What is Zero Trust?: An Intro to Zero Trust Security

Have you ever heard of zero trust security? If not, don’t worry, you’re not alone. But what is zero trust and why do we need it? In a world where cyber attacks are becoming more common, we need to be sure that our data and devices are as protected as possible.

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Zero trust is a term for a security model that doesn’t trust any user or device, inside or outside of the network.

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It’s designed to provide security for companies in today’s increasingly complex digital age. So what does that mean for you and your business or team? Let’s find out!

What is Zero Trust Security?

When it comes to security, the term “zero trust” is getting a lot of attention these days. But what exactly is zero trust security? In a nutshell, zero trust is a model for security that doesn’t rely on predefined trust levels.

Every user and device that tries to access a network or data is treated as untrustworthy until proven otherwise. This approach is in contrast to the more traditional “perimeter” model of security, which defines a clear boundary between trusted and untrusted users. With zero trust security, there is no such boundary.

Instead, all users are treated as potential threats and are subjected to strict authentication and authorization checks before they are allowed to access any resources.

This approach can be highly effective at deterring threats in today’s highly connected world, where perimeter-based security models are becoming more porous. When implemented properly, zero trust security can help even the largest of organizations protect their data and prevent unauthorized access.

Zero Trust Architecture

Zero trust architecture (ZTA) is a security framework that has been designed to address the shortcomings of traditional security models. The goal of ZTA is to make it more difficult for attackers to gain access to networks and data. To do so, ZTA employs several different techniques, including encryption, microsegmentation, and identity management.

One of the key benefits of zero trust architecture is that it can be implemented incrementally, making it possible to deploy it without overhauling an organization’s entire infrastructure. Additionally, ZTA is flexible and can be customized to meet that organization’s specific needs.

More businesses are realizing that ZTA is the way forward in keeping up with increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks, and this means more job opportunities for security engineers – especially those specializing in zero trust.

Zero Trust Network

So how is zero trust architecture implemented? It’s done via a zero trust network. A zero trust network is a security model that requires all users, devices, and services to be verified and authenticated before they can access sensitive data or systems.

In a traditional network, there is a perimeter that is used to define an inside and an outside. However, in a zero trust network, there is no concept of an “inside” or “outside.” Instead, all traffic is treated as untrusted and is subjected to verification and authentication.

There are three main components of a zero trust network: microsegmentation, identity management, and least privileged access.

• Microsegmentation involves dividing the network into small segments that are isolated from each other.
• Identity management ensures that only authorized users have access to the network.
• Least privileged access restricts user access to the minimum amount of data or resources that are necessary for them to perform their job.

Together, these three components help to create a secure environment where all traffic is treated with suspicion and only verified and authenticated users are allowed access.

Now we know what this popular buzzphrase “zero trust security” means. To create a zero trust network, you need to implement the principles of zero trust architecture (ZTA). This includes segmenting your network into microsegments, using least privilege access controls, and verifying users before granting them access.

Have you implemented zero trust in your organization yet? Let us know how it’s going!

Here’s a quick video explaining zero trust from IBM Technology’s YouTube channel:

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