Zero Trust Security Strengthening the Cybersecurity Practices

1. ZERO TRUST SECURITY STRENGTHENING THE PRACTICES © 2024. United States Cybersecurity Institute (USCSI ). All Rights Reserved. www.uscsinstitute.org ®

2. Zero trust security is rapidly gaining attention as one of the best security measures that has been turning out to be highly effective in combating different kinds of evolving cyber threats. If we look at the numbers, then according to Statista, around 97% of companies have a Zero Trust Initiative. In the coming years, the global Zero Trust market is expected to grow rapidly reaching a market value of $67.9 billion by 2028 growing at a CAGR of 16.9%. ZERO TRUST ARCHITECTURE MARKET GLOBAL STATISTICS Market Size (2023) CAGR (2024-2032) Market Size (2032) $16.9 BN >16.5% $67.3 BN SEGMENT STATISTICS Solution Segment Market Share (2023) >60% 35% Cloud Segment Market Share (2023) REGIONAL STATISTICS North America Market Share (2023) 35% Source: Global Market Insights But what this Zero Trust Security method actually is? For every student, young as well as experienced professionals looking to make a career in cybersecurity, having a solid understanding of this cybersecurity measure is very much necessary. In this comprehensive guide, let us explore the definition, and core elements of Zero Trust Security. WHAT IS ZERO TRUST? Zero Trust Security is a revolutionary method that challenges the traditional notion of trust within networks and security. It is based on the fundamental principle of “never trust, always verify”. While the traditional methods used to assume trust based on the location of the network or user credentials, Zero Trust security works on the assumption that threats can exist outside as well as inside the network systems. So, it mandates continuous checking and verification of every user, device, and application before granting access to resources. www.uscsinstitute.org © 2024. United States Cybersecurity Institute (USCSI ). All Rights Reserved. ®

3. HOW ZERO TRUST WORKS? The working principle of Zero Trust architecture consists of several aspects to make it an effective cybersecurity strategy. Zero Trust Framework Components in Business in the United States United States: Zero Trust Framework Components 2021 Share of Respondents 5% 0% 10% 35% 15% 40% 20% 25% 50% 30% 45% Multifactor Authentication 47% Network Analytics 47% Cloud Workload Governance 46% Microseg- mentation 46% 43% IAM Software Least-Privilage Acces 40% Corporate Device Management 33% Source: CompTIA, Statista Assuming attackers to be everywhere Endpoints are untrustworthy Micro- Grant least privilege access to users Multi-Factor Authentication segmentation for Enhanced Security www.uscsinstitute.org © 2024. United States Cybersecurity Institute (USCSI ). All Rights Reserved. ®

4. ASSUMING ATTACKERS TO BE EVERYWHERE The first and foremost thing is assuming cyber-attackers are present everywhere. They can be located inside or outside the network and therefore no user, device, or application should be trusted. ENDPOINTS ARE UNTRUSTWORTHY It is the responsibility of endpoint devices to validate there are sufficient security controls. Endpoint security must also consider the authenticator to ensure that only authorized devices are utilized and private keys are also secured. GRANT LEAST PRIVILEGE ACCESS TO USERS This involves giving only that much access which is needed by a user, and thus minimizing the risk involved between sensitive data and malicious users. This challenges the “trust everyone inside” and “trust-but-verify” methods. MICRO-SEGMENTATION FOR ENHANCED SECURITY This involves breaking different security parameters into smaller and separate parts of the network. This can be done on the basis of data classification, granting separate access. It helps to ensure different users cannot access different zones without further authentication. MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION MFA is another great way to validate users in multiple ways. It uses strong authentication measures, to authorize users before granting access, such as 2-Factor Authentication sending passcodes to mobile numbers and email addresses, solving, captcha, etc. www.uscsinstitute.org © 2024. United States Cybersecurity Institute (USCSI ). All Rights Reserved. ®

5. THE PILLARS OF ZERO TRUST The 5 pillars of Zero Trust Security refer to the trust assumptions across 5 different aspects of the IT ecosystem. THE PILLARS OF ZERO TRUST APPLICATION WORKLOAD NETWORK IDENTITY DEVICE DATA 1. IDENTITY: It means prioritizing the authentication and verification of the identity of the users, devices, and applications before access is granted to them. This helps to make sure that only authorized entities are given access to sensitive data and systems no matter where they are located or whatever network they are using. 2. DEVICE: Not only users, but Zero Trust Security also scrutinizes the devices as well that are trying to access the network and check if they meet the security standards or comply with the set policies. The process may include evaluating device posture, patch level, security configurations, etc., and minimizing risk associated with compromised endpoint devices. 3. NETWORK: Unlike traditional perimeter-based security models, Zero Trust treats the network as untrusted and segments it into smaller zones with strict access controls. Thus, limiting the lateral movement and mitigating potential breaches within isolated segments. 4. APPLICATION WORKLOAD: Zero Trust applies granular access controls to application workloads, regardless of their deployment environment (on-premises, cloud, or hybrid). It ensures that only authorized users and devices can interact with specific applications, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access and data exfiltration. 5. DATA: Protecting data is very important in employing Zero Trust and it helps to protect them at all stages whether they are stored, being transferred, or in use. It includes various data protection techniques including encryption, data loss prevention (DLP), and data classification to ensure safety of the sensitive information from unauthorized access. www.uscsinstitute.org © 2024. United States Cybersecurity Institute (USCSI ). All Rights Reserved. ®

6. STAGES OF ZERO TRUST IMPLEMENTATION Implementing Zero Trust is a journey and not a destination. Here are the different stages of implementing Zero Trust Security successfully. Current Zero Trust Implementation- Security risk areas 66% 65% 67% 68% 63% 66% 64% Implementing Currently Implemented 38% 36% 35% 38% 33% 38% 32% In the process of Implementing 30% 28% 29% 32% 30% 28% 32% Automation & Orchestration Apps Network Data Identities Endpoints Infrastructure Average Rank (Started First) 1.1 0.9 1.1 0.8 1.1 1.1 1.0 Source: Microsoft Security Zero Trust Adoption Report ASSESS AND PLAN The first thing is to analyze the current infrastructure and security posture including identifying the important assets, data flows, and access points. Then the cybersecurity professionals must define a clear goal involving business objectives and desired outcomes. Finally, develop the Zero Trust implementation roadmap. IDENTITY AND ACCESS MANAGEMENT Organizations must strengthen their user authentication process by employing MFA. They must properly manage user privileges, and entitlements, and integrate IAM with their major applications and resources. DATA SECURITY AND MONITORING This step involves classifying and labeling sensitive data and implementing data loss prevention and encryption solutions. Organizations must also continuously monitor user activity, devices, and network traffic. It is also recommended to invest in security information and event management (SIEM) tools for enhanced threat detection and response processes. © 2024. United States Cybersecurity Institute (USCSI ). All Rights Reserved. www.uscsinstitute.org ®

7. CHALLENGES OF IMPLEMENTING ZERO TRUST Though Zero trust security solutions offer a great benefit and have wide range of applications, they come with several challenges as well. Most Significant Challenge Building Zero Trust Strategy 24% Lack of qualified vendors with a complete solution 19% Lack of Budget to make IT changes right now I am still researching how to implement zero trust straetgy 13% 11% No central network and/or security strategy Not enough information on how to select a zero trust solution 10% 10% Still to dependent on traditional VPN 7% Manpower/ Resources 7% Organiaztional resistance across IT teams Source: Fortinet USE CASES AND APPLICATIONS OF ZERO TRUST SECURITY CLOUD ADOPTION It is widely used to protect confidential information stored in the cloud environment by verifying users and devices before access is granted. REMOTE WORKFORCE Zero trust helps in securing access for employees who can be working from anywhere and anytime, without compromising internal network security. IoT SECURITY Particularly beneficial in managing and securing the IoT devices that require different security postures. THIRD PARTY ACCESS Helps to provide only limited access to contractors, vendors, partners, and other users only for the certain resources needed for their work. APPLICATION ACCESS CONTROL Enforce granular access controls for internal users restricting access based on roles and authorization needs. © 2024. United States Cybersecurity Institute (USCSI ). All Rights Reserved. www.uscsinstitute.org ®

8. If you are looking to get into a cybersecurity career, then this particular domain offers a lucrative as well as rewarding career path. Zero Trust Engineers are in high demand now. Zero Trust Engineers Jobs in USA As of Jan 2024, there are 419 Zero Trust Engineer Job Openings in the United States Employment Type Remote vs In- person Average Salary 21% $29.5k National Average $288k 79% 96% Full time Contract to Hire $129,430/year $62.2/hour Remote Physical Contract Part Time Source – Ziprecruiter CONCLUSION Zero Trust security is highly beneficial in securing the digital infrastructure of the organization as it addresses the challenges of traditional trust-based authentications. By adopting the core principles of Zero Trust and implementing a comprehensive security framework that prioritizes identity-centric, least privilege access controls, organizations can significantly enhance their ability to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber threats, ultimately safeguarding their most critical assets and data from exploitation and compromise. © 2024. United States Cybersecurity Institute (USCSI ). All Rights Reserved. www.uscsinstitute.org ®

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