The Zero Trust Network Security Model: Enhancing Cybersecurity for Modern Organizations<\/h1>\n

In a zero-trust security policy, no device or user is trusted from inside or outside the network perimeter. The security model provides visibility and protection across distributed, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments.<\/p>\n

IT leaders recognize that they must move to this new security model but worry about the impact on business-as-usual and the time needed to implement.<\/p>\n

The Zero Trust network security model follows the mantra \u201cnever trust, always verify.\u201d It assumes that everyone is a threat until proven otherwise. This means granting access only after identity, device, and permissions are checked, whether the user is inside a private network, working from home on a personal laptop, or at a conference across the globe. This approach prevents attackers from stealing data and moving laterally through the network.<\/p>\n

A zero-trust strategy limits privileged access to sensitive information, even on a single account. This is a critical component of the principle of least privilege, which requires multi-factor authentication for all users and limits access to a small number of devices or accounts with administrative rights. For example, when employees use 2-factor authorization (2FA) to log in to online platforms, they must enter a code sent to their mobile phone and their password. This reduces the likelihood of compromised credentials being used to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.<\/p>\n

Zero trust security is necessary to protect against sophisticated threats as the lines between work and life blur, and employees work from various locations. Zero trust is essential for protecting cloud, IoT, supply chain applications, and traditional networking infrastructure. As an alternative to the castle-and-moat approach, it enables organizations to focus on defending their applications and data rather than securing the perimeter.<\/p>\n

Segmentation<\/h2>\n

As the IT landscape continues to evolve, securing networks requires new approaches. Attackers no longer target specific applications or data from a single point; they usually piggyback on approved access and then move laterally across the network to reach their targets. Zero trust helps reduce the blast radius of these attacks by securing various entry points.<\/p>\n

Zero trust assumes every user and device is hostile, so granting them access without further validation would be a significant risk. That\u2019s why it focuses on verifying identities and permissions at a much more granular level rather than relying on static attributes such as an IP address or password. In addition, a zero-trust model continuously receives real-time data and assesses all requests to verify users and devices are authorized to access the system.<\/p>\n

This is challenging to achieve with traditional security solutions relying on implicit trust and a perimeter separating private and public data and applications. In many cases, these vendors require you to build a framework from the ground up to support their technologies, which adds complexity and cost to your infrastructure. However, implementing a fully zero-trust architecture can be simple and seamless for your organization with the right tools and approach. A Fortinet Zero Trust Network (ZTNA) solution can provide the visibility and security controls you need to transition seamlessly.<\/p>\n