New cybersecurity trend: what are Zero Trust networks?

Due to the increasing number of computer threats, Zero Trust networks have become the new trend in cybersecurity.
An increase in the attack surface is generated from the increase in remote work, where home networks are mixed with business networks (sometimes there is more than one business network, when several family members work remotely in different companies), this new cybersecurity paradigm is here to stay.

Zero Trust Networks

Zero Trust is a model that leverages a set of integrated security actions, processes and solutions that enable enterprises:

• Identify and classify all users and devices seeking network access
• Assess the status of compliance with internal security policies.
• Automatically assign them to control zones and monitor them continuously, both on and off line.
• Zero Trust also establishes the identification, surveillance and control of the devices that participate in the network, which are often more than the users themselves. The main idea behind all this is that no trust is given in advance to a system, user or application, regardless of its location on the network.
  It is not assumed that applications or computers that are on the internal network are reliable, nor that behind the laptop of John will always be John, for example. It is always necessary not to assume and validate.

In an increasingly complex cybersecurity landscape, it is important to have a strict data verification system and predict threats based on continuous monitoring and response. The Zero Trust model is becoming one of the most effective ways for companies to control access to their networks, applications and data.

While authentication, authorisation and auditing, 'the triple A', have long been talked about to validate a user's identity and record all activity flowing between user and application on the network, Zero Trust has gained traction in recent months because it is an important pillar of an overall platform strategy that combines dynamic security from local networks to the cloud, as well as artificial intelligence (AI)-driven components.

The common dilemma is delivering explicit trust to a network. When trust is automatically extended to any device or user, companies expose their security, either intentionally or unintentionally. As a result, there is a need today to be wary of anything that wants to be part of the network, regardless of its origin.

Main functions of Zero Trust:

Identify and protect users and devices, inside and outside the network.

Another key function of Zero Trust is to facilitate rapid reaction to an IT security incident.

Because everything is explicitly identified, it is easier to notice when something is out of the ordinary.
Add artificial intelligence to determine patterns of regular behavior and differentiate between those that are not, and the business environment has the technological tools to effectively analyze logs.
An automated and real-time analysis can tell us that someone was connected on a specific day or time and define if that is normal or not, even temporarily restrict access to that person immediately, review the activities at a certain time and report the situation to internal people to define if there is a possible intrusion.

The key is knowing what's on your network, who's on it, and protecting the assets on and off your network.
By transitioning to a Zero Trust network that identifies, segments and continuously monitors all devices, organizations can ensure the security of internal resources and the protection of data, applications and intellectual property.
Not only does this strategy reduce many of the risks an enterprise faces due to a central security strategy, it simplifies overall network management and extends visibility and control throughout the organization, including off-network devices during telecommuting.

In the public or private cloud, this also means being able to do, among other things, micro-segmentation, which means ensuring that no traffic flows between servers, applications or services without this traffic being inspected and validated.

The Zero Trust model is highly useful for regulated industries such as healthcare and finance, facilitating the identity authenticity and compliance audit process. The increase in network-connected devices outpaces the growth of users and certainly the growth of security equipment. That's why Zero Trust makes it easy to migrate and adapt a network to new applications.

An additional advantage is that many times the technology components necessary to carry out a Zero Trust implementation are already present. More often than not, the missing components are minimal, or they exist and only need to be activated or configured. In this sense, although the initial exercise must be exhaustive, the dividends in reliability, visibility and therefore peace of mind after the fact will undoubtedly more than pay for the efforts invested.

Is a Zero Trust-based security architecture the solution to all security problems in your organisation?

No, but it is one that should always be considered. This new paradigm allows companies to know exactly who and what is on their network at any given time, increasing compliance by ensuring access to applications and infrastructure for all users. Its relevance lies in being an important part of a comprehensive cyber security strategy in the enterprise environment: never trust and always verify.