Zero Trust Security

Young men experts in cybersecurity reviewing a laptop

We live in a world where the “bad guys” are getting smarter and more sophisticated in their attacks. Traditional perimeter-focused security models were designed to keep bad actors outside the network, but that’s no longer enough. When you assume your network is already compromised, you can take different steps to protect yourself. That’s where Zero Trust security comes in. 

Zero Trust is an approach to building a security model based on the assumption that bad actors are already inside your networks, and we need to limit their access as much as possible. It solves the modern business concerns of securing remote workers, hybrid cloud systems, and ransomware threats in a new way. 

Zero Trust Security – A Proactive And Innovative Approach

In today’s world, it’s not enough to look for breaches. You have to be able to stop them before they even happen. Zero trust is one of the most innovative cybersecurity protocols available, and it’s being implemented by some of the biggest companies in the world. 

The main goal of this protocol is to limit the damage of a breach if one does occur. It does this by implementing micro-segmentation—a process where you segment users based on their sensitivity or risk level within your network. This allows you to contain any damage from an attack to just the segment that was breached instead.

How Does Zero Trust Security Work?

Zero trust presupposes that there’s no typical network edge; networks can be local, cloud-based, or a mix of the 2, with resources and workers located anywhere. This type of security is known as “risk-based access” or “context-aware security.” 

Before being permitted to access applications and data, all users, whether inside or outside the organization’s network, must be verified, authorized, and continually evaluated for security configuration and status. 

Zero Trust also requires data encryption and the verification of asset and endpoint cleanliness before connecting to applications.

Zero Trust Security Can Be Implemented In 3 Stages:

1. Identity – Who’s trying to connect, and what are they trying to do? What’s their user identity or device type? Devices and users must be identified and authenticated before they are granted access to the network.

2. Verify – Is this user or device who/what it claims to be? Does it meet our requirements, or do we need to enforce additional restrictions? This can be done using various methods, such as passwords, fingerprints, or facial recognition.

3. Enforce – Allow or deny access based on current compliance status and permissions. Devices must be authorized before they are allowed to access sensitive data. This can be done using various methods, such as firewalls and gateways.

Why Do You Need A Zero Trust Security?

Not long ago, the most common approach to cybersecurity was “trust, but verify.” This meant that networks would be built on the assumption that everyone inside the network was trustworthy and that everything was secure. That trust was mostly blind—it was assumed rather than earned—and it allowed for many security breaches and hacks.

Zero Trust is an approach that seeks to solve those problems by assuming no one and nothing can be trusted, regardless of whether they’re inside or outside of the network. It assumes hackers are trying to get in—not that they’re not interested in gaining access, but rather that they’re actively trying—and uses this assumption as a starting point for implementing more robust defenses within the network.

Businesses need a Zero Trust network architecture to be competitive. It must be able to protect organizational data wherever users and devices are while also guaranteeing that applications run fast and smoothly.

Protect Your Business Today With Upstart Cyber

Upstart Cyber is your ideal ally in terms of cybersecurity. We enforce least-privileged access based on device and user identity, device hygiene, and real-time compliance status across heterogeneous networks. This ensures that only authorized users have access to the data they need to do their jobs and that all devices are kept clean and compliant with corporate security policies. 

Our team of engineers, developers, and cybersecurity experts has worked together to create highly robust, fine-tuned controls that will keep you secure and compliant with industry standards and regulations.

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