They say, “Modern problems require modern solutions.”
This is also true for cybersecurity: The traditional “castle-and-moat” approach where everyone in a network is trusted by default doesn’t address the new-age threats evolving every day.
Why? Because data such as sensitive, internal company information isn’t stored in one place anymore. As cloud storage solutions become more widely used and preferred, data becomes scattered, and entry points increase. Seeing old-age solutions fail to protect against malware and ransomware attacks, companies are now starting to adopt a Zero Trust mindset.
Today’s multi-cloud networks especially in organizations dealing with highly sensitive information like government agencies and utility corporations require a more delicate, innovative approach. And that’s how we arrive at the Zero Trust data security model.
What Is Zero Trust?
Most professionals have heard of the motto “Never trust, always verify.” by now. We prefer going back to the source and starting from a solid foundation before building a Zero Trust Architecture.
NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) of the U.S. Department of Commerce defines Zero Trust as: “a cybersecurity paradigm focused on resource protection and the premise that trust is never granted implicitly but must be continually evaluated.” They also further explain:
“Zero trust (ZT) provides a collection of concepts and ideas designed to minimize uncertainty in enforcing accurate, least privilege per-request access decisions in information systems and services in the face of a network viewed as compromised.”
Source: NIST 800-207
In layman’s terms, Zero Trust begins with assuming an attack has already happened. The focus is on minimizing the damage inflicted upon a network, or an enterprise in such an event. Trusting no one and nothing is the foundation of limiting the damage when it comes to Zero Trust data protection and managing access in a network or in between networks is a critical point of creating a Zero Trust environment.
Why Is Zero Trust Important?
In 2024, the global average cost of a data breach reached 4.88 million USD, increasing 10% from last year. Compromised (or stolen) credentials and phishing attacks were the lead causes among this year’s leading attack types.
The global digital transformation in communication and operations at all scales, from private companies to government agencies means that networks are no longer limited to on-premises physical locations. Especially with cloud technologies becoming commonplace, there are more vulnerable entry points for attacks than ever before. Coupled with an extended attack surface encompassing on-premises & cloud environments, IoT devices, remote-access employees and partners, the cost (both monetary and regarding recovery efforts) becomes increasingly costly.
A Zero Trust security framework limits data access at all levels. In its principles, ZTA (Zero Trust Architecture) blocks lateral movement via microsegmentation of networks and shields against insider attacks by constant verification. “Plugging the holes” from all sides, the Zero Trust cybersecurity model sets up protections for all individual source points.
What Are the 3 Core Zero Trust Principles?
Zero Trust is implemented with certain goals in mind. These include preventing lateral movement in case of a breach, minimizing the attack surface, and reducing the cost of possible ransomware attacks. The Zero Trust Architecture model is built upon three core principles to meet these needs.
Assume Breach
The Zero Trust security model is a proactive approach, where security teams must assume that an attack has already happened. This means that the quality & scope of security depend on the precautions taken before a possible breach. Microsegmentation, fast response protocols, and MFA (multi-factor authentication) are other examples of necessary, ongoing protections against an assumed breach.
Continuously Monitor & Validate
The Zero Trust cybersecurity model isn’t a one-time setup. A key difference from the “castle-and-moat” approach emerges here. The default isn’t trusting the devices in a network after they’re verified once, it’s the opposite: Devices and users connected to a Zero Trust network are timed out periodically and continuously verified.
Least Privileged Access
The devices and users in a Zero Trust Architecture access anything on a need-to-know basis, just like in top-secret military missions. Users and devices have minimum-level privileges, which means they are only able to access the specific data they need to perform their role. This includes operating with a Zero Trust Network Access model, where devices in a network aren’t “aware” of any other devices or resources other than the ones they are currently connected to.
What Are the 5 Zero Trust Pillars?
There are 5 pillars of protection which a Zero Trust environment is built upon. As Zero Trust means access management at its core, these must be addressed individually:
Identity
MFA (multi-factor authentication) is the most well-known strategy for protecting against identity theft in digital spaces. However, Zero Trust authentication can also supported by other IAM (Identity and Access Management) systems where users are timed out at regular intervals and need to provide verification before accessing data.
Devices
According to Zero Trust principles, every device connected to a network, such as computers, phones, servers, printers, and even removable media such as USB sticks and CDs must operate with pre-defined access policies. These devices must also be always monitored and their transmissions recorded.
Networks
Microsegmentation is key for a Zero Trust Architecture. Segmenting a network into smaller zones is critical for preventing lateral movement in case of an attack. Microsegmentation is also helpful in case of an insider attack since users are limited to smaller network zones where they’re practically unaware of other resources.
Applications & Workloads
Similarly to other pillars, APIs (Application Programming Interface) must also not be trusted. The actions of and operations within any apps or programs must be constantly monitored and regularly verified with dynamic authentication.
Data
Locking down data is a key point for the Zero Trust security model. Encrypting and categorizing data, and then enforcing targeted access control & security policies are a must for containing the loss in case of a data breach. This approach also calls for constant monitoring to identify any suspicious behavior.
DataFlowX: A Zero Trust Ecosystem
Overhauling your entire network system to actualize a complete Zero Trust cybersecurity might seem daunting. The good news is that with DataFlowX, you can integrate next-generation Zero Trust security solutions into your existing legacy systems.
DataFlowX, the most trusted Zero Trust security vendor in Turkey, offers innovative solutions that act as building blocks for Zero Trust Architecture. Get in contact with us to see where your current cybersecurity systems fall short and discover turnkey solutions for a Zero Trust Ecosystem.