Zero Trust Architecture Essentials Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is one of the main goals of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)?

To increase user access privileges

To allow wider access to all resources

To reduce the risk of improper privilege escalation (correct)

To simplify network access for all users

Which method is emphasized by ZTA to protect against brute-force attacks?

Employment of security questions

Use of single-factor authentication

Adoption of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) (correct)

Continuous access monitoring

What principle is implemented in ZTA to reduce the risk of internal attacks?

Principle of unrestricted access

Principle of shared responsibility

Principle of maximum grants

Principle of least privilege (correct)

How does ZTA ensure secure communications between clients and servers?

Through mutually authenticated encrypted tunnels Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of ZTA is critical for cyber risk reduction?

Continuous monitoring of resource access Signup and view all the answers

What does ZTA utilize to ensure that only authorized users access certain resources?

Policies conditioned on user and device security posture Signup and view all the answers

Which risk does ZTA specifically address related to device security?

Access by unsecure devices Signup and view all the answers

What attack method is recognized as a threat that ZTA seeks to protect against?

Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary benefit of Zero Trust (ZT) in terms of risk management?

Reduced risk of compromise Signup and view all the answers

Which principle is at the core of Zero Trust architecture (ZTA) to minimize unauthorized access?

Never trust, always verify Signup and view all the answers

What approach does Zero Trust architecture utilize to control resource visibility?

Resource hiding from unauthorized users Signup and view all the answers

How does Zero Trust help in the detection and containment of breaches?

It reduces the time to detect and contain breaches. Signup and view all the answers

Which concept involves checking if a user is authenticated and authorized before granting access to resources?

Policy decision point (PDP) authorization Signup and view all the answers

What ensures that only vetted applications run on a server within a Zero Trust model?

Use of compartmentalized applications Signup and view all the answers

What technique is leveraged in ZTA for requesting access to resources?

Request through a Policy Enforcement Point (PEP) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the reduction of lateral movement in a Zero Trust environment?

Employing stringent access controls Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary benefit of the Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) regarding attack surface reduction?

Assigns access decisions to each internal resource individually Signup and view all the answers

How does the ZTA model handle internal access compared to traditional security architectures?

Access is evaluated at every internal resource, not just at the perimeter Signup and view all the answers

What can lead to an increased attack surface in traditional security models?

Management of groups by outdated decision-makers Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of allowed traffic in traditional security architectures?

Attackers can exploit internal resources without additional access checks Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following contributes to organizational complexity in access management?

Orphaned groups remaining with unmanaged permissions Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the Zero Trust model in regards to provisioning and access?

Every access request is handled consistently and just-in-time Signup and view all the answers

Why is traditional internal traffic typically unencrypted?

It is assumed all internal users are trustworthy Signup and view all the answers

What issue arises from stale access permissions left by previous decision-makers?

Introduction of orphaned groups with potential security risks Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) Essentials

ZTA avoids complicated access control mechanisms that produce unexpected results and leaves out legacy ACLs.
Eliminates unnecessary layers of group management by decision-makers who may not be relevant.
Discards stale permissions linked to orphaned groups that no longer have active owners.
Avoids antiquated authorization methods that differentiate based on local or global access.
Ensures timely provisioning and access revocation through consistent handling by Policy Decision Points (PDPs).

Reducing Attack Surface

Traditional security models rely on perimeter defenses where internal traffic goes unencrypted, increasing risk.
Once inside, attackers can scan for vulnerabilities and exploit internal network traffic.
ZTA maintains security at every internal resource, making unauthorized access decisions continuously, not just at the perimeter.
Constricts the organization's attack surface to only those resources that are improperly secured.

Complexity Reduction

Increasing digital footprints lead to complex IT environments with outdated access grants and orphaned permissions.
ZTA reduces the risk associated with legacy permissions tied to users who have since left.

Risk Mitigation Advantages of ZT

Emphasizes reducing risk of compromise through selective access control and minimizing attack surfaces.
Limits attackers' lateral movement and speeds up detection of breaches.

Principles of Least Privilege

Resources are granted access based on user attributes, device security, request context, and environmental risk.
Implements resource hiding to ensure that resources are visible only to authenticated users.
Utilizes vetted, compartmentalized applications to protect against compromised hosts sharing server resources.

Protection Strategies

Aims to prevent:
- Unauthorized privilege escalation and lateral movement.
- Access exceeding need-to-know and time constraints.
- Insecure devices and methods compromising access.
- Attacks such as brute force, DDoS, and MITM.
Encourages Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for enhanced security against common attacks.

Continuous Monitoring and Policy-Based Controls

Maintains strong cybersecurity posture through continuous monitoring of resource access.
Investigates potential security breaches to enhance rapid response.
Policy-based access controls reduce risks associated with compromised accounts by taking into account user and device security postures.
Ensures all communications flow through encrypted channels, minimizing unauthorized access opportunities.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge on the essentials of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) and how it can reduce your organization's attack surface. This quiz covers key concepts such as access controls, group management, and internal resource security. Challenge yourself to understand how ZTA maintains security in a constantly evolving digital landscape.