These 3 Components Make up a Zero Trust Network

With network surveillance by hackers at all-time highs, businesses are beginning to adopt the most advanced security strategies to prevent hackers from gaining access to their networks. The zero-trust framework is a relatively novel approach to network security and many businesses are starting to explore its use for their own security and network operations. To truly understand how a zero-trust network functions, you need to be able to adequately understand the underlying components that make up the network. There are three major components of a zero-trust network: secure and authenticated access, least privilege access model, and logging all activities. It’s vital to have all three of these components in order to allow the zero-trust network to maximize its security. 

Secure and authenticated access

The first step in having a zero-trust network is to require secure and authenticated access for all company resources. This means the network has to verify and authenticate each time a user accesses a file, application, or device. Additionally, the network should require re-authentication if the user is not active for a certain period of time.

This is a vital component of having a zero-trust network because you have to assume every attempt at accessing company data is a threat unless proven otherwise. Companies can use access control, network access control, and perimeter security tools to require secure and authenticated access for everyone. 

Least privilege access

The second component of having a zero-trust network is to use the least privilege model. The least privilege model is a security model in which a user is given the least amount of access and permissions needed to complete their job. The majority of companies today allow basically any employee to access many permissions that they don’t need for their day-to-day work.

With the least privilege access model, a single hacked account will be limited to what it can do. If a hacker were to gain access into an account within your company, their attacks can be contained significantly. Companies can start figuring out how much access employees need by auditing each department and role and seeing what tools they need to perform their job. 

Tracking and logging activities

In addition to least privilege access, a zero-trust network also requires you to track and log all the activities in your network. This means you need to log every access file, user permission granted, network calls, and email. By logging and tracking activities, your company can easily recognize the difference between a normal account and a hacked account. By routinely logging and tracking activities, you can gain access to analytics and insights that can further inform your network and security operations. 

This opens up new opportunities to leverage advanced zero trust capabilities like micro-segmentation, advanced control access, and continuous user identification. These advanced features add additional layers of security to your network and prevent malicious third parties from gaining access to your business.

To learn more about how your business can start utilizing a zero-trust network, talk to an expert by clicking below.