Zero trust is a strategic security concept and framework built on the principle that no implicit trust is granted to entities, assets, user accounts, or digital assets or connections based solely on simple factors. These factors include physical or network location, such as local area networks vs. the internet, or asset ownership, like enterprise or personally owned, depending on the policy configuration.
Zero trust policies require that all entities, whether in or outside the organization's network, be authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated for security configuration and posture before gaining or maintaining access to applications and data.
It further requires that those entities be placed in isolated and managed segments within an infrastructure and that their access to assets or network enclaves is based on sessions and dependent on policy controls.
To qualify as a Zero Trust platform, a product suite must offer several core features that align with the principles of zero trust security. These features ensure that the platform can effectively minimize security risks by continuously verifying every request, regardless of where it originates.
These broad features include identity and access management (IAM), device security, network security, data security, application security, visibility and analytics, automation and orchestration capabilities, integration and interoperability, and compliance and policy management.
To qualify for inclusion in the Zero Trust category, the product or product suite should have the following features:
Multi-factor authentication (MFA): This ensures that users are verified through multiple credentials before access is granted, reducing the risk of compromised accounts
Single sign-on (SSO): SSO simplifies user authentication across multiple services while maintaining security
Role-based access control (RBAC): RBAC grants access based on the user’s role within the organization, adhering to the principle of least privilege
Identity federation: Identity federation integrates with external identity providers to manage user identities across different platforms and services
Endpoint detection and response (EDR): Continuous monitoring and real-time response capabilities with EDR help detect and mitigate threats on endpoint devices
Device posture assessment: Device posture assessment verifies the security status of a device before granting access to network resources, ensuring that only compliant devices can connect
Micro-segmentation: This divides the network into isolated segments to prevent lateral movement by attackers, ensuring that if one segment is compromised, others remain secure
Zero trust network access (ZTNA): ZTNA replaces traditional VPNs by enforcing granular, context-aware access to applications based on user identity, device, and other factors
Encryption: Mandatory encryption of data both at rest and in transit protects against unauthorized access
Data loss prevention (DLP): These mechanisms detect and prevent unauthorized access or transfer of sensitive data
Data classification: Data classification automatically categorizes data based on its sensitivity, allowing for appropriate security measures to be applied
Encryption: Robust encryption methods secure data at all stages, ensuring that even if data is intercepted, it remains unreadable
Secure application access: It ensures that only authorized users can access critical applications, protecting against unauthorized entry points
Application-level controls: These controls give the ability to enforce security policies at the application layer, ensuring that access to specific applications is tightly controlled
Continuous monitoring: This provides real-time visibility into all network traffic, user activities, and data flows to detect anomalies
User and entity behavior analytics (UEBA): UEBA identifies unusual behavior that may indicate a security threat, enabling proactive threat management
Comprehensive reporting: Detailed reports that provide insights into security events help organizations maintain compliance and optimize their security posture
Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR): SOAR automates incident response processes, allowing for quicker and more efficient mitigation of threats
Policy automation: This allows for automatic application of security policies based on predefined criteria, reducing the risk of human error and ensuring consistent enforcement
API support: API support ensures that the zero trust platform can integrate seamlessly with other security tools and existing infrastructure
Cross-platform compatibility: This works across different environments, including on-premises, cloud, and hybrid setups, ensuring comprehensive security coverage
Regulatory compliance: Regulatory compliance assists organizations in adhering to industry-specific regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
Policy enforcement: This ensures that security policies are consistently applied across all users, devices, and applications