No, it’s not something that happens before a divorce. It’s actually a highly technical term related to network security. Zero Trust is essentially a framework that assumes a network’s security is always at risk to internal and external threats. It’s used as a philosophy to organize and strategize an approach to counter those threats. Let’s take a closer look at how the IT industry utilizes zero trust strategies to protect networks of all shapes and sizes.
What is Zero Trust and Why Do You Need It?
Zero Trust is designed to address the security needs of a data-driven hybrid cloud environment. Internal users, data, and assets have continuous protection along with the ability to proactively manage potential threats. Developed by John Kindervag in 2010 while a principal analyst at Forrester Research, a Zero-Trust architecture works by assuming that every connection and endpoint is considered a threat.
A Zero Trust network would:
- Log into and inspect network traffic
- Limit and control access to the network
- Verify and secure network resources
A Zero Trust security model ensures data and resources are inaccessible by default. Those working within the network can only access certain information and only in the right circumstances. Zero Trust strategies also transcend people. Every device on the network must be authenticated and authorized to operate within the network.
Why Old Security Models No Longer Suffice
Traditionally, the IT industry has used perimeter security strategies to protect internal networks. Perimeter security strategies use firewalls and other network-based tools to properly identify and allow users in and out of the network. The problem is the changing ways industries now to business. Companies are moving to hybrid cloud environments, which in some cases can neuter perimeter security strategies.
Thanks to shifting work patterns and a global pandemic, organizations now have thousands of individuals connecting to internal networks from their home computers. Users, resources, and data is typically scattered across the world, which makes it difficult to quickly connect and secure them. And security is compromised when home users lack the on-premises network protection they would have were they in the office.
To make matters worse, many companies use a patchwork of security solutions and tools with poor integration. As a result, internal security and IT teams end up spending a lot of time on manual tasks and cleanup operations. An increase in data breaches across the globe only makes this task more difficult. Zero Trust might just be the answer for organizations who want to enhance their network security environment.
