What is Zero Trust?

Zero Trust is a cybersecurity strategy that assumes all users, networks, and devices are untrustworthy and therefore must be constantly verified. It is a security approach that does not trust any user, device, or network and assumes all traffic is malicious. The goal of a Zero Trust strategy is to protect organizations from cyber threats by verifying all users, resources, and network connections before granting access. The strategy is built on the idea that organizations should not trust anyone or anything within their networks, including users, devices, and applications.

Zero Trust requires organizations to authenticate every user and device attempting to access the network. Authentication is typically done using multi-factor authentication, which requires users to provide a combination of something they know, such as a password, something they have, such as a security token, and something they are, such as biometric information. After authentication, the user’s access should be limited to only the resources they need to do their job. Organizations should also monitor user activity to ensure they are only accessing authorized resources.

Organizations should ensure they have adequate perimeter security, such as firewalls, to protect the network from external threats. Organizations should also regularly update their security tools and patch any vulnerabilities to ensure the network remains secure

What are the Pillars of Zero Trust?

The number of pillars or components of a Zero Trust security model can vary, but typically it includes the following:

• Verify the identity of all users and devices before granting them access to resources.
• Implement strong authentication methods to ensure that only authorized users can access resources.
• Use encryption to protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorized access.
• Monitor network activity to detect and prevent malicious activity.
• Segment the network into smaller, more secure zones to limit the potential damage of a security breach.

Overall, Zero Trust is a comprehensive approach to network security that focuses on verifying the identity of users and devices, implementing strong authentication, using encryption, monitoring network activity, and segmenting the network into smaller, more secure zones. To achieve this goal, there are six key pillars that are implemented.

1. Identification and Authentication: All users must be identified and authenticated before they can access any resources. This includes two-factor authentication, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and biometric authentication.

2. Access Control: Access to systems and data must be restricted to only those who need it, and all access must be logged and monitored.

3. Network Segmentation: Systems and networks must be segmented so that access to critical systems and data is restricted. This also helps to limit the damage that can be done if a breach does occur.

4. Monitoring and Detection: All activity on systems and networks must be monitored and suspicious activity must be detected and acted upon.

5. Data Encryption: All data must be encrypted to protect it from unauthorized access.

6. Security Automation: Automation of security processes can help streamline security operations and improve visibility.

These six pillars are the foundation of Zero Trust, and organizations must ensure that they are implemented properly in order to maximize the security of their networks and systems. Without these six pillars, it is impossible to achieve a truly secure environment.

Learn About Zero Trust and More With Phalanx

To learn more about how Phalanx can help you implement Zero Trust, contact us for a demo today. 

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