From Perimeters to People: Redefining Security With Zero Trust
“Never trust, always verify.” That’s the underlying principle of zero trust security. And it works.
For 15 years, organisations implementing zero trust have consistently reported stronger protection against cyber threats, making the model a cornerstone of modern cybersecurity strategy.
While your organisation has most likely adopted some or all of the zero trust principles, it’s worth revisiting why the shift from traditional perimeter-based security to zero trust is more critical than ever.
Why Perimeter-Based Security Doesn’t Work
If you want your business to adapt with the future and become protected against an increasingly growing threat, your own staff, perimeter-based security just doesn’t cut it anymore.
Evolving Threat Landscape
Traditional perimeter-based security models, which focus on establishing a secure boundary to keep external threats at bay, allow cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities, bypassing traditional defences with greater ease.
Business leaders comfortable with the status quo of perimeter-based security are paying for it. In 2024, more than 3,000 data breaches hit businesses, and 312% more customers became victims over the year before, translating to irreparable distrust.
Insider Threats
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) defines an insider threat as individuals within the organisation, like employees, contractors, or business partners, who intentionally or unintentionally misuse their authorised access to harm the organisation’s mission, resources, personnel, or systems. In 2024, 83% of organisations reported that they had been attacked from the inside.
Organisations must recognise that their security strategies need to address both external and internal threats effectively.
Why Zero Trust Works
Simply put, traditional security models are proving inadequate against sophisticated cyber threats. Adopting a zero trust approach offers organisations a robust framework to enhance security, scale seamlessly, and simplify compliance.
Enhanced Security
Bolster your organisation’s security posture by eliminating implicit trust and enforcing continuous verification for every access request. While this approach may initially seem burdensome to team members in a hurry to access accounts, it ultimately ensures that only authenticated and authorised users and devices can access critical resources. The few seconds it takes for an employee to login via multi-factor authentication are well worth circumventing the risk of unauthorised access and potential breaches.
Scalability
Inherently scalable for organisations of all sizes, zero trust’s technology-agnostic approach allows for seamless integration across various environments, including on-premises, cloud, and hybrid infrastructures. As organisations grow and evolve, zero trust frameworks can adapt to accommodate new users, devices, applications, and data, ensuring consistent security policies and controls are applied throughout the organisation.
Simplified Compliance
By enforcing strict access controls, continuous monitoring, and comprehensive logging, organisations can more easily meet regulatory requirements and demonstrate adherence to industry standards. A significant majority of decision-makers, 87%, believe that implementing a zero trust approach simplifies their organisation’s security architecture, making compliance straightforward.
The 4 Steps to Implementing Zero Trust
Implementing zero trust at your organisation is as simple as these four steps:
- Launch multi-factor authentication and single sign-on to add an extra layer of security beyond usernames and passwords.
- Ensure all devices with access to your network have up-to-date protection and continuously monitor them for compliance and threats.
- Split up your network into smaller segments so you can contain breaches and limit attackers’ lateral movement.
- Consider tools that allow you to monitor network traffic in real time and respond to anomalies quickly.
The Challenges That Come With Zero Trust
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) may struggle with the challenges that come with perimeter-less security. But with strategic planning, SMBs can overcome these obstacles.
Resource Constraints:
Prioritising investments in critical areas like identity and access management and endpoint security can provide significant security improvements.
Change Management:
Communicating the benefits clearly and providing training will help get employee buy-in.
Integration with Existing Systems:
Assessing your current infrastructure to identify integration points and planning for a phased implementation will help minimise disruptions.
Ready to Redefine Security?
By implementing zero trust principles, organisations can effectively safeguard their assets and data, ensuring resilience against both external attacks and insider threats. Embracing this model is not just a strategic advantage but a necessary evolution in maintaining robust cybersecurity in an increasingly interconnected world.