What's That Term?: Zero-Trust Security
Cybersecurity is one of the most important issues of our time. In order to protect our data and privacy, we need to be proactive in our approach to cybersecurity. Zero-trust security may be a solution to that, but let's learn more about what it is in our ongoing series shedding light on some of the tech industry's most common vernacular.
What is it?
Zero-trust security is a cybersecurity term that describes a strategy for protecting computer networks that do not rely on predefined trust levels. In other words, there is no assumption of trust between users, devices, or applications. Instead, zero-trust security requires that all users and devices be authenticated and authorized before being granted access to any resources.
The term zero-trust security was first coined in 2010 by John Kindervag, a senior analyst at Forrester Research. At the time, Kindervag observed that traditional security models were no longer adequate in the face of increasing mobility and cloud adoption. He argued that the zero trust security model was necessary to protect against malicious actors who could exploit vulnerabilities in the network infrastructure.
To implement zero-trust security, organizations must first identify which resources need to be protected. These resources can include data, applications, and networks. Once these resources have been identified, organizations must then implement authentication and authorization policies that ensure that only authorized users and devices can access them.
Zero-trust security is particularly important for organizations that are moving to the cloud. In a cloud environment, users and devices are distributed across multiple locations, often without an identifiable perimeter. As a result, it can be difficult to establish trust levels between users and devices. Zero-trust security can help organizations protect their data and applications in a cloud environment by ensuring that all users and devices are authenticated and authorized before being granted access to resources.
Why You’ve Heard It
Today, zero-trust security is more important than ever. According to a report fromCybersecurity Ventures, global spending on information security products and services will reach nearly $2 trillion over the next five years. This spending is driven by the need to protect organizations against data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other cybersecurity threats.
Zero-trust security is a cybersecurity concept that is becoming increasingly popular as businesses strive to protect their networks and data. As more businesses adopt zero-trust security, we're likely to hear this term more and more often.
So what does the future hold for zero-trust security? Here are some of the key trends to watch:
1. Proliferation of zero-trust frameworks
As businesses move to zero-trust security models, they will need guidance on how to best implement these frameworks. To meet this need, we can expect to see an increase in zero-trust frameworks and standards. These frameworks will provide organizations with a blueprint for building a zero-trust environment and will help to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to cybersecurity best practices.
2. Evolution of authorization methods
One of the key challenges with zero-trust security is that it can be difficult to verify the identity of users and devices. To address this, we can expect to see the evolution of authorization methods, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA will become increasingly commonplace, as it provides an extra layer of security that makes it more difficult for attackers to gain access to sensitive data.
3. Emergence of zero-trust platforms
As businesses strive to implement zero-trust security models, we will see the emergence of zero-trust platforms. These platforms will provide a unified approach to managing security policies and controls, and will make it easier for organizations to manage a zero-trust environment.
4. Greater focus on user behavior
User behavior analytics (UBA) will become increasingly important in zero-trust security models. UBA can help to identify anomalous behavior that may indicate a security threat, and this information can be used to dynamically adjust security policies.
5. Increased use of AI and machine learning
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will play a major role in zero-trust security, as these technologies can be used to automate the process of identifying threats. AI and machine learning will also be used to help organizations make better decisions about which security controls to implement, and how to best configure them.
Our Advice
Zero-trust security is a rapidly evolving field, and we can expect to see these trends continue to gain momentum in the years to come. As businesses become more aware of the need for zero-trust security, we will see more widespread adoption of these models, and more innovation in the way that they are implemented.
That being said it is important to weigh whether it is the right security model for you so here are some benefits and drawbacks to help you determine if it will fit your specific IT security needs.
Benefits of zero-trust security?
This zero-trust approach can be extremely beneficial for several reasons.
1. It can help organizations reduce their risk of a security breach.
Since every device and user must be authenticated and authorized, it is much more difficult for an unauthorized person to gain access to sensitive data or systems.
2. It can help organizations improve data governance.
By limiting access to only those who are authorized to view specific information, zero-trust security can help ensure that data is not accidentally or intentionally compromised.
3. It can also help organizations save money.
By reducing the risk of a security breach, organizations can potentially avoid costly damages and fines. Additionally, by streamlining data governance, zero-trust security can help organizations reduce the amount of time and resources spent on managing data.
Drawbacks to zero-trust security?
1. It can be more difficult to manage than traditional security models.
With zero-trust, each user and device is essentially treated as if it is on the outside of the network, which can be a challenge to administer.
2. It can be more expensive to implement than traditional security models.
Due to the specific nature of the long and complex implementation process, this can be more costly than alternative security policies.
3. It can be difficult to know which resources should be included.
Organizations need to carefully consider which systems and data should be included in the zero-trust environment, as well as how users will access those resources.
4. It may impact performance.
Due to the increased number of authentication checks that need to be performed, users may find the increased security measures to be disruptive or inconvenient.
Zero trust security is a cybersecurity model that doesn’t rely on predefined trust levels. This may make zero trust security highly appealing for companies with remote employees or contractors, as well as businesses that share sensitive data with partners or customers or who are worried about insider threats. However, implementing zero-trust security can be challenging and time-consuming which can lead to large expenses and if not planned well can lead to major setbacks. If you’re considering implementing zero-trust security in your business, weigh the pros and cons carefully to see if it’s the right move for your specific needs.
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