Zero Trust Security

Executive Summary

Zero Trust Security is a cybersecurity paradigm that assumes that users and devices should never be trusted implicitly. Zero Trust deployment reduces the risk of unauthorized access, data breaches and insider attacks. In this model, continuous authentication, tight access control, and network segmentation are adopted to enhance security. Organizations that are adopting a Zero Trust mindset are more secure from cyber attacks by shrinking the attack surface and limiting lateral movement across the network.

Background

Traditional security models are based on perimeter protection, and that a network’s users and devices are implicitly assumed to never be untrustworthy once authenticated. However, cyber threats have evolved, making perimeter-based security insufficient [4]. Zero Trust remedies this shortcoming by requiring publishers of all users and devices aiming to access an organization’s IT resources to perform continuous re-authentication [2]. Using this approach, unauthorized access can be partially blocked, even if an attacker gains access to login credentials.

Zero Trust is taken into effect according to a set of postulates such as least privilege access, on-going authentication, or micro-segmentation. Least privilege access ensures that users have as little system privileges as needed to perform their tasks, thus reducing the risk posed by their own body [1]. Continuous authentication confirms user identities over multiple authentication sessions instead of only during the first login [3]. Micro-segmentation breaks networks into self-contained units and prevents an attacker from free movement through a system if they gain access to the system.

With the increase in cloud and remote models of work, there is a growing demand for Zero Trust security. Removing implicit trust within the network and opting to verify every attempt of access fills spots of vulnerabilities within the network. Using this infrastructure helps to prevent data leakage, ransomware and unentitled access to confidential information.

Impact

Zero Trust Security mitigates the risk of data exfiltration, insider attack and unauthorized access. The traditional perimeter-based security models in the field are frequently incompatible when an attacker also has an availability of some credentials, i.e., that the attacker can wander freely in the network. In Zero Trust the attacker needs to maneuver a series of levels of authentication, which is diminishing their lateral movement and chances in gaining access to systems [5]. Companies not yet embracing modern security paradigms remain vulnerable to confidentiality and integrity attacks that take advantage of remote access legacy perimeter-based defense.

Mitigation

Zero Trust security requires in sequence of identification and access verification (access control and network segmentation). The security of Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is based on the requirement that users must provide more than one type of proof to obtain access. MFA should be implemented to strengthen security and minimize risks of credential-based attacks. The use of least privilege access rules reduces the risk of insider attacks by limiting the privileges of the account holder. Micro-segmentation restricts spillover by placing an attack within the isolated host within a network. Accumulated to these measures, they enhance the cyber security of systems, thereby decreasing the chances of unauthorized access.

Relevance

Zero Trust Security is an important cyber security approach with relevance today when cyber attacks are increasingly sophisticated. Organizations can fall victim to unnecessary risk if the security models are based on old technology. Implementing Zero Trust principles mitigates attack surface, increases the data security and allows a more robust security architecture. Organizations implementing this framework have the potential to defend today’s cyber attacks and mitigate the risk of a security incident.

References

[1] Incognia. (n.d.). Continuous Authentication: Definition & Benefits. Incognia. https://www.incognia.com/the-authentication-reference/continuous-authentication

[2] Quorum Cyber. (n.d.). Zero Trust: The Future of Cyber Security. Quorum Cyber. https://www.quorumcyber.com/insights/zero-trust-the-future-of-cyber-security/

[3] Saltsman, Zach. (2024, November 12). Zero Trust Security: The Future of Cyber Defense. Citrin Cooperman. https://www.citrincooperman.com/In-Focus-Resource-Center/Zero-Trust-Security-The-Future-of-Cyber-Defense

[4] VerSprite. (2023, November 5). Zero Trust – a Trendy Buzzword or a Future of Cybersecurity. Verspite. https://versprite.com/security-resources/zero-trust-a-trendy-buzzword-or-a-future-of-cybersecurity/

[5] Weinberg, J., & Cohen, L. (2024, January 17). Zero Trust Implementation in the Emerging Technologies Era: Survey. Arxiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.09575