What is a zero trust network security policy? How do you make one? And why should you have one in place within your company? Find out below.
Zero Trust Network Security Policy
A zero trust network security policy is a new approach to cybersecurity that is gaining popularity among large enterprises. It is a network security model that assumes all network users are untrustworthy, even the ones within an organization’s network.
Then, this policy is designed to reduce the risk of unauthorized network access and cyber-attacks. This is by implementing an access management system that requires users to be authorized for a specific level of access before they can use it.
Further, some businesses choose to implement zero trust as a step beyond their current security systems. While others choose zero trust as their only security model.
Traditional trust-based security policies assume that all network users are trusted and that they should have full access to system resources at all times. This is inappropriate in today’s world where many employees work from home or remotely. So it may not be possible to monitor their activities.
On the other hand, a zero trust network security policy addresses this issue by implementing network security controls based on user identity, not device or location. This approach requires an identity management system to store user credentials. And then use them for the user and device authentication before allowing them onto the system.
Zero Trust Network Security Benefits
Implementing a zero trust network security policy will help your company prevent cyber attacks by addressing several key issues:
1. Preventing compromised privileged users from accessing sensitive data or critical infrastructure. Employees who have been compromised in some way may gain access to sensitive information they shouldn’t see. Or access systems they shouldn’t be on. So, this model can prevent this by requiring authenticated identities before providing access.
2. Prevent unauthorized devices from accessing company networks and sensitive data. A zero trust model can also prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to company networks and accessing sensitive data. Because it requires authenticated identities for both users and devices before granting any access privileges to the system.
3. Prevent unmanaged services and applications from accessing your network resources without authorization. This model can also prevent unmanaged services from gaining unauthorized access. Because it requires registered identities for each application before granting access rights into your company’s systems. Whether physical or virtual, on-premise or hosted off-site in the cloud,
4. Avoid unnecessary downtime during routine maintenance. Many companies experience downtime during routine maintenance of their production systems. Because someone forgot to log off from a server after performing updates. Thus, this model can prevent downtime by requiring authenticated identities before granting access privileges to the system. And then requiring those same authenticated identities to log off at the end of a session.
Conclusion
As you can see, companies need to have a zero trust network security policy in place. Because this approach can help prevent cyberattacks by addressing several key issues. And it can reduce the risk of unauthorized network access and cyber-attacks.