This new digital era comes with a plethora of tech enhancements, creating new sets of security challenges. More businesses are leaving on-premise working environments behind, with Cloud Computing and Remote Work taking over almost every industry. Further, while not long ago we would rely on specialized networks and devices to access business data, now millions of people work from hotels, cafés, and restaurants. I have no doubt that most people reading this had a business meeting while in a Starbucks!
We can now access company data from multiple networks and even from our personal devices. And yes, it has several benefits, but it makes businesses much more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Data is one of the most valuable assets for every business, and you can never be too careful when protecting it! That's why so many companies are adopting a Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA). In ZTA, trust is a vulnerability that leads to breaches and needs continuous monitoring and validation. But why is ZTA so essential? Is Zero Trust Architecture the future of businesses? Let's find out!
John Kindervag developed the Zero Trust approach in 2010 as a group of cybersecurity principles. With this approach, teams are encouraged to work assuming that all users, devices, and networks are highly risky to a business' safety. ZTA aims to stop the implicit trust some companies have in who accesses their data, including both internal and external users. A great TL;DR is the phrase "never trust, always verify," commonly used in ZTA teams.
In essence, Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is a software architecture and cybersecurity strategy based on the idea that you can trust nothing. Based on that principle, it works with continuous verification, requiring multiple security layers. Think of it this way. You enter a building by showing an ID at the entrance. Yet, inside the building, there are multiple departments storing information. ZTA would require you to identify yourself again to enter any of those departments.
In addition, it would also monitor your behavior once you've entered the building. It's important to understand that ZTA isn't a technology but a philosophical approach. While its practical implementation receives the name Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), before that, it's a mindset with its guidelines and principles.
As we mentioned, ZTA is not a tech you can acquire but a cybersecurity strategy. That's why its principles are not material things but conceptual approaches to implement in organizations. "Never trust, always verify" does address ZTA's vitals, but it's just the tip of the iceberg!
ZTNA is a cybersecurity solution that takes ZTA principles to practical scenarios, giving remote access to business apps, data, and resources following ZTA principles. You can also think of it as an improved version of a VPN. Why? Because VPNs focus primarily on locations to deem a user as trustworthy or not. On top of that, once the user is verified, they have full access to corporate data because they are seen as secure. Nonetheless, location is no longer a factor regarding the trustworthiness of a user or an application.
As mentioned above, the hybrid work model is becoming increasingly popular. That's why ZTNA solutions consider multiple contextual factors pre-defined by ZTA, like also checking user behavior, identity, device, software, etc.Since Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) follows ZTA principles, all access attempts require verification and authentication. It doesn't give users full access to business data after identifying themselves. So, instead of VPN's implicit trust, ZTNA promotes explicit trust.
ZTA is a set of principles that guide businesses in securing their digital assets, aiming to eliminate the implicit trust that users would have after entering a network. Yet, instead of a technology you can buy, Zero Trust Architecture gives the foundation for ensuring secure access, which means that all businesses can look at it as a best practice. If you want to keep your business secure, never trust, always verify!
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This new digital era comes with a plethora of tech enhancements, creating new sets of security challenges. More businesses are leaving on-premise working environments behind, with Cloud Computing and Remote Work taking over almost every industry. Further, while not long ago we would rely on specialized networks and devices to access business data, now millions of people work from hotels, cafés, and restaurants. I have no doubt that most people reading this had a business meeting while in a Starbucks!
We can now access company data from multiple networks and even from our personal devices. And yes, it has several benefits, but it makes businesses much more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Data is one of the most valuable assets for every business, and you can never be too careful when protecting it! That's why so many companies are adopting a Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA). In ZTA, trust is a vulnerability that leads to breaches and needs continuous monitoring and validation. But why is ZTA so essential? Is Zero Trust Architecture the future of businesses? Let's find out!
John Kindervag developed the Zero Trust approach in 2010 as a group of cybersecurity principles. With this approach, teams are encouraged to work assuming that all users, devices, and networks are highly risky to a business' safety. ZTA aims to stop the implicit trust some companies have in who accesses their data, including both internal and external users. A great TL;DR is the phrase "never trust, always verify," commonly used in ZTA teams.
In essence, Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is a software architecture and cybersecurity strategy based on the idea that you can trust nothing. Based on that principle, it works with continuous verification, requiring multiple security layers. Think of it this way. You enter a building by showing an ID at the entrance. Yet, inside the building, there are multiple departments storing information. ZTA would require you to identify yourself again to enter any of those departments.
In addition, it would also monitor your behavior once you've entered the building. It's important to understand that ZTA isn't a technology but a philosophical approach. While its practical implementation receives the name Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), before that, it's a mindset with its guidelines and principles.
As we mentioned, ZTA is not a tech you can acquire but a cybersecurity strategy. That's why its principles are not material things but conceptual approaches to implement in organizations. "Never trust, always verify" does address ZTA's vitals, but it's just the tip of the iceberg!
ZTNA is a cybersecurity solution that takes ZTA principles to practical scenarios, giving remote access to business apps, data, and resources following ZTA principles. You can also think of it as an improved version of a VPN. Why? Because VPNs focus primarily on locations to deem a user as trustworthy or not. On top of that, once the user is verified, they have full access to corporate data because they are seen as secure. Nonetheless, location is no longer a factor regarding the trustworthiness of a user or an application.
As mentioned above, the hybrid work model is becoming increasingly popular. That's why ZTNA solutions consider multiple contextual factors pre-defined by ZTA, like also checking user behavior, identity, device, software, etc.Since Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) follows ZTA principles, all access attempts require verification and authentication. It doesn't give users full access to business data after identifying themselves. So, instead of VPN's implicit trust, ZTNA promotes explicit trust.
ZTA is a set of principles that guide businesses in securing their digital assets, aiming to eliminate the implicit trust that users would have after entering a network. Yet, instead of a technology you can buy, Zero Trust Architecture gives the foundation for ensuring secure access, which means that all businesses can look at it as a best practice. If you want to keep your business secure, never trust, always verify!
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