You may have recently heard the term “Zero Trust.” This security approach has become one of the most important items on the agenda of many companies and business leaders. It is a security model that does not trust anyone by default. So what exactly is Zero Trust? In this article, we’ll tell you all about the basics.
The term “Zero Trust” was coined by an analyst at Forrester Research Inc. in 2010 when the model for the concept was first presented. A few years later, Google announced that they had implemented Zero Trust security in their network. This led to a growing interest in adoption within the tech community. In 2019, Gartner, a global research and advisory firm, listed Zero Trust security access as a core component of secure access service edge (SASE) solutions.
The basic logic of the Zero Trust architecture is “do not trust and always verify.” In a world of complex cybersecurity threats and mobile workforces armed with countless apps and devices, Zero Trust aims to provide comprehensive protection in that it assumes that a request never comes from a trusted source, even if it was born inside the corporate firewall. Everything is treated as coming from an insecure open network, and proving trustworthiness is seen as an obligation within the Zero Trust framework. The Zero Trust architecture is based on the principles of undoubted verification of the incoming request and continuous validation throughout the connection, providing the lowest level of authority and reducing the threat surface.
Zero Trust data security is important because it is the most reliable cybersecurity framework that protects against advanced attacks in complex IT environments with dynamic workloads that move frequently between different locations and different devices.
Advantages of using this model
The main advantages of the Zero Trust model are that it:
- Reduces risk by closing security gaps and controlling movement on the network.
- Provides advanced cybersecurity and support for mobile and remote workers.
- Provides powerful protection for applications and data, whether in the cloud or on-premises.
- Is a reliable defense against threats such as advanced persistent threats.
Besides providing a safer environment, the primary benefit of Zero Trust Security is that it bypasses security-based limitations for firewalls and perimeter networks. Zero Trust also highlights that user credentials are authenticated accurately and effectively at regular intervals within the network. It includes the use of perimeter protection and encryption to protect targeted systems.
Zero Trust acts as a barrier to protect an application, its processes, and its data against malicious insiders and hackers. With effective implementation, the Zero Trust Security model can create a new cybersecurity paradigm.
Want to know more about Zero Trust and how to secure your digital assets? Our team of security experts has helped leading companies in the market protect their data & architectures and can help you find a specific solution, too.