What is zero trust?

Zero trust is a cybersecurity approach based on the principle of “never trust, always verify,” Instead of assuming a user or device can be trusted because it’s inside a company network, zero trust requires access to be continually verified. It also assumes a breach could already have occurred, limiting access to reduce the potential damage.

How does zero trust work?

Zero trust evaluates multiple factors before allowing access, including user identity, device health, the application or data being requested, location, and other contextual information. Access is continually evaluated and limited to what the user or system needs.

Technologies commonly used to support zero trust include:

• Identity and access management (IAM)
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Network and micro-segmentation
• Least-privilege access controls
• Security information and event management (SIEM)
• Continuous monitoring and analytics

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Zero Trust Maturity Model identifies five pillars:

• Identity: Verify user identity and enforce least-privilege access for every request.
• Devices (Endpoints): Check device health, compliance, and risk before giving access to the network.
• Networks: Use segmentation and monitoring to limit unauthorized access and lateral movement.
• Applications and workloads: Protect applications, APIs, and workloads with appropriate access and security controls.
• Data: Protect sensitive information through classification, labeling, access controls, and tracking.

Why is zero trust important?

Traditional perimeter-based security is less effective when employees, applications, devices, and data are spread across on-premises, cloud, and remote environments. Zero trust reduces unauthorized access and can limit the impact of a successful breach. Full implementation can take time, but organizations can strengthen their security posture through incremental improvements.

Benefits and use cases

When combined with modern infrastructure, a zero trust framework can strengthen security with greater visibility, flexibility, and control. Beyond limiting the impact of a cyberattack, it can help protect both on-premises and cloud environments for:

• Remote workforces: Continuous verification supports secure access to applications and data from different locations.
• Data protection: Granular access controls and data loss prevention (DLP) help protect sensitive information.
• Application security: Microsegmentation can limit communications between applications and services to authorized connections.
• Cloud security: Consistent policies can protect access across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
• Critical infrastructure: Segmentation and strict access controls can help isolate sensitive systems and operational technology from cyber threats.
• Internet of Things (IoT) and connected devices: Verify devices, limit access, and segment network to reduce risk created by connected endpoints.

Does NexusTek help with Zero Trust?

Yes. NexusTek has nearly 30 years of experience delivering modern IT solutions including cybersecurity and zero trust architectures. We’re committed to helping you proactively safeguard their IT systems against downtime and data loss. Our Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solution ensures robust security and seamless operations to help you mitigate risks, reduce costs, and drive growth.