What are some of the zero trust security questions that you need to ask? How can this help you? To know more, read this article.
Zero Trust Security Questions
To begin, zero trust security questions refer to a new way of thinking about security in IT. Zero trust is a fresh approach to network security that goes beyond asking users to provide their passwords and, instead, demands that they prove their identity by answering security questions before they are granted access to the network.
Users are also asked to provide answers to security questions when they are logging into applications and services. Further, these questions also cover a wide range of IT. This includes identity management, access management, and privileged access management.
It has been a long-standing belief that protecting the network perimeter is all that is needed for network security. The zero trust model turns this assumption upside down by shifting the focus from the perimeter to users and the services they access.
So, no longer can you simply rely on a user’s claim of identity or what he or she says about themselves or their job function or role. Instead, you need to verify the user’s identity by asking them several questions about their role, job title, employer, and other information. This might include questions such as “What was your first pet’s name?” or “What street did you live on in your hometown?”
Then, a more recent trend has been around authentication factors. Authentication factors refer to any means by which an entity can verify its identity. These factors can include:
- username and password combinations,
- biometrics (fingerprints and facial scans),
- tokens (in the form of smart cards),
- or even behavioral patterns.
Finally, with zero trust security questions, you want to ensure that at least one authentication factor is required for authentication. This helps reduce single points of failure for authentication and makes it more difficult for unauthorized parties to gain access.
Zero Trust Security Questions For IT Teams
While these security questions may sound like a lot of work for IT teams, there are some benefits associated with this approach:
- It prevents credential stuffing attacks. One of the primary ways hackers gain access to systems is through stealing usernames and passwords from compromised databases. With these questions, this type of attack becomes less likely. Since the hacker would have no way of knowing what types of questions are being asked.
- It increases overall network security. When everyone has to be authenticated by answering several security questions, it makes it more difficult for unauthorized parties to enter. Thus, it also increases overall network security.
- It helps you gain a better understanding of who is accessing the network. Moreover, it helps you determine what their roles are, and what applications they are accessing. And any other relevant information.
Conclusion
So, if you are a network administrator, security administrator, or IT manager, then you need to ask yourself, “What zero trust security questions do I need to ask?” And if you are a user who is being asked these questions, you should take it as a compliment. After all, it means that your employer is taking extra steps to protect the organization’s data.