Secure your Organization’s Resources using Zero Trust Networking – Part 1

Overview

In Information Technology, the term “TRUST” may be quite harmful, especially when given carelessly, indirectly, or unquestionably.

An enclosed boundary with complete trust in everything and everyone inside the network has been shown to the outside world as a bad idea. Even yet, there are still those numerous networks still being used today.

No matter who they are or their equipment’s condition, anybody who has access to the network, either physically or over a VPN, gets full access to everything on that network.

There must be a better approach to overcome these network problems. There is a solution, and it is known as zero trust. Yes, you heard that correctly, it is Zero Trust Network.

Nothing is implicitly trusted when there is zero trust. Trust must be earned continuously. Zero trust seems to be a straightforward method of micro-segmenting the network. Only users who can authenticate their identity and have compatible devices may access very particular resources – NOT the entire network. This offers enormous security benefits. We’ll discuss in detail Zero Trust Network in this article.

What is Zero Trust Networking?

“Zero trust” networking is a network access architecture based on the primary idea that the network and the users that wish to connect to private Resources on it are presumed to be untrustworthy (hence the name “zero trust”). To ensure security, every request to access a private resource must be examined and validated to confirm that the user is who they claim to be (authentication) and is authorized to enter what they are accessing (authorization).

What does ZTNA mean?

Several guiding concepts may be derived from the ZTNA framework:

Assume breach – Regardless of the source, resource defenders should consider every incoming connection a threat. The position of a device on a network does not confer any unique status on it.

Verify explicitly – Based on user identity, device posture, source network, and other contextual criteria, authenticate and authorize each access request.

Least privilege – Temporarily provide users the least amount of access necessary for them to do their duties. When sessions terminate or any trust factor changes, revoke permissions.

Examine everything – Gather data on resource use, infrastructure condition, and network activity to identify problems and enhance overall security posture.

As a result, a range of alternative strategies and implementations may be used to accomplish ZTNA.

ZTNA has been prominent in the networking and cybersecurity industries for the past year. But the rise in popularity of ZTNA is only the most recent phase of a three-decade-long growth cycle:

1994 – In his Ph.D. dissertation, researcher Stephen Marsh coined the term “zero trust”.

2010 – John Kindervag, a Forrester analyst, popularizes Zero Trust.

2014 – Google launches their “BeyondCorp” deployment of ZTNA.

2020 – NIST issues a primer on ZTNA for government agencies and businesses.

2021 – The Biden Administration directs all government agencies in the United States to implement ZTNA.

Zero Trust Network Access won’t just be a trendy term nobody remembers; it’ll be how businesses organize their security and access control systems.

Use Cases for ZTNA

Implementing a Zero Trust Network Access architecture in an all-or-nothing manner is unnecessary. ZTNA phased deployments are simple to put into place since they are not dependent on the network infrastructure. The use cases with the greatest potential to influence security and productivity can be prioritized in the migration effort.

Securing private resources – Networks cannot be constrained by antiquated access control technology due to a hybrid workforce that leans toward remote working. ZTNA enhances the user experience while streamlining the application of security rules.

Securing cloud resources – Instead of using corporate networks, ZTNA sends user traffic to cloud services over direct, encrypted tunnels over the internet. Administrators can link cloud providers directly in multi-cloud environments without having to pass traffic via their networks.

Reduce third-party risk – Access to a company’s network is necessary for visitors, contractors, and third parties. However, there is no way to determine how well they protect their gadgets. ZTNA ensures that, unless properly authorized, third parties cannot access resources.

Replace outdated access systems – Cybercriminals frequently target VPN gateways because of inherent security flaws. ZTNA can replace VPN access control to minimize this danger and streamline network administration.

How does it work?

The ZTNA system initiates a five-step procedure each time a user requests access to a resource.

1. Access attempt: Unless the ZTNA system is used to request access, no resources are immediately accessible by a user’s device (typically through an agent installed on that device).
2. Identity identification: The request starts a process of identity verification, which is handled by an identity provider and is preferably done with the help of multi-factor authentication.
3. Contextual authorization: The ZTNA system analyzes the context of the confirmed user’s request to establish a risk profile. Users’ access to the resource is controlled by several factors, including network type, device posture, geo-location, and role-based policies, which also affect how much access they get.
4. User access: Between the user’s device and the resource, ZTNA builds a safe, encrypted tunnel. When these tunnels travel over controlled networks or the open internet is decided by policies.
5. Ephemeral permissions: Permission will always expire after a certain amount of time, after a period of inactivity, or after a session. The client app must make a new request after the initial one has expired since it no longer has access to the resource.

ZTNA Benefits

Organizations are practicing more and more about the advantages the ZTNA model may provide. Here are a few of the most important explanations for why businesses switch.

No need for outdated hardware: ZTNA enables businesses to completely replace outdated remote access hardware, such as VPNs, with a software-based access solution.

Streamlined user interactions: User traffic is not backhauled through the data center with ZTNA. Users rather quickly and directly access the required program.

Effortless scale: Scaling capacity is made simple by a cloud ZTNA service. A company merely makes use of new licenses.

Rapid deployment: ZTNA may be installed anywhere and in only a few days, unlike alternative systems that might take weeks or months.

Summary

The level of standard approaches for remote access and network security has reached an end. Using fundamentally insecure technologies, security administrators cannot safeguard crucial resources. Network administrators cannot manage contemporary workplaces with technology based on antiquated business processes.

You will better secure your organization’s valuable resources using ZTNA, which will replace brittle, costly infrastructure with a simple, easily-managed software solution.

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