What is Zero Trust Network?
Zero Trust is somewhat like navigating through a high-security airport where we scan our ticket and validate our identity at multiple points of entry. It is about implementing and monitoring user-access control at a granular level.
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) ensures that only authorized users can access specific applications based on specific policies. In other words, it doesn’t validate the user identity only when it logs into the corporate domain, it constantly monitors the user activity and allows access based on pre-defined policies. This is because user identity can be compromised but user behavior will raise suspicion if unusual activity is noted.
What is the first logical step in implementing ZTNA?
Building a zero-trust architecture does not require a complete overhaul of the network, it can be deployed incrementally around specific asset types.
The first step for protecting anything is to identify where our critical assets lie, who needs to access them, and what the expected traffic pattern is for accessing such assets. Accordingly, we create baseline zero trust access policies to define the who, what, when, where, and how?
What are the remaining steps in implementing ZTNA?
Zero trust uses micro-segmentation to lock down network access. Traffic filtering is enabled to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive information.
Segmentation gateways are configured to monitor traffic and block potential threats by enforcing granular access across both north-south and east-west traffic patterns.
How does Zero Trust help in the current ‘work from home’ scenario?
Zero Trust requires visibility and continuous monitoring of user behavior which is why it becomes so relevant in the current scenario of remote work.
A Zero Trust-based will monitor user behavior regardless of where the user is located, what devices they are using, and what information they are trying to access.
