increasing number and higher frequency of cyberattacks globally. By 2025, the loss to business due to cybercrime will touch USD 10.5 Trillion annually.[1] The greater sophistication and the ever-evolving threat landscape demands a new approach to cybersecurity and solicits an appropriate response from Technology Solution Providers such as Dell.

The adoption of a Zero Trust architecture has emerged as a critical strategy that can rewrite the cybersecurity playbook in a hybrid operating environment where perimeter-based defences are no longer adequate. Dell Technologies Innovation Index Research Report reveals that across 1,500 IT and IT security decision makers found that data protection challenges resulting in disruption are on the rise and concerns over protection measures are widespread— organizations have lost an average of USD 1.92 million due to cyberattacks in the last 12 months.

However, few— less than 33%— have implemented or explored Zero Trust security— a rigorous technology that operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify", and adapts to stay ahead of attackers to safeguard valuable data and IP. The most critical challenge to adoption is that authentic Zero Trust is a comprehensive end-to-end implementation across the entire IT system, and partial adoption through fragmented point solutions do not qualify, ultimately failing to eliminate current vulnerabilities. The lack of standardization and certifications to guarantee end-to-end Zero Trust implementation must therefore be urgently addressed so that organizations may reliably invoke the framework for protecting the organization.

This year Dell Technologies is releasing Project Fort Zero, the first commercial full Zero Trust private cloud system. This will be able to meet the most exacting standards demanded by sensitive installations such as defence and research institutions and will set the benchmark for a wide range of use cases across industry verticals, as well as encourage the formulation of standards to certify Zero Trust.

At Dell Technologies we are constantly vigilant of the needs of industry to improve security posture and enhance cyber resiliency. Our comprehensive range of security frameworks address current and future vulnerabilities and deliver robust protection of applications, data and infrastructure through advanced, embedded security solutions built on Zero Trust principles. Next generation validated ecosystems such as VDIs, PowerEdge servers, Business Resiliency Services and Cyber Recovery Vault accomplish best-in-class Risk Management aligned with regulatory and data protection standards.

We are keen to partner with enterprise and engage on strategy and best practices of security implementations and offer an actionable roadmap that can help protect business value and fuel the next round of innovation to drive the nation towards its vision of economic growth, prosperity and self-reliance.

[1] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/11/18/2129432/0/en/Cybercrime-To-Cost-The-World-10-5-Trillion-Annually-By-2025.html