Earlier this year, PR Newswire reported that 95% of IT leaders have seen more sophisticated cyberattacks than ever in recent years, with everything from AI-powered threats to cloud jacking.
This concerning stat reminds us that, as attacks become more advanced, our defenses need to become equally sophisticated. Zero trust implementation is designed to do just that, with detailed security procedures and comprehensive protection.
The Zero Trust Model: What It Is and How It Works
The foundation of zero trust implementation is in the name: trust nothing and verify everything. Many cybersecurity approaches create a strong perimeter around a network, like a wall or electric fence, to keep danger out. Very few worry about what’s happening inside the system, meaning that if someone does slip past the perimeter, they have free reign over all resources.
Meanwhile, zero trust infrastructures continually verify the legitimacy of users, like having locks on doors leading to different buildings or rooms inside the wall. Users are required to confirm their identity every time they request access to a new asset (like a database or application) or have been logged in for a while.
No one is assumed to be trustworthy just because they are already inside the network—their credentials are repeatedly confirmed in order to prevent infiltrations and contain breaches.
Key Principles of Zero Trust Implementation
Zero trust is based on a few basic principles that are designed to keep your security airtight. Here’s an overview of how they look in practice:
Identity Verification
Users must provide more than just a username and password to confirm their identities and access company platforms. Zero trust implementation includes activating multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all business accounts to ensure only authorized parties are inside the network.
Continuous Verification
After a predetermined time has passed, the login session times out and users are required to re-enter their credentials in order to continue using a tool. This prevents scammers from using company devices with saved login information to enter systems.
Employee and Device Access Controls
The zero trust model works under the principle of least privilege, which means employees are granted access to exactly what they need to do their jobs and nothing more, limiting contact with sensitive resources. Similarly, only certain, approved devices are allowed to connect to your network and are carefully monitored once they’re in.
Network Segmentation
Company networks are split into various zones or segments, meaning that only one area of a network can be accessed at a time. So if a breach does occur, it will be easier to eradicate it and recover quickly, as damages will be contained to only one zone.
Why Zero Trust?
Zero trust implementation is the ideal choice for businesses looking to upgrade their cybersecurity while continuing to move forward technologically.
- Defends Assets Against Advanced Breaches: The multiple levels and controls of zero trust make it difficult to bypass, even with the most sophisticated hacking methods, leaving valuable assets like client data or financial records safe and protected.
- Limit Attack Surfaces: With network segmentation, scammers will have little to work with even if they slip past your defenses. You’ll be able to identify, contain, and resolve the issue quickly, and recovery will go smoothly with losses limited to a single segment.
- Provide Secure Remote Access: With upticks in remote work and cloud usage, the business world is slowly moving away from physical servers and devices that are easy to track. Zero trust allows you to safely and securely utilize these resources by strengthening your security web.
Launch Your Zero Trust Implementation with Run Networks
At Run Networks, protecting your systems is our top priority. When you partner with us, you’ll enjoy proactive cybersecurity solutions tailored to your business, a helpful team, and quality you just can’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re looking to implement zero trust in your network or just exploring cybersecurity options, Run Networks is the place to go.
Send us a message, and let’s work together to secure your systems.
