< Back
Zero-Trust-governance-principles

Tags:

Ercom Secure mobility and collaboration Protect Cryptobox Cryptosmart mobile Cryptosmart pc
23 January 2025

Zero Trust governance: Principles and best practices

Discover in this article what are the principles and best practices for zero trust governance

In cyber security, Zero Trust is an approach that assumes that no user, device or application should be trusted by default. The Zero Trust principle is simple: “never trust, always verify”. This contrast with the perimeter-based security model, which trusts users and devices inside the network.

In this article, you will discover the main operational principles of Zero Trust, the advantages of this model and the best practices for implementing it.

Principles of a Zero Trust architecture: 

A Zero Trust architecture strengthens the security of organisations based on several principles: 

 

  • Identity verification: 

Any attempt to access company resources is considered a potential threat. Therefore, the identity of the user initiating the request is systematically verified. Multifactor authentication (MFA), which validates the identity of the person requesting the connection, plays an essential role in the Zero Trust approach.

  • Contextual request analysis: 
    Validating a request does not rely solely on the username/password pair. Each connection request is analysed for user behaviour, taking into account contextual information such as the location or time of the access attempt. If any of this information is deemed suspicious or unusual, additional controls may be implemented.

  • Endpoint integrity assessment: 
    The status of the device used to connect to the network is also inspected before access can be granted. If the device contains vulnerabilities, such as obsolete versions of applications, or is infected with malware, access will be denied.

  • Principle of least privilege: 
    Users are granted only the access privileges necessary to perform their tasks. In other words, access to any resource that does not fall within the employee's scope is automatically subject to verification. The most sensitive data is particularly well protected.

  • Microsegmentation: 
    The network is divided into smaller segments. This compartmentalisation of resources is determined according to their role, level of sensitivity or exposure to threats. If an attack compromises one segment, cyber criminals are unable to move laterally to access other resources.

Benefits of the Zero Trust approach

  • A higher level of cyber security against attacks: 
    Zero Trust implies the implementation of new control and validation processes, which significantly improves the company's security. For example, a compromised account or an infected device will be detected and blocked during the verification stage. Even in the event of a successful attack, microsegmentation considerably reduces the risks by preventing propagation to other parts of the network.

  • Better protection for sensitive data: 
    The principle of least privilege reduces the level of exposure of sensitive data to internal threats. By restricting access, the risk of accidental disclosure is reduced, as is the risk of data exfiltration by a malicious employee, such as an employee intending to take the company's customer database upon departure.

  • Security adapted to new work models: 

The rise of remote work presents several security challenges. Firstly, it encourages the use of personal devices by users. Furthermore, by allowing easy access to data and applications from any location, the Cloud increases risks associated with identity and access management.

The Zero Trust approach provides a solution to both issues. Endpoint integrity checks protect the network from threats originating from personal devices. At the same time, identity controls ensure that the user is the originator of the request, regardless of their workplace.

How to implement a Zero Trust approach

  • Map the resources to protect: 

The first step is to identify all assets needing protection. This involves assessing the degree of sensitivity of your different data, and having a thorough knowledge of all access points to your information system. This evaluation work will help you both define your priorities for deploying the Zero Trust approach and segment your resources.

  • Define an identity and access management policy: 

Next, define the appropriate level of access necessary for each employee to accomplish their tasks without being able to access confidential information they do not need. You should also choose a multifactor authentication solution that will enable you to verify the identity of users initiating connection requests.

  • Implement microsegmentation:

Once you have identified the different resource segments to create, define strict access policies for each. Continuous monitoring of network traffic is essential to detect any attempt at lateral movement, using intrusion detection (IDS) and security information and event management (SIEM) systems.

  • Foster a Zero Trust culture: 

Zero Trust is a genuine security philosophy, which can sometimes be perceived as a constraint by employees. This is because users may have their access revoked after the principle of least privilege has been applied or feel burdened by multifactor authentication. It is important to involve all employees in this new cyber security governance by communicating your convictions, explaining the advantages and benefits of Zero Trust, and organising training sessions. 

  • Use AI to automate verification processes: 
    Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) play an important role in detecting suspicious behaviour. Able to analyse a user's behaviour in real time and compare it to a vast number of patterns, AI can automatically identify and block malicious requests. ML also enables security policies to be refined and adjusted over time based on newly detected threats.

Zero Trust is a pragmatic approach to cyber security, which considerably strengthens the protection of information systems by adopting a continuous verification model. As well as incorporating end-to-end encryption of your data, our collaborative work solution Cryptobox as well as our endpoint security solutions Cryptosmart Mobile and Cryptosmart PC offer strong