What is the Zero Trust Model

Zero Trust is a security model that operates on the principle ‘never trust, always verify’. Unlike traditional approaches, which rely on defined security perimeters to protect networks, Zero Trust assumes that threats can originate both inside and outside the corporate network. Therefore, every attempt to access the network, regardless of its origin, must be verified, authenticated and authorized.

Why this approach is really important

In the area of IT security, Zero Trust is a real breakthrough for corporate security and network protection. In order to understand the revolutionary scope of the Zero Trust model, it is necessary to know how the idea of a Zero Trust architecture evolved and led to the rethinking of concepts considered indispensable by CIOs and IT managers today.

Basic principle

Identity Security is the backbone of the Zero Trust approach. It assumes that any identity with access to your applications and systems may have been compromised. Vigilance and a Zero Trust approach to security is required, focusing on identity security: using this principle, you must focus on identifying, isolating and countering threats that compromise identities and gain privileges, before they can do any damage.

The fundamentals of a Zero Trust methodology

1- Explicit verification: verify the identity of users and devices before granting access to resources and information.
2- Access with minimal privileges: limit access to resources and information to only what is necessary for the user to do his or her job.
3- Assumption of breach: assume that the network has already been compromised and act accordingly to minimise damage and prevent further breaches.
4- Micro-segmentation: segmenting the network into smaller parts, making it more difficult for a malicious user to move laterally and compromise the entire network.
5- Monitoring and continuous risk assessment: Use telemetry, analytics and intelligence to continuously monitor the network for signs of compromise and adapt security policies in real time to respond to changes in risk.
6- Protect your entire supply chain: ensure that third party vendors follow best security practices and that their systems and applications are protected before granting access to your network.

Current situation

Mentioned in the Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity, the adoption of Zero Trust will continue to grow, and with good reason. Organisations that have implemented a Zero Trust approach have saved nearly €1 million in average breach costs compared to organisations without the methodology in place. Furthermore, 80 per cent of data breaches result from weak or re-used passwords, but in a Zero Trust model, users must verify their identity when attempting to access data.

Zero Trust Implementation

The adoption of a Zero Trust architecture requires a significant change in security mindset and policies. Companies must carefully assess their existing infrastructure, identify critical assets and implement security solutions that support multi-factor authentication, data encryption, micro-segmentation and advanced monitoring.

Future outlook

The volume of data generated is growing at an exponential rate. Manual processes that can take hours or even days are being replaced by simplified and automated measures. According to ISACA, as the amounts of data increase daily, automated monitoring of the cloud environment will work in a similar way.
According to Forbes, machine learning algorithms can examine the vast amount of data moving through networks in real time much more effectively than humans could, and can learn to recognise patterns that indicate a threat.

The analyst firm Gartner predicts that modern privacy laws will protect the personal information of 75 per cent of the world’s population by the end of the year. By 2025, cybersecurity will be an increasingly central investment in safeguarding business growth strategies.

Conclusions

Zero Trust is emerging as the norm for corporate data security in the digital age. Offering a more dynamic and proactive approach to security, Zero Trust not only protects companies from existing threats but also prepares them for future challenges in the cybersecurity landscape. Organisations that adopt this model can expect increased resilience, compliance and data protection, which are crucial for success in today’s digital business environment.

While Zero Trust appears to be the high road to winning the battle for data security, a recent Forbes analysis finds that 60 per cent of organisations will adopt Zero Trust as their security starting point by 2025, but more than half will fail to reap the benefits.