Explaining the Zero-Trust Model

Considering what the modern cyberthreat environment looks like, more and more rigorous cybersecurity is strictly needed. One way that businesses can accomplish this is a cybersecurity practice known as a zero-trust model.

What is Zero-Trust?

Zero-trust is usually what it sounds like: the default for every organization being to put zero trust in anything—any user, any piece of hardware, any network connection—until it has been verified as trustworthy and secure through rigorous authentication.

Adopting a zero-trust policy is, and will be, a lengthy process. It will take ongoing work to maintain its efficacy, with numerous aspects to see to before it will be as effective as it needs to be. Your zero-trust policy needs to take everything into consideration in order to effectively protect your operations.

That Being Said, Zero-Trust is Relatively Simple to Implement

When planning to adopt a zero-trust process, it is critical to involve a few steps:

Establish Your Goals for Your Zero-Trust Processes

According to NIST—the National Institute of Standards and Technology—there are two goals behind zero-trust: preventing unauthorized access to your business’ data and resources, and that access control measures remain as granular as possible. Naturally, these goals should be considered in addition to what you want for your business.

Establish Your Most Imperative Data

Quick—think about what data your business couldn’t operate without, and how this data could be accessed. This information will be crucial to ensuring that your zero-trust strategy addresses the biggest and most egregious vulnerabilities that you’ll likely face.

Establish How Prepared You are for Zero-Trust

Similarly, you also need to evaluate your network’s preparedness to follow the tenets of zero-trust. Is your network equipped with the appropriate safeguards? Are your endpoints sufficiently secured? Are your users abiding by the standards and policies you’ve dictated to them? Figuring out where your IT falls short will be key to your ultimate success. 

Establish What You Need to Do to Improve

Once you know where you need to improve, you’re in a position to do just that as you implement the necessary protections and network changes to support zero trust. As a general rule, this means that nothing should be trusted without being authenticated first, with real-time monitoring implemented. 

Establish Monitoring Practices

This real-time monitoring should continue into perpetuity, so that future threats and issues can be more effectively caught and mitigated.

When all is said and done, a zero-trust policy is simply a more secure way to approach your business’ network and resources. Macro Systems can help you put it into practice. Give us a call at 703-359-9211 to learn more.