What is Zero Trust Architecture? The Ultimate Guide
The accelerating digital transformation to the cloud and increasing cybersecurity threats call for a secure remote network and application access solutions.
While the hybrid and remote working environment benefits organisations in terms of operational expenses and more—remote workers caused security breaches in 20% of organisations.
This is where the Zero Trust Security approach plays a huge role in combating remote security risks and online breaches to secure critical network assets and applications.
This blog will dive deep into understanding Zero Trust Architecture and its benefits for your organisation. Let’s go!
What Is Zero Trust Architecture?
Zero Trust Architecture is a cybersecurity blueprint or a framework that implements the Zero Trust principles.
Zero Trust is a security approach based on the principle of ‘‘Never Trust, Always Verify.’’ It means it restricts access to the network applications and only permits authorised and authenticated users to access the requested resources on a need-to-know basis.
The Zero Trust approach is meant to replace the traditional security models that provide excessive implicit trust and assumes everyone within the network to be trustworthy.
Whereas the Zero Trust Security model lets you set granular level access policies—preventing lateral movement and data breaches.
Let’s discover why your enterprise needs the Zero Trust Security Architecture.
Reasons Why You Need The ZeroTrust Architecture
Leading security leaders are leveraging the Zero Trust Security policies within their network.
Here are five reasons you must implement Zero Trust Network Architecture for the ultimate network security.
Replaces the inefficient perimeter-based security architecture
Traditional security models like VPNs are based on perimeter-based security policies, which are inefficient and less secure in today’s modern environment. In addition, they assign more trust and access than necessary and allow lateral movement within the network—making it easier for the cyberattacks to multiply.
On the other hand, the Zero Trust Network model authenticates and authorises the network access requests at a micro-level at every network point.
Thus, it prevents unrestricted access in the network and instead closely monitors each user request to minimise the risks of cybersecurity attacks.
Provides granular-level access control
Remote workers and employees require access to critical business resources and applications. However, providing all access to employees to all the network resources increases the chances of security risks and online breaches.
Thus, all the organisation’s employees need not have access to all the network resources and critical business data.
Zero Trust Application Access policies allow you to set granular-level access control—making it easier to control who accesses what resources. Thus, you can allow specific employees to access resources and applications based on their roles and responsibilities—ensuring protection from data breaches.
Verifies security of remote and WFH environments
With remote access and WFH environments, the chances of employees accessing enterprise networks through unsecured devices and WiFi networks increase exponentially.
More often, these public WiFi routers aren’t configured for WPA-2 or follow the best security protocols. Hence, organisations must implement Zero Trust enterprise security solutions to ensure remote employees can securely access the network resources—without security risks and chances of online attacks.
Offers better security posture with reduced security risks
Zero Trust Architecture strengthens your IT network infrastructure and reduces the attack surface.
It’s important to note that the security stakes are much higher when it comes to critical business data, such as customer information and banking details.
Traditional security models increase the attack surface and disrupt businesses with online attacks, such as DDoS attacks. In addition, unrestricted network access exposes your network to attackers—making it easier to access private and confidential business and customer information.
On the contrary, when implemented correctly, Zero Trust security reduces the attack surface and improves the cybersecurity posture—ensuring maximum data security and integrity.
Secures BYOD and work devices
Since the advent of WFH, employees are less likely to use office devices and more likely to use their own laptops and personal computer devices to access network applications.
However, these devices are less secure, and most employees fail to deploy and implement the best cybersecurity practices when working remotely.
Enforcing access controls via Zero Trust Security eliminates these risks and ensures higher security and device protection.
Conclusion
Zero Trust is the future of cybersecurity. Compared to the traditional security models, it provides much better control, network monitoring, and security posture to your enterprise network—security business data and online reputation.
However, deploying the right Zero Trust Architecture from a secure cybersecurity provider is essential. Hence, we recommend you check out InstaSafe Zero Trust security solutions to strengthen your enterprise’s network security and ensure maximum cybersecurity protection.