There have always been problems with implicit trust in network security, but these problems are magnified in the current digital landscape in which network perimeters are no longer clearly defined. With implicit trust, monitoring and verification are often not prioritized and internal threats do not receive the same high level of emphasis as external threats.
For modern digital environments, the protection of networks and their resources require modern approaches and technologies.
IN ZERO TRUST ARCHITECTURES, TRUST IS A VULNERABILITY
Zero Trust is a network security approach that eliminates implicit trust from network architecture. The Zero Trust security framework operates as if active threats are inside and outside the network’s perimeter (such as it is), and all internal and external traffic is rigorously regulated using strict inspection and authentication requirements at every point of access to a resource.
In a traditional network environment, there is an assumption that users inside the network are safe to be trusted. Once authentication occurs, the user is able to freely traverse the network, with access to resources restricted only by the permissions associated with its identity.
However, within a Zero Trust framework, traffic beyond and within the network is routinely probed. On both sides of the point of access into the network, there is no assumption that anything can be trusted. After the initial authentication and in every instance before access to a resource is granted, the access request undergoes authentication, authorization and encryption. This prevents attackers from obtaining more advanced privileges and from moving across the network.
According to the NIST Special Publication 800-207 titled “Zero Trust Architecture,” the development and deployment of Zero Trust Architecture must adhere to certain tenets:
All data sources and computing services are considered resources.
All communication is secured regardless of network location.
Access to individual enterprise resources is granted on a per-session basis.
Access to resources is determined by dynamic policy—including the observable state of client identity, application/service, and the requesting asset—and may include other behavioral and environmental attributes.
The enterprise monitors and measures the integrity and security posture of all owned and associated assets.
All resource authentication and authorization are dynamic and strictly enforced before access is allowed.
The enterprise collects as much information as possible about the current state of assets, network infrastructure and communications and uses it to improve its security posture.
ZERO TRUST ARCHITECTURE ADDRESES CURRENT AND FUTURE SECURITY CHALLENGES
The adoption of Zero Trust in network security is the logical approach to network security in an age in which the boundaries of networks have shifted to center on identities and the type of access assigned to a particular identity. It is an essential part of a long-term network security strategy that allows organizations to meet current cyber threats and be in position to battle future threats. This has been underscored by the Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity, which was issued in response to the near continuous spate of high profile cyberattacks this year and that calls for the implementation of Zero Trust Architecture to protect federal networks.
Consider how networks are now used. The increased deployment of IoT and IIoT solutions, the growth of remote access, the explosion of SaaS applications and the use of the cloud have erased the traditional concept of a network perimeter while simultaneously increasing the attack surface of networks. Workloads do not stay in just one place; they move back and forth across data centers and private, public and hybrid clouds. The various points of entry for attacks, including networks, infrastructures, applications, endpoints, data, etc., do not reside within the protection of traditional network perimeters. With the manner in which network resources are now distributed, it is no longer sufficient to enforce protection in a single location—protection has to encompass the entire digital environment while allowing authorized users access to necessary resources.
USING XSOC CORP SOLUTIONS FOR ZERO TRUST ARCHITECTURE
Zero Trust cannot be reduced to a single product or technology, and there is no single development and deployment plan. Its implementation requires a range of strategies, policies and solutions. XSOC Corp cryptography and encryption solutions can be used to help implement Zero Trust Architecture.
The cryptographic algorithms of the XSOC Cryptosystem generate quantum-safe encryption that can be used for data at rest at an endpoint or in transit. Multifactor authentication, which is a core building block of the Zero Trust framework, is an inherent feature of the XSOC cryptosystem, native to its cipher core. 3FA can be implemented as part of the cryptographic keying process, and provides a multilayered protection against attackers who are trying to use stolen identities to gain access to a network and its resources.
XSOC’s SOCKET, which has UL- 2900 Certification, is a solution that can be used to secure requests between services or connected devices and does not have a single-point-of-failure. WAN-SOCKET provides powerful end-to-end encryption that protects data transmissions originating from the cloud, IoT devices and websites. EBP, XSOC’s encrypted network protocol, enables high speed data transmissions without sacrificing data security while providing 100% reliability against packet loss.
GET HELP IMPLEMENTING ZERO TRUST
Using Zero Trust-based networks allows organizations to safely utilize the modern digital landscape while countering cyberthreats. At XSOC CORP, we can help you implement the policies of Zero Trust with our powerful, optimized cryptography and encryption solutions that are easily integrated into existing systems. If you are transitioning to a Zero Trust network or want to ensure your current network has the encryption solutions it needs, get in touch with XSOC CORP today.