Practical Guide To Implementing Zero Trust in 2022

The modern enterprise network encompasses multiple environments, including on-premises, cloud-based, and remote resources, which must be kept the most confidential and secure. Protecting these environments against cyber attacks can be achieved through the Zero Trust implementation.

With the popularity of virtual work environments, especially in the business world, there has been an increase in companies adopting cyber security approaches to protect these environments. According to statistics in 2021, 42% of participants in a global study claim to be either in the early stages of adopting Zero Trust approach or are in the early phases of doing so. In general, 72% of respondents either already use Zero Trust or plan to do so in the future.

With this method, which is a vital part of the security infrastructure, you can provide high-level security by controlling your access. This method, which will level up your security level, should be acquired by every business, no matter how big or small. Let's talk about what exactly is this method, has been widely used by businesses.

What is Zero Trust?

By having a "trust none, verify all" mindset, zero trust is a cutting-edge method of network security intended to remedy the flaws of traditional networks. Access to company resources is only granted on a case-by-case basis under the Zero Trust security philosophy. These access decisions are based on role-based access controls (RBAC), in which users are only given the access and permissions required to successfully carry out their job tasks.

What is the importance of Zero Trust for businesses?

Today, more and more distributed workforces are taking place in the business world, and more and more outsourced employees are outsourced, either internally or externally. As a result, the traditional corporate network environment is changing dramatically, and many businesses are turning to some security measures to keep up with the pace of change.

The result of these situations has been an increase in surface areas for external cyberattacks and potentially harmful internal data breaches. This has made the traditional security scheme not fit for purpose in its current form. This is exactly why Zero Trust has started to gain great importance for companies.

With the Zero Trust "trusted users only" policy, you can utilize access control to divide the network into different parts. The corporate network is kept more secure by administrators who can set up teams and assign user access permissions based on the resources needed to complete their tasks.

Businesses have more control over who sees what and has access to what thanks to a Zero Trust network that is invisible to or inaccessible to outside parties. As a result, finding the source of breaches is quickened and you get a complete picture of what is happening in your corporate network.

Before implementing Zero Trust, what should I do?

Although it may seem complicated to implement and acquire Zero Trust, this process actually becomes quite easy as long as you follow some steps. So, what are these steps?

Get to know the areas you protect

Corporate networks are dynamic, ever-expanding systems that are challenging to comprehensively describe, control, or maintain. Administrators should determine which and where your most protected Data, Applications, Assets, and Services (DAAS) are rather than mapping the entire network. The first step toward Zero Trust is outlining this "Protect Surface."

Description of your Zero Trust architecture

As you map the Protection Surface of your network, you will be able to describe the architecture of your Zero Trust framework. It is to increase security controls to restrict access to your vital network areas. When adopting Zero Trust, utilizing both Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and Single Sign-on (SSO) aids in mapping your architecture.

Build your Zero Trust policy

The system often referred to as the Kipling Method, is a useful tool for figuring out whether an individual or group is qualified to enter your protected regions. In essence, administrators shouldn't be aware of any communication that takes place between a user and an application. So that someone can be taken seriously as trustworthy, high standards must be established and satisfied for security.

Maintain your network permissions

Documenting as many of the activities circulating in your environment as possible is what makes Zero Trust effective. Your administrators can use this data to improve your Zero Trust network security by applying for additional access permissions over time.

Zero Trust Network Access is a model that you can incorporate into your existing architecture relatively easily. Zero Trust is designed to make sure that your most critical data and resources are accessible only to those who are trusted and that no one else can.

Conclusion

Zero Trust we mentioned above has many benefits for businesses such as potential cost reductions, safer data enhanced network security, reduced impact from breaches, and more. These not only benefit the employer but also the employees and even the customers. Zero Trust, which is the basic building block of secure access, keeps cloud working environments safe thanks to the solutions it provides.

Remember that implementing Zero Trust Network Access together with other SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) components such as Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), and Firewall as a Service (FwaaS) is the most efficient from Zero Trust security strategy. To sum it up, protecting your cloud workspaces from cyberattacks requires the deep visibility and granular protection that Zero Trust solutions provide.

Check the comment section for additional information, or share what you know or ask a question about this article, by clicking the 'View or Write Comment' button below.

Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.