Zero Trust Security Best Practices

According to Gartner, it is estimated that over 60% of organisations will phase out VPNs in favour of Zero Trust Network Access to counter more sophisticated cyber threats in 2024. This shows that advancing to zero-trust security is among the top three IT and security priorities for businesses. 

Therefore, the high adoption rate of Zero-Trust Network Access security shows its positive impact on securing businesses’ infrastructure. In this article, we will explore some of the best zero-trust security practices for safeguarding business infrastructure.

What is the Zero Trust Security Model?

Before understanding of zero trust security framework, let us first understand what zero trust security is not –

1. It is not a single solution for all cybersecurity challenges
2. Not a single product, service, or technology that a company can use to redefine and secure their infrastructure
3. It is not a one-time thing or practice or one size that can fit any infrastructure

So, what is the Zero Trust Security Model?

Zero-trust security is a continuous practice of building a defensive security infrastructure with several security features, capabilities, and practices. A zero trust framework implements a “Never Trust; Always Verify” approach with each security layer and limits access based on user roles.

What are the Best Zero Trust Security Practices?

Involve Everybody in Building the  Zero Trust Model 

The first and foremost practice is to bring everybody together to build the zero-trust model. From your IT professionals to your stakeholders, you need everybody. 

Building a zero-trust framework for your organisation is also not just about resources and money; rather, it depends on the continuous commitment and support it takes to make it work.

Therefore, the first step is to make sure everybody understands the benefits of zero-trust network access and why it matters. The next would be to talk stock of your current framework. This can involve –

• Understand what security practices are already in place and what else you need.
• Create a strategy that covers the entire organisation with clarity on roles and responsibilities.
• Ensure you bring clarity on the importance of zero trust and not just technology.
• Prepare yourself for facing resistance and get ready to shift the work culture if needed.

Reduce the Attack Surface 

Credential theft has doubled, according to a Ponemon Institute study conducted for Proofpoint. The worst part is that insider threats are growing rapidly. Therefore, businesses need to kill the traditional approach that focuses on threats only coming from outside. 

Zero Trust Security knows how dangerous insider risk can be. So, it is important to shrink your risk area and divide it into small parts to make it challenging for hackers to penetrate.

• Include your IT and operations for finding out the entry point.
• Make frequent changes and updates in your inventory
• Create explicit norms about access and who gets access to what.
• Track and keep a close eye on asset and data movement

Implement Balance and Healthy Control Mechanisms

Create rules and plans based on a trust control mechanism based on your current inventory-

1. Understand what zero trust plan has to manage better and fix your infrastructure security problems.
2. Focus on important issues like securing remote employees
3. Create limits and set who is responsible for what and make it centralised across all departments
4. Make use of different security tools like Multi-Factor Authentication
5. Keep rules updated and handy.

Conclusion

The cost of falling prey to a cyber attack can be high compared to implementing good zero-trust security practices. Therefore, for a healthy and strong infrastructure, ensure you adopt the above practices and create the best zero-trust framework for your business.