What is Zero Trust?

Zero Trust is a strategic initiative and security framework built on the premise of 'never trust, always verify.' It assumes that threats exist both outside and inside the network, meaning no user or device is granted automatic access to resources based solely on their physical location or network segment.

How It Works

Under a Zero Trust model, every request for access to an application, database, or network resource is treated as an untrusted event. Access is granted only after verifying the user's identity (typically using multi-factor authentication), assessing the device's security posture (checking for updates and compliance), and validating the context of the request (such as location and time). Once verified, the user is granted access under the principle of least privilege, giving them access only to the specific resources they need to perform their task and nothing more. This micro-segmentation prevents lateral movement across the network if a breach occurs.

Core Principles

Continuous Verification

Never assume a session remains secure indefinitely. Zero Trust continuously monitors and re-authorizes user and device status throughout the duration of the connection.

Limit the Blast Radius

Use micro-segmentation to divide the network into small, isolated zones, ensuring that if one asset is compromised, the threat cannot easily spread to other areas.

Least Privilege Access

Restrict user and machine permissions to the absolute minimum necessary to complete a task, preventing broad access to sensitive systems.

Benefits and Use Cases

• Prevents lateral movement of attackers within internal corporate networks
• Protects distributed workforces accessing cloud resources from untrusted locations
• Provides granular visibility and audit trails for all resource access requests
• Reduces the risk of data exfiltration from compromised user credentials
• Secures multi-cloud and hybrid environments through a unified identity-centric approach