What is Zero Trust Network Architecture?

Developed in 2009 by Forrester, Zero Trust is a strategic approach to enhance cybersecurity. This security model addresses the modern challenges of digitally-advanced business. That said, a Zero Trust network architecture continuously and strictly validates every stage of digital interaction.

Unlike a traditional "castle-and-moat" strategy, the Zero Trust network system doesn't trust any machine connected to the network by default. It follows a continuous authorisation process, not one-off validation at the entry point. Hence, the framework builds trust based on contexts, such as user identity, location, access requested for the app or device, and the endpoint security posture.

Before granting access to applications and data, this security framework validates all inside and outside users in the organisation's network. The model leverages various technologies, including encryption, multifactor authentication, scoring, orchestration, IAM, file system permissions, and analytics.

Further, its least-privilege access strategy provides restricted access to the company's IT resources. This technique helps reduce the user's exposure to sensitive network elements. It means users will only get access to applications or devices essential for them to perform their tasks.

Thus, the primary goal of Zero Trust network architecture is to trust no devices, connections, or users without continuous verification.

Key Components of Zero Trust Network Architecture

Here are five pillars of the Zero Trust network architecture to successfully enhance business networks and security posture.

Zero Trust Network Access

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) creates a secure environment within an organisation when users remotely access IT resources. With device and location-specific access control policies, businesses can detect and terminate connections to possibly compromised devices to their network.

Based on access control policies, ZTNA denies default access to the team members. Instead, it gives users access to only permitted services after authenticating their identity via an encrypted tunnel. Hence, it restricts access to unauthorised resources. This process protects the organisation's network and devices from the lateral attacker movement risk. Besides, ZTNA offers more agility for businesses working on a hybrid model.

Identity and Access Management

With Identity and Access Management (IAM), the Zero Trust network framework manages access permissions on a computer network. It ensures that only the right users access authorised apps or systems to perform their jobs. Simply put, it's the management of digital identities.

With controlled access, organisations will be safe from various kinds of data breaches, such as identity theft.

Micro-Segmentation

Another pillar of the Zero Trust network is micro-segmentation, which lowers the attack surface. It controls network access between workloads by creating multiple security zones, granular security, and access control policies.

This Zero Trust practice improves breach containment by preventing bad actors from moving laterally across the network to access valuable business data and systems. Further, granular control of communications minimises the risk of non-compliant usage.

Security Automation and Orchestration

The automated Zero Trust network system instantly neutralises legitimate threats as they occur through behavioural analytics. It provides optimal security and contains emerging threats by restricting all endpoint data from unauthorised devices. This methodology also removes IT workforce intervention after a security breach.

The Benefits of Zero Trust Network Architecture

Malicious actors continue to exploit siloed, patchwork security systems. So adopting Zero Trust network architecture is a business imperative. Let's understand why businesses need this new network protection model

Improved Visibility and Control

The Zero Trust model protects valuable information and systems by creating dynamic adaptive security closed loop. Organisations will get complete visibility of the user, time, and location of accessing the data. Thus, this adaptive identity-based access control strategy allows companies to monitor all activities happening in a business network.

Further, Zero Trust micro-segmentation offers better control during a data breach. This practice controls access for separate network parts by dividing security perimeters into small zones. Due to this framework, each zone will require separate access authorisation by the users.

Hence, Zero Trust network architecture allows IT teams instantly detect and respond to cybersecurity threats. It will help businesses to flag any unwanted behaviours or entries to the device.

Identity and Access Management

With Identity and Access Management (IAM), the Zero Trust network framework manages access permissions on a computer network. It ensures that only the right users access authorised apps or systems to perform their jobs. Simply put, it's the management of digital identities.

With controlled access, organisations will be safe from various kinds of data breaches, such as identity theft.

Increased User Productivity

Another advantage of the Zero Trust network model is automation to evaluate access requests and achieve optimal status. The Privileged Access Management (PAM) system can automatically grant access if key identifiers are low-risk.

It will enable the CISO to assess only suspicious requests flagged by automated systems. Besides, continuous monitoring and strong analytics provide new insights to the IT department. It allows team members to work smarter by focusing on the real threats to create a more secure environment.

Thus, automating redundant tasks will allow the workforce to devote more time to manual administration and innovation.

Better Compliance with Regulations

Zero Trust network architecture protects the business network, data, and workforce from online exploitation. Again, enterprises using Zero Trust micro-segmentation can efficiently segregate non-regulated and regulated data by creating perimeters around specific sensitive datasets.

Hence, organisations can easily comply with industry-standard privacy standards and regulations using this security model, such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, NIST 800-207, and CCPA.

Implementing Zero Trust Network Architecture

Check out the four core stages of deploying a well-configured Zero Trust network framework for your business.

Visualisation

The process at this stage can vary for every organisation based on their resources, access points, and likely threats. Examine all risks and entities in the organisation during visualisation to understand the critical elements to defend.

Mitigation

The goal is to prevent threats and limit their overall impact. Zero Network architecture can help with real-time risk/threat detection and response using automation and orchestration.

Optimisation

At this stage, organisations safeguard all IT resources regardless of location while optimising the user experience for the workforce and end-users.

Monitoring

The final concept of the Zero Trust framework is to set up alerts and monitor the network. It ensures continuous visibility into the system to identify security gaps and evaluate whether the access policies are sufficient.

Case Studies: Real-Life Examples to Enhance Business Security with Zero Trust

Currently, there are the two prevalent Zero Trust use cases among organisations.

Hybrid Work Security

It's one of the most common use cases of Zero Trust network architecture. Since employees work remotely in hybrid companies with no enterprise-grade network perimeter security, businesses use "cloud" resources to stay connected. Hence, organisations must look beyond traditional security policies to ensure business continuity.

In this working environment, the Zero Trust framework provides a seamless and secure connection by verifying the user's identity. Moreover, it secures the companies from external threats.

Third-party Access Controls

Businesses need secure connectivity to collaborate with third-party entities, including partners, suppliers, and contractors. They frequently access the organisation's databases, internal apps, services, or other devices, which can be a serious threat.

However, before granting permission to third-party users, companies can use the Zero Trust framework with multifactor authentication or IAM technologies. Micro-segmenting can also restrict suppliers and customers from using unauthorised internal business assets.

These techniques make it challenging for insiders to pass credentials to outsiders for malicious use. Besides, the well-configured Zero Trust model limits the freedom of intruders by making lateral movement more difficult.

Criticisms and Concerns

Shifting from traditional cybersecurity policies to Zero Trust network architecture is a convoluted process. The broad scope of the work required to deploy this cutting-edge security framework makes the adoption challenging for various reasons.

The significant issues businesses usually face are:

• developing data and user access policies,

• rebuilding existing legacy infrastructures,

• implementing Zero Trust proxy with non-web apps.

Other limitations of the Zero Trust network framework implementation are it can be expensive and time-consuming. It can also slow down application performance and hinder productivity. Further, organisations may need to recruit more skilled employees to manage various parameters significantly.

Thus, a careful approach to avoid leaving security gaps is crucial while integrating a Zero Trust network framework. However, long-term security and operational efficiency will compensate for upfront costs.

Future of Zero Trust Network Architecture

Undoubtedly, the trend will only continue to grow with Zero Trust frameworks' widespread acceptance and success. Enterprises are even optimistic about closing IT security gaps by leveraging a Zero Trust model.

IAM and MFA components will become more paramount for companies with less mature cybersecurity practices and cyber hygiene. However, businesses should also upgrade their infrastructure with the latest security technologies and trends to streamline the Zero Trust approach. It'll help organisations stay ahead of the evolving online threats.

As automation simplifies redundant technical jobs, the IT team can concentrate on other critical tasks like managing multi-cloud and hybrid environments. Thus, upskilling employees should be a priority to futureproof the Zero Trust network.

Bottom Line

Planning security defences based on static, network-based perimeters is ineffective in cloud-based businesses. Hence, an ever-growing number of organisations are embracing Zero Trust network architecture. It provides a more comprehensive solution for security loopholes without affecting the team's performance and user experience.

That said, the Zero Trust model is a continuous security framework focused on visibility, threat detection, automation, and orchestration. Businesses will get integrated cybersecurity solutions to authenticate every transaction and provide real-time responses to online breaches. However, it's crucial for organisations to carefully frame the Zero Trust strategies and policies to progress incrementally along the journey.

FAQs

What is Zero Trust Network Architecture?

The objective of Zero Trust network architecture is "Trust no one and verify everything". Every user and device must complete strict identity verification to access organisational resources on a private network.

Why do companies need Zero Trust Network Architecture?

With the Zero Trust model, companies can prevent insider and external digital attacks. It allows organisations to secure all IT resources, including data, applications, gadgets, security systems, and user devices.

What are the key components of Zero Trust Network Architecture?

Zero Trust network architecture has many significant components. It includes continuous verification, micro-segmentation, ZTNA, Identity and Access Management, Multifactor authentication, automation and orchestration.

What are the benefits of Zero Trust Network Architecture?

A Zero Trust approach ensures improved security policies and continuous visibility. Moreover, this high-level security model minimises data breach risks, lowers a network's attack surface, and prevents lateral movement of threats. Thus, Zero Trust architecture helps secure an organisation's sensitive resources from getting compromised.

What are the challenges to implementing Zero Trust Network Architecture?

Organisations can face some critical challenges while integrating the Zero Trust network framework. It includes complexity, high upfront costs, developing access policies, legacy tools configuration, and lack of relevantly skilled workforce.