Have you heard of the zero trust model? While it’s been around since the mid-1990s, the zero trust model has become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s an approach to cybersecurity that, when executed properly, offers an iron-clad level of protection against cyber attacks and data breaches. To learn more about the zero trust model and how it works, keep reading.
Overview of the Zero Trust Model
Also known as the zero trust architecture, the zero trust model is an approach to cybersecurity centering around the belief that businesses shouldn’t trust any device within or outside of their network.
Devices, of course, are often targets for cyber attacks. It only takes a single unsecured device to cause a data breach. The problem is that many businesses have dozens or even hundreds of devices connected to their network, and many of them use external devices like cloud storage servers. Whether internal or external, these devices can become targets for hackers. The zero trust model, however, is a risk-aversive strategy for protecting against cyber attacks. It involves erring on the side of caution by assuming that no device, whether internal or external, can be trusted.
How the Zero Trust Model Works
There are different ways to execute the zero trust model. By definition, the zero trust model simply assumes that no device can be trusted. In turn, a variety of cybersecurity solutions are used to protect the devices. User authentication, for instance, is a common component of the zero trust model. User authentication refers to the use of a system, such as a login box, to authenticate the identities of device users.
Cybersecurity software is another common component of the zero trust model. Computers, tablets and other devices must feature cybersecurity software to defend against viruses and other types of malware. It will identify potential threats while stopping them from infecting the devices. With the zero trust model, businesses must keep all of their devices updated with cybersecurity software.
Many businesses use policies as part of their zero trust model strategy. A bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy, for example, may require employees to have their devices verified and updated before they can use them for work-related purposes. Businesses may also use access control policies as part of their zero trust model strategy. Access control policies detail which users can access specific devices or parts of a network, and it states the level of authority they have when accessing them.
#cybersecurity #zerotrust #model