Do you know what the history of zero trust security is? If you want to know about this topic, then this article is for you. So, read on.
History of Zero Trust Security
Zero trust security started when the world moved to the cloud. Security professionals found that, with the cloud model, it is not easy to ensure security in multi-tenant environments.
Zero Trust Security is a model of information security, in which access to all network resources is granted only after the identity of a user. And the context of their actions has been authenticated, authorized, and verified. This approach differs from traditional access control methods. This typically grants access to resources based upon a user’s identity alone.
Further, this is an approach for securing your data in a connected environment and is also called the No Trust Model. But it doesn’t rely on the concept of trusting users or networks. Instead, it requires that any access requests must be authenticated, authorized, and checked for compliance with the policy.
So, in other words, it’s an extension of the principle of least privilege (or “the principle of least functionality”). This is where an entity (a person, program, or device) should have only the minimal set of privileges necessary to perform its designated task.
Zero Trust Security vs. Traditional Security Model
Zero trust security differs from traditional security models by implementing access control measures. One that ensures that users are accessing applications and services only from authorized endpoints.
So, zero trust means that you don’t grant full access without a reason; you grant only when needed and monitor everything. Also, you don’t take anyone’s word for it. You validate everything! This can be achieved using a combination of technologies such as:
- identity-based encryption (IBE),
- multi-factor authentication (MFA),
- user entity and attribute tracking (UEAT),
- privileged identity management (PIM)
- and user behavior analytics (UBA) at both the endpoint and network levels.
Further, this can help organizations protect their users’ identities, data, and applications against breaches. This is by providing visibility into user activities in real-time and blocking unauthorized access attempts before they happen.
This is critical because every major breach can be prevented by implementing basic security controls. That is, employees are bound to make mistakes eventually. So it is necessary to have an effective monitoring system in place.
What Are the Benefits?
If you do not want your business data compromised, then you must implement zero trust security controls at every level—endpoint, network, and cloud. This is to ensure that access requests are properly authenticated, authorized, and compliance with the policy is verified.
Further, this provides an added layer of protection against breaches and data loss. This is because it protects your sensitive data from insider threats, too. This approach also ensures that no one can access or move an asset without proper authorization.
Then, it requires a different set of skills to operate in a zero trust environment, rather than in traditional security models. Hence, it has become necessary to implement zero trust controls.
Conclusion
So, if you want to implement the Zero Trust Security Model, then you have to think it through. This is because it’s a new way of thinking in today’s connected world. This model has changed the traditional way of doing things and will continue to be a part of our future.