Tech stacks that rely only on trust make it easy for cyber-attackers to breach enterprise networks. Perimeter-based approaches that depend on trust-first are expensive enterprise liability.
Businesses create an excessive number of vulnerabilities for cyber-attackers who are exploit them, if they are basing networks on trust alone. Worse still, perimeter networks rely on inter-domain trust connections by design, exposing whole networks simultaneously. What worked in the past for linking people and encouraging cooperation beyond the four walls of any firm is inadequate to withstand today’s more organized, complicated assault techniques.
Eliminating trust from technology stacks should be a priority
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is aimed to remove trust from technology stacks and mitigate the risks associated with business network downtime. Over the previous eighteen months, the exponential increase in intrusions demonstrates ineffective patching perimeter-based network protection. Cybercriminals can still access networks by attacking unpatched endpoints, obtaining and abusing privileged access credentials, and exploiting systems that are months behind on security fixes.
CISOs are motivated to embrace ZTNA by the desire to mitigate the risks associated with managing rapidly rising hybrid workforces internationally while modernizing technology stacks to make them more robust to attack and less reliant on trust. Additionally, demand for ZTNA is driven by safeguarding remote, hybrid workforces, establishing new digital-first company development initiatives, and allowing virtual partners and suppliers.
What CISOs should know about zero trust:
Targeting the trust gaps in tech stacks with ZTNA is proving to be an effective strategy. Here are a few areas where CISOs may make headway and begin reducing more gaps immediately:
Scalability of Identity and Access Management (IAM) across supply chains and service networks is imperative
IAM is critical to a successful ZTNA approach. The ZTNA strategy must be built on an IAM architecture that is flexible enough to allow the addition of new human and machine identities across supplier and in-house networks. However, standalone IAM solutions are sometimes prohibitively costly. For CISOs new to zero trust, it’s good to look for a solution that includes IAM as a key component of its platform.
Also Read: Zero Trust Policies: Bridging the Gap for Cybersecurity
System Development Lifecycles (SDLCs) and APIs must be built on a foundation of zero trust
Perimeter-based security predominates in DevOps systems, providing vulnerabilities for cyber attackers to exploit. Given how quickly DevOps teams establish APIs to support new digital growth objectives, APIs are becoming one of the fastest-growing threat vectors. CIOs and CISOs must have a strategy in place to protect themselves by utilizing zero trust. To begin, CISOs need to create API management and web application firewalls that secure APIs while safeguarding privileged access credentials and identity infrastructure data. Additionally, CISOs must evaluate how their teams can uncover vulnerabilities buried within remote APIs and how they will track API usage levels and trends. Finally, an emphasis on API security testing and a distributed enforcement strategy is required to safeguard APIs throughout the whole infrastructure.
Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) is a necessary component of Internet security
One of the most significant benefits of RBI is that it does not disturb current technology stacks; rather, it protects them. Thus, CISOs tasked with reducing the complexity and scale of their web-facing attack surfaces may leverage RBI, as it was designed specifically for this goal. It is intended to keep internet activities of individual users separate from company networks and systems. Eliminating trustworthy connections throughout an enterprise’s IT stack, on the other hand, is a liability. RBI approaches web browsing with a zero-trust attitude, presuming that no web material is secure. In conclusion, RBI is critical to zero-trust security.
Pursuing a zero-trust strategy or ZTNA is a commercial choice as a technological one. However, the most effective implementations begin with a well-defined plan backed up by a detailed roadmap. How the fundamental notions of zero trust and eliminating all trust from a technology stack are critical to the success of any ZTNA approach.
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