Zero-trust security
Cybercrime is on the rise
with a growing number of Dutch companies falling victim to ransomware, phishing and hacks every year. Take your IT security to the next level with zero trust! Read our blog to find out what zero-trust security means, what it entails, and how you can implement it.
Today, the need to access company data whenever wherever is ubiquitous, but the need for mobility at work became acute even in 2010. Traditional security models no longer covered all the risks, so a new one was developed—zero-trust security, requiring every employee, every device, and every application to authenticate itself before it can access company assets.
Under a zero-trust approach, every device and every user is blacklisted by default, because you can’t know who or what they really are. Not until you have verified the identity of the user, the device, the app, and the network, anyway. In this way, you can ensure that everyone can access only the resources they really need and not roam your network freely.
At its heart, zero-trust security is about segmenting your network into so-called implied trust zones. This concerns itself with your internal resources, before you even consider access from outside. An implied trust zone demands that users requesting access meet specific security requirements and pass a strong authentication protocol to get inside.
The first step to gain access to a zero-trust environment is to authenticate the user. Only when they meet all the security requirements set by your organisation, are they granted access to the information or functions they require. Everything is on a need-to-know basis, i.e. users can only access the data, tools and networks they really need for their work. The other necessary step is to authenticate the device they are using. If any doubt persists that either the user or the device aren’t who they claim to be, they’re going to have to stay outside.
Zero-trust security may also involve monitoring the behaviour of users, devices and services on the network. This requires clear policies defining specific roles so you can stop threats before they can spread.
The first thing to do is develop a strategic action plan with a roadmap guiding you to your long-term goals. Unsure where or how to begin? Our solution specialists are happy to help.
Get in touch today! Our expert, Mark, is available to answer all your questions.
Browse our pages on zero-trust security for more information, including infographics, e-books and customer stories.
Looking to take your IT security to the next level with zero trust, but don’t know how or where to start? Read our e-book: 12 steps to airtight cybersecurity.
Get in touch with Mark Jongen, Solution Specialist – Data Centre.
