Zero Trust takes a “trust but verify” approach that reduces the business’ attack surface by constantly authenticating users, devices, and networks. It also monitors all activity to improve security without impacting network availability.
Migrating to Zero Trust requires significant time and resources. Working with an industry advisor can help you navigate the challenges.
Cost-Effective Security
Implementing zero trust architecture demands a one-time investment in tool and platform expenditures and staff time. However, long-term security and efficiency benefits will offset these initial investments.
For example, Zero Trust eliminates the need for complex and costly security policies. This reduces the burden on IT teams, who can devote more time to other priorities.
A centralized system also makes connecting to applications easier for business users. The system can monitor the user’s device and location to provide more accurate context, making accessing data in multiple locations easier without extra security checks.
Additionally, zero Trust mitigates the impact of breaches. It restricts attacks to specific network parts through micro-segmentation, limiting damage and minimizing the response cost. It also prevents attackers from moving around the web by denying them access to more secure areas, essentially shoeboxing the hacker and preventing lateral movement.
Zero Trust also reduces the need to hire and train cybersecurity professionals. This is a significant cost saving in an industry with a skills shortage and a constant need to upgrade technology. In addition, zero Trust can be used to protect remote workers and cloud-based applications and resources, reducing the need for an on-site office. This also lowers travel expenses and office space requirements.
Reduced Risk of Data Breach
Zero Trust requires an initial investment of tools and employee hours, which is more than offset by the reduced cost of data breaches. Zero Trust uses automation and machine learning to evaluate access requests. This reduces the human resources needed to manage this security function, translating to salary and overhead cost savings. In addition, automated systems can evaluate user identities and behavior in real-time, creating a legible audit trail that feeds into your security responses, compliance, and risk mitigation strategies.
The Zero Trust model assumes breach and constantly verifies access based on every device, user, and network context. This continuous verification limits the “blast radius” of damage if a breach does occur by isolating traffic and access to critical resources.
The ability to create secure networks invisible to the outside world with micro-segmentation and end-to-end encryption further mitigates the risk of a breach. In addition, continuously inspecting and verifying identity in real-time makes it easier to flag suspicious behaviors and revoke access quickly. Zero Trust also ensures that if an attacker does make it into your organization, they are isolated and can only move laterally within the network. This makes finding the crown jewels that hackers are after much more challenging.
Improved Compliance
With Zero Trust, organizations can avoid costly cybersecurity breaches. While it is essential to have strong security measures in place, it is also necessary to balance the needs of a dynamic business landscape with flexible access to applications and data.
Zero Trust enables security teams to create policies based on user, device, location, and data sensitivity. This allows the CISO to use identity as the basis for granting access while ensuring that only those who need access are given access. This helps limit the potential blast radius of a breach if a hacker successfully penetrates the security perimeter.
In addition to reducing the risk of a breach, zero Trust also helps with compliance. A Zero Trust solution can provide visibility into the network and uncover sensitive information that may be communicated over unsecured networks. This information can then be blocked so that hackers cannot access it. Zero Trust solutions can ensure that all software and services only communicate with their trusted zones.
This method is much more efficient than traditional segmentation models based on IP addresses, port numbers, and virtual local area networks (VLANs). Zero Trust is also easier to maintain continuously than these old methods, as the system will automatically update itself with user, device, and access details. This will help your company to achieve better regulatory compliance over time and minimize the impact of any breach.
Increased Productivity
Zero trust architecture focuses on the security of users and their devices, making it more difficult for attackers to breach the system. By verifying identity and device context, granular access controls are implemented, and the amount of sensitive data access is limited, which limits damage to your business should a breach occur.
Zero Trust also allows for greater visibility of applications, systems, and data, allowing you to identify potential threats quickly. Suppose a threat does make it through the firewall. In that case, a Zero Trust environment can pinpoint it immediately, and the system can shunt traffic or force re-authentication based on policy. This provides a faster response time and is significantly more effective than the traditional approach that relies on FW rules alone to protect the network.
Additionally, zero Trust helps to improve productivity by reducing the number of steps needed to complete work. Remote workers no longer need to sign in multiple times or deal with unwieldy VPN setups and can work from anywhere on any device with a trusted connection to your corporate applications.
Zero Trust requires a comprehensive strategy that includes advanced technologies and cultural change at all levels of your organization. A managed service provider (MSP) with deep expertise in this new cybersecurity model can help your enterprise get there faster and ensure you leverage all of the benefits to your advantage.