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Zero Trust Security: What Is Zero Trust Network Access?

Summary: This 3-minute article discusses the purpose and popularity of zero trust security and how more and more SMBs are adopting zero trust authentication. Cyber security requires multiple defense layers. Contact DIGIGUARD CYBER SECURITY at 833-33-CYBER (833-332-9237) or visit www.DIGIGUARDsecurity.com to schedule a vulnerability assessment and discuss zero trust security solutions to ensure your SMB has the best possible small business cyber security.

Zero Trust Network Access, or ZTNA, is a recent cyber security term related to which devices in your network should never be automatically accessed without sufficient authentication, even if connected to a well-managed network. Wikipedia www.en.wikipedia.org/ Zero_trust_security_model states: “a Zero Trust approach provides “access to applications and services based on the confidence of device identity and device health in combination with user authentication.” In short, it is a corporate mindset in which no users or devices can be trusted.

From a technical standpoint, Zero Trust is an approach to cyber security that protects digital work environments by identifying a “protect surface” that will isolate and protect a company’s most sensitive data and critical functions. Next, the data is segmented into a secured perimeter. This segmentation gateway only allows secure traffic and pre-approved applications access to the network.

Network Security Can Never Be Left To Chance

Recently, many SMBs have adopted Zero Trust as a corporate mindset. There is no software for Zero Trust. However, by implementing Zero Trust Authentication businesses can remove the users' need for cyber security judgment calls. Also, SMBs do not need to spend much of their budget on new hardware. Zero Trust, if appropriately executed, may cost nothing. It is worth mentioning that the costs of a severe data breach could lead to significant losses and ongoing litigation expenses. The ultimate costs to a small to midsized business can be devastating and even lead to bankruptcy.

Create a System-Wide Zero Trust Strategy

Zero Trust Architecture only works if all the devices, networks, applications and users are on the same page. Therefore, any workarounds to circumvent the policy can inadvertently present an opportunity for a cyberattack. However, there are simple ways to begin planning Zero Trust implementation:

Perhaps most importantly, businesses must provide ongoing cyber risk training for all employees from C-level management down the corporate ladder to support the Zero Trust approach. Zero Trust is not a “set and forget” function. Your small business must stay in step with new technology related to supporting a Zero Trust policy. Also, hackers continue to find ways around the many levels of cyber security currently available. Therefore, employee training and adoption of Zero Trust rules must also keep your company informed about the newest cyber threats and how to avoid them.

Case Study

A medium sized perfume manufacturing company in Manhattan had an in-house, two-person IT department. The department was created when the company moved to the Manhattan corporate headquarters. After several years, one of the IT employees left for another job. Unfortunately, the company was having trouble finding a replacement and the remaining IT expert in the department was becoming overwhelmed. She worked overtime almost every day and sometimes lost weekends to fix computer system issues. Doing twice the work, she had little or no time to work with new employees on company cyber security training. Also, the process of assigning permissions for staff had become lax. Unbeknownst to management, a new employee in the graphics department had been given access to the perfume development department’s programs and data files. Several months later, the graphics employee stumbled upon perfume proprietary formula files to which she never knew she had access. One evening, while working late, she copied some of the company’s most valuable formulas onto a USB stick. Six months later, she quit her job and sold the perfume formulas to the company’s biggest competitor.

Small to midsized businesses cannot afford to ignore cyber security. It is essential for safely doing business and protecting hard-earned business data. As the growing tech world and our use of online technology now encompass so many areas of our personal and business lives, cybercriminals continue to stay in step and find new ways to attack private and business data. Unfortunately, SMBs have neither the time nor the budget for a full-time IT department. Therefore, it is essential to employ IT experts to provide cyber risk consulting and risk analysis to assess your business’s cyber vulnerabilities and help design the best layers of protection for your hard-earned business data.

DIGIGUARD Cyber Security Understands The Zero Trust Philosophy

DIGIGUARD, a small business IT company specializing in preventing cyber threats of all kinds, has a wide array of solutions to protect against cybercrimes and ensure you have the best possible protection. It works with small and midsized businesses to provide cyber risk training and establish cyber security best practices to ensure your confidential data is secure. In addition, DIGIGUARD locks down your devices, ensuring they have the specific protections they require, especially those used for remote-access work. For any business, cyberattacks can have devastating consequences. DIGIGUARD can assess your cyber risks and work with you to design Zero Trust architecture and all the best protection solutions for your business.

Call DIGIGUARD CYBER SECURITY at 833-33-CYBER (833-332-9237) and visit www.DIGIGUARDsecurity.com to discuss how you can increase your company’s level of cyber security and avoid a deadly cyberattack.