A Zero Trust architecture refers to the way network devices and services are structured to enable a Zero Trust security model.
Sergio Vergara
Sergio Vergara
February 27, 2024 — 6 minutes reading time
Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)
Photo by @Thomas Jensen on Unsplash
Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) may seem like a relatively new security model, but it dates back to 2011 when former Forrester analyst John Kindervag wrote the original Zero Trust trilogy of effective israel mobile numbers list articles. ZTA is not a product but rather a security strategy based on eliminating implicit trust and continuously authorizing at every stage of digital interaction. Zero Trust is designed to protect modern environments and enable digital transformation by leveraging network segmentation, using strong authentication methods, providing Layer 7 threat prevention, preventing lateral movement, and “least privilege” or “least access” policies. The Zero-Trust security model has been gaining popularity in recent years as organizations become more aware of the risk of traditional security models.
That is why in this article I will describe what Zero Trust is, how Zero Trust works, the five basic principles of Zero Trust, and the stages of implementing Zero-Trust security.
What is Zero Trust Architecture?
Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is a security model based on the principle of least privilege. Least privilege means that users and devices are only granted the permissions they need to perform their tasks. This helps reduce the attack surface and makes it harder for attackers to gain access to sensitive data.
Zero Trust means that no user or device can be trusted, even if it is within the corporate network. This is in contrast to traditional security models, which typically trust users and devices within the network and only require authentication for users outside the network.
How Zero Trust Works
Zero Trust works by implementing a series of security controls designed to verify the identity of users and devices before granting them access to resources, such as:
Authentication: Authentication is performed every time a user or device attempts to access a resource. This helps ensure that only authorized users have access to the resources they need.
Authorization: Once a user or device is authenticated, they are only granted the permissions they need to perform their tasks. This helps reduce the attack surface and makes it harder for attackers to gain access to sensitive data.
Continuous Monitoring: All network traffic and activity is continuously monitored for suspicious behavior. This helps detect and respond to attacks quickly.
Microsegmentation: This involves dividing the network into smaller segments, each with its own security policies. This makes it harder for attackers to move laterally within the network if they are able to breach a segment.
Identity Access Management (IAM): Implementing strong IAM controls ensures that only authorized users have access to the resources they need.
A comprehensive Zero Trust approach spans users, applications, and infrastructure. Zero Trust requires strong authentication of user identity, enforcement of “least privilege” policies, and verification of user integrity. Applying Zero Trust to applications removes implicit trust with various application components when they communicate with each other. A fundamental concept of Zero Trust is that no user, device, network flow, or application can be fully trusted. Therefore, continuous runtime monitoring is necessary to validate any behavior. Everything related to infrastructure—gateways, switches, cloud services, IoT, and anything else—should be approached with a Zero Trust approach in mind.
By implementing these security controls, Zero Trust Architecture can help prevent attackers from gaining access to sensitive data even if they manage to breach the network perimeter.
Zero Trust Use Cases