Why Implementing Zero Trust is Necessary for Employees Working From Home?

In the past few years, there has been a dynamic shift in how we work. Individuals nowadays are increasingly seeking remote work options over traditional routines. Due to this, businesses and organisations are more concerned about the security of their operations. 

It has become a challenge for businesses to secure their assets or data for a workforce that no longer works within the office perimeter. This is where the zero-trust security framework comes into the picture. In this blog, we will discuss in detail the importance of Zero Trust in remote work.

What is Zero Trust Security?

Zero-trust is a security framework that operates on the “never trust, always verify” principle. In simple words, the zero-trust security framework trusts no one, even if the user is inside the network. This type of security framework is essential for remote work as it reduces unauthorised access to the network. 

Furthermore, the zero-trust implementation in a remote work environment also focuses attention on the least-privileged access, allowing employees to access resources based on their roles and responsibilities.

The implementation of zero-trust security in remote work is a paradigm shift in security. Unlike traditional security systems, the Zero Trust framework assumes that threats and vulnerabilities can occur from anywhere. 

This is why zero-trust security implementation emphasises continuous validation and verification.

Challenges Faced in a Work-From-Home Environment

Before understanding the importance of zero-trust in remote work, let us examine the challenges faced in the work-from-home environment with traditional security solutions.

Unsecured Devices

One of the challenges faced by many remote users and businesses is the use of unsecured devices. In work-from-home settings, employees often use their personal or unmanaged devices that lack proper security. This makes their device an easy target for malware or other kinds of attacks.

Weak Authentication

Another challenge many organisations face is their weak authentication process. Most organisations only use basic authentication methods, which involve entering a username and password to access the resources. This kind of authentication is an easier target for phishing and other attacks for a remote workforce.

Inconsistent VPN Usage

VPN is a go-to for many businesses for remote access. Due to inconsistent usage, scalability issues and lack of granular access control, VPNs often leave gaps that attackers can exploit.

Importance of Zero Trust in Remote Work

The zero-trust security framework is a go-to option for the remote workforce due to its highest security. Here are some reasons why businesses should adopt zero-trust security implementation.

Enhanced Security

One of the reasons for implementing a zero-trust framework for the remote workforce is enhanced security. The zero-trust framework operates on the principle of “never trust, always verify,” which provides continuous verification of user identity throughout the session. 

Furthermore, usernames and passwords in a zero-trust framework are paired with MFA, which prevents unauthorised access to the network.

Simplified Access Management

Another benefit of employing zero-trust security is simplified access management. The zero-trust security framework employs a least-privileged access policy, where access is granted to remote users based on their roles and responsibilities. 

Remote workforce access is dynamically adjusted based on user behaviour, device health, and risk level. 

Enhanced User Experience

Despite its robust security framework, zero trust is also adopted by businesses because it provides a superior user experience. 

With technologies like Single Sign-On and contextual access policies, users can securely access multiple applications without repeatedly logging in while still maintaining high levels of protection.

Scalability and Flexibility

Zero trust is inherently scalable and well-suited for today’s hybrid and cloud-first environments. It supports secure access across a diverse range of users, devices and locations, making it ideal for organisations with distributed workforces. 

Its cloud-native architecture allows businesses to scale security controls as they grow without relying on traditional network perimeters.

Scenarios Where Zero Trust Network Access Supports Secure Remote Work

The purpose of the zero-trust solution is to offer unified and consistent security across the network. Here is how Zero Trust Network Access provides security for employees working remotely.

Employees Working From Home

When an employee works from home, they typically log in from a designated location, which is often their home. However, they are connected to the home network, which introduces the risk of devices that are also connected to it. 

Since these devices are out of corporate security and control, they expose the business to potential vulnerabilities. However, ZTNA offers a secure tunnel that insulates the employee from other issues that may plague their home network.

Employees on the Go

When employees travel for work, they often need to connect to unsecured networks that can expose their devices to new threats. These threats include data loss, malware and other similar issues.  Hackers can easily exploit such devices to launch attacks.

However, with ZTNA, only authorised employees can access the network. Furthermore, after connecting to the network, ZTNA offers greater control and visibility. It performs a per-session device health check, enabling the ZTNA to detect any malicious activity easily.

Employees in the Office

Even if the employee is working from the office, maintaining a high level of security is crucial for the business. With a ZTNA solution, even if an employee is in the office premises, they still need to go through the security posture. 

Various authentication methods, such as MFA or endpoint validation, are crucial for employees working in an office to access the network or resources. Even after getting connected to the network, the employees will have the least privileged access.

Best Practices for Zero Trust Implementation for Remote Work

The multiple benefits of zero-trust security implementation outweigh the risks. However, zero-trust implementation should be done correctly for a better security posture. Here are some of the best practices for zero-trust security implementation.

Assess Your Cybersecurity Needs

Before implementing the zero-trust security framework for your workforce, it is crucial to assess your organisation's needs. It can be easily done by evaluating the data, device and users. Furthermore, by auditing its security protocols, a business will know its vulnerable or risky areas.

Build a Zero Trust Strategy

After carrying out thorough research about your cybersecurity needs, now is the time to build a zero-trust security strategy. The strategy should be tailored to your organisation's remote work environment.

Employ a Dedicated Team

Having a zero-trust security framework is useless if you do not have a dedicated team to operate it. Having a well-experienced team with a zero-trust practice coordinator, network administrator and more will help in implementing and maintaining the organisation's security strategy.

Educate and Train Employees

In addition to this, organisations also need to train and educate their employees about the importance of a zero-trust security framework. This can be easily done by providing detailed training on Zero Trust and also suggesting measures to protect their devices and systems.

Execute Regular Security Audits

Zero-trust security is incomplete without regular security audits. Even with the strongest security measures in place, it is crucial to assess and validate the effectiveness of those controls continuously. 

Regular audits help identify vulnerabilities, misconfigurations and potential compliance issues before they can be exploited, thereby enhancing overall security.

Conclusion

Zero-trust security is the future of cybersecurity. The perimeter-oriented, reactive methods that serve as the underlying principles of old, traditional security need to become relics of the past. Businesses must be dynamic and adopt zero-trust security now to confidently offer a cyber-secure working environment to both their remote and on-site employees.

That is why InstaSafe offers a new-generation Zero-Trust Security Model, which provides continuous monitoring and network visibility, allowing trust to be context-based and dynamic by authenticating every access request and granting access only if certain criteria are met.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any challenges associated with implementing zero-trust?

Yes, implementing zero-trust can be challenging due to the complexity of re-architecting existing systems, the need for continuous monitoring and the requirement for strong identity management. 

It often demands significant investment in technology, training and change management to be effective.

Is VPN a better or zero-trust solution for the remote workforce?

Zero-trust is generally a better solution than a VPN for securing a remote workforce. While VPNs provide network access, they often grant broad privileges and lack continuous verification. 

Zero trust, on the other hand, enforces strict, identity-based access with ongoing authentication and least-privilege principles.

Key Products

Zero Trust Application Access | ZTNA Solutions | MFA | Identity And Access Management | Secure Enterprise Browser

Key Features

SSO Authentication | Endpoint Management | Contextual Access Control | Always On VPN Connection| Clientless VPN | Device Binding | Device Posture Check | Domain Joining

Key Solutions

VPN Alternative Technology | Secure Remote Access Solutions |Cloud Application Security | DevOps Security | VoIP Security Solutions