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An Introduction To The Zero Trust Framework

The shift to a remote workforce has accelerated at an unprecedented pace, bringing the vulnerabilities of traditional security models to the forefront. As businesses realize the risks to their confidential data, many are turning to the Zero Trust Framework to secure their infrastructure.

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has gripped the world to extremes never seen before, and there are a number of key cybersecurity lessons that have been learned from it. First, the notion of a 99% remote workforce was a concept that many thought would take years to come to fruition; instead, it happened in just three short months.

The gravity of Identity Access Management (IAM) has now come front and center, as businesses realize just how vulnerable their confidential information truly is. This is where the Zero Trust Framework becomes a critical focal point.

What Exactly Is Zero Trust?

In traditional IAM models, there is often an implicit level of trust. For example, long-tenured employees might bypass certain authentication mechanisms without being questioned.

The Zero Trust Framework takes this to the opposite extreme: nobody is trusted, whether they are internal or external to the company. This applies to end-users, devices, and even high-ranking members of the C-Suite and Board of Directors. To gain access, every entity must be fully vetted and authenticated to the maximum level possible.

Beyond 2FA: In this framework, Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is not enough. Multifactor Authentication (MFA) is required, utilizing at least three layers to fully verify a device or user.
Micro-segmentation: Zero Trust is not just a perimeter defense; it is extended to protect each and every server, workstation, and asset within the IT infrastructure.

[Image showing Zero Trust micro-segmentation, with individual security perimeters around every user, device, and application]

(SOURCE: 1)

Other essential tools to enforce the Zero Trust Framework include:

Stronger Endpoint Security
Dividing networks into smaller subnets
Enacting Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Deploying high levels of encryption
Using Logging and Analytic Tools (like SIEM)
Making use of Policy Enforcement and Orchestration Engines

How to Implement the Zero Trust Framework

Deploying Zero Trust is not a "one fell swoop" event; it is a phased-in approach. Keep these four key areas in mind:

Understand and define what needs to be protected: Take a holistic view. Instead of one overarching line of defense, create "micro-perimeters" for every individual digital asset, from servers to specific datasets.
Determine the interconnections: Digital assets are rarely isolated. Ascertain how your databases, physical servers, and virtual machines link together to determine the controls needed between them.
Craft the specific framework: Zero Trust is not "one size fits all." Your unique security requirements, protection surfaces, and linkages must dictate the framework's design.
Determine real-time monitoring: Use Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) software to collect logs, warnings, and alerts into one central view. This allows your IT Security Team to triage and act upon threats almost instantaneously.

Conclusions

As you consider adding the infrastructure to support Zero Trust, you should also look for technology to assist with HR investigations and post-breach analysis. The AccessData API integrates seamlessly with your cybersecurity platform to kick off investigations the moment an intrusion is detected.

With our latest release, AD Enterprise is the first forensic solution to offer in-network collection, superior Mac collection, off-network collection, and cloud data source collection—all in one product!

In a future blog, we will examine the key advantages and disadvantages of a Zero Trust Framework.

SourcesTechTarget: Zero Trust Model Definition

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