Zero trust
1. Zero trust
User authentication —or verification— is similar to receiving a phone call and the phone displays the caller’s name and number. Verification allows organizations to help ensure that an individual accessing any asset or piece of data is who they claim to be. In this video, we'll explore the zero trust security model and how it differs from traditional models. We’ll also discuss its core principles and the network security mechanisms involved. Traditional access control models, like role-based access control, or RBAC, and discretionary access control, or DAC, were designed with the assumption that everything within the network perimeter could be trusted. But, this assumption can no longer be made because organizations have embraced remote workforces, cloud-based infrastructure, and Internet of Things, or IoT devices. In these new environments, the perimeter is no longer a clearly defined boundary, creating opportunities that can be exploited by malicious actors. In recent years, the adoption of the zero trust security model has been one of the most significant shifts, offering a more robust and adaptable approach to security in today's complex, distributed IT environments. Zero trust is based on the principle of "never trust, always verify." This means that every user, device, or system must be authenticated and authorized before accessing any resources or data. This approach assumes that any user or device, whether inside or outside the network perimeter, could be compromised. So, every access request must be validated and authorized on a case-by-case basis. By shifting the focus from perimeter security to securing individual resources, zero trust offers a granular approach to access control. Granular access control allows for more defined control over access, as permissions can be granted or restricted based on specific conditions. Let's discuss the core principles of zero trust. The first principle is verify explicitly. This means that every access request must be authenticated and authorized before access is granted to any resource. The second principle is apply least-privilege access. This means that users, devices, and systems should only be granted the minimum access necessary to perform their tasks. The third principle is assume breach. Organizations embracing zero trust should operate under the assumption that a breach has already happened or will happen, and design their security measures accordingly. Now, let's discuss how organizations can implement zero trust policies using key access control mechanisms. These mechanisms include: identity and access management, or IAM, multifactor authentication, or MFA, microsegmentation, and network access control, or NAC. We’ve already defined IAM and MFA. Now, let’s focus on microsegmentation and NAC. Microsegmentation is a security technique that divides a network into smaller, isolated segments to limit unauthorized access and reduce the potential attack surface. Note that an attack surface includes all the potential vulnerabilities that a threat actor could exploit. This approach ensures that even if an attacker gains access to one segment, they can’t easily move within the network. Network access control, or NAC, is a security solution that enforces policy-based access control to network resources, ensuring that only authorized devices and users can access the network. NAC's core function doesn't just stop at policy enforcement; it extends to identification, monitoring, and control of devices and users on the network. By employing these mechanisms, organizations can strengthen their security posture and minimize the potential attack surface. Another critical aspect of zero trust is the use of context-aware access controls. Context-aware access controls are decisions about granting or denying access to resources, based on the user's identity and contextual information. Resources can include the user's location, device, and system access patterns. By incorporating this additional data, zero trust can make more informed access control decisions, reducing the risk of unauthorized access. As a cloud security professional, it's essential to understand how cloud access security brokers, or CASBs, and secure access service edge, or SASE, platforms can assist organizations in implementing zero trust policies, or ZTP. CASBs act as intermediaries between cloud service users and cloud service providers, enabling organizations to enforce security policies and maintain visibility over cloud-based activities. By incorporating ZTP, CASBs can restrict access to sensitive data based on user identity, device, and context, ensuring that trust is not automatically granted. SASE platforms, on the other hand, combine network and security functions into a single, cloud-based service. By integrating ZTP with SASE, organizations can apply adaptive security policies based on real-time context, like user identity, device, location, and application. This approach eliminates the traditional trust boundaries and ensures that access is continuously evaluated and granted only when necessary. Both CASBs and SASE platforms play an important role helping organizations implement ZTP by providing granular access controls, continuous monitoring, and adaptive security policies based on context. To wrap up, the zero trust security model represents a shift in the approach to access control, better securing today's complex, distributed IT environments. In a future role as a cloud security professional, you’ll be well prepared to help organizations stay ahead of emerging threats, and protect their critical assets in an increasingly interconnected world.2. Let's practice!
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