How to Implement Zero Trust Security This New Year

Cyber crime is a continuous threat, causing many organisations to rethink their approach to digital workplace security. 

With conventional security models, organisations implement perimeter protection, trusting anyone and anything within a designated perimeter. However, as cyber criminal methods have evolved, more organisations have begun moving away from conventional security models and towards Zero Trust security.

Zero Trust implementation is the process of applying the Zero Trust security model across your organisation’s network and systems. This model involves a policy of never trusting and always verifying the privileges and authenticity of devices and users, no matter where they may be within a network.

The Zero Trust framework is widely regarded as the best-in-class IT security standard by organisations worldwide. It can be applied to organisations operating on-premise, on the cloud, and in hybrid environments, regardless of industry and size. 

In this article, we’ll examine the steps to implement Zero Trust security within an organisation. The Zero Trust security model offers a robust and dynamic approach to secure digital assets and sensitive data this new year. 

Step 1 – Define the Protect Surface

The first step of implementing Zero Trust is to define the protect surface –  identifying the specific areas you need to protect. Focus on valuable digital assets, such as personally identifiable information (PII), financial records, intellectual property, and confidential business information. 

Once you’ve identified what you want to protect, categorise your assets based on regulatory requirements. Properly classifying your digital assets helps enforce appropriate security controls and manage access rights effectively. 

By defining your protect surface, you can avoid the complexities of securing the entire network and focus on the essential areas that truly matter.

Step 2 – Architect a Zero Trust Network

A Zero Trust security model is designed around your specific protect surface, meaning there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. When you implement Zero Trust security, make sure the architecture supports dynamic control tailored to your organisation’s needs.

You can begin your architecture with a next-generation firewall (NGFW) that segments an area of your network. You’ll also want to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to vet users effectively before granting them access. 

The introduction of MFA makes it challenging for attackers to bypass multiple authentication barriers and reduces the risk of unauthorised access to your network. 

Step 3 – Apply the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP)

According to the principle of least privilege (PoLP), users are only given the level of access needed to perform their roles and job functions. 

The PoLP can also be used to restrict access rights for non-human resources, such as devices, systems, applications, and processes. This is done by granting these resources with only the permissions required to perform the activities they are authorised to perform.

Limiting access rights to only what’s essential helps you minimise any potential damage in the event of a security breach. It’s important to regularly review and adjust these access rights to keep them aligned with evolving roles and responsibilities within your organisation. 

Step 4 – Verify and Scan All Endpoint Devices

Endpoints serve as potential entry points for threats within your organisation’s network. Make sure all your devices are verified and meet essential security standards before allowing access to network resources. 

Proactively monitor network traffic and behaviour to detect any anomalies and improve performance using logs, analytics, and reports. 

Step 5 – Establish a Zero Trust Policy

Once you’ve completed the network architecture, you’ll need to design your Zero Trust policies. This can be effectively done using the Kipling method. This method involves asking the questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how for every user, device, and network that wants to gain access. 

Step 6 – Monitor Your Network

Continuous monitoring is a vital aspect of the Zero Trust security model. Once you implement Zero Trust, monitoring network activity helps you spot potential issues early on and provides valuable insights to optimise network performance without compromising on security. 

Document activity on your network to understand behaviour patterns and use this data to continuously adjust and improve access permissions. This ensures your Zero Trust network grows alongside your organisation and the threat landscape. Regular audits and security protocol adjustments allow you to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats. 

Contact Redpalm for Robust Cyber Security Services

With the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, cyber security is a top priority for businesses across industries. While implementing a Zero Trust security framework is not without its challenges, it’s become a necessity to strengthen security posture and minimise the potential impact of any breaches. 

At Redpalm, we offer comprehensive IT support and security solutions to empower businesses of all sizes. 

As a leading UK MSP, we house a team of Microsoft-certified professionals dedicated to helping you guard your system against cyber criminals and digital threats.

We also offer other services, such as vulnerability assessments, incident response, cloud services, IT audits and health checks, and more.

To learn more about our services, click here or contact us to schedule an appointment today.