Having a zero-trust security standards is maintaining strict access controls and not trusting anyone by default. That is why a lot of companies nowadays have implemented these standards.
What Are Zero Trust Security Standards?
Zero trust security standards are a policy that is based on the principle of verifying every single user. It is also known as an “authentication-focused” security model.
What that means is that the company has no trust in the user by default. The user is required to prove his or her identity with their credentials and the identity of the device they are using.
The main reasons behind implementing zero-trust security standards are:
Security:
With this security model, it is easier to identify unauthorized users and attackers.
Privacy:
So this security model emphasizes data privacy and access. It ensures that every single user has their data and that only authorized people can access it.
Simplicity:
So this security policy is very easy to implement since it does not require costly changes or significant efforts from the company’s IT team.
Compliance:
It also helps a company comply with regulatory requirements such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, etc. That requires more stringent authentication policies than ever before.
How Does Zero Trust Security Standards Work?
This authentication-focused security model requires that every single device, user, and user session be authenticated. So the question that arises is “How do they ensure this?”
Well, they use different factors to maintain compliance. Some of these factors are:
Users:
They use a password or passphrase to authenticate the users. So all users have passwords or passphrases when they join the company for the first time.
They are required to change it immediately. If a user forgets his or her password, then he has to wait till it is reset by the IT team.
After resetting, he will be given a new password which should be different from the previous one. So this is how it maintains the privacy of the data of its employees, while still maintaining strict access controls.
Devices:
They use multi-factor authentication for devices and machines that access their internal networks and resources. That means that all devices accessing the company’s resources are required to have multi-factor authentication enabled.
Otherwise, they will be denied access. Some of these factors include:
- A one-time passcode (OTP) token
- A fingerprint scanner on a mobile device like an iPhone or Android device
- USB based key fobs with a small display screen on them that displays a passcode when prompted
- Smart cards (some companies still use them) that plug into your computer’s USB or SD slot. And also require you to key in a passcode before granting you access to your machine
- Mobile devices like iPhones, Androids, etc. use a fingerprint scanner or Face ID to login into your device. Before accessing any network resource on it (This is what Apple calls “SecureLogin”)
Conclusion:
So these are the Zero Trust Security Standards. Companies have started adopting it to ensure that they comply with all regulatory requirements.