Zero Trust Security Model Overview

Study Notes

Zero Trust Security Model

A security model that assumes no implicit trust, either for users or devices, inside or outside the network perimeter.
This contrasts with traditional network security models that often rely on a trusted perimeter.
It prioritizes continuous verification and authorization of every user, device, and resource, regardless of location.

Principles of Zero Trust

Verify Everything: Continuously validates every user and device access request.
Trust Nothing: Does not assume any implicit trust. All connections and access must be authenticated and authorized.
Least Privilege: Users and devices are granted only the minimum necessary access to resources.
Microsegmentation: Dividing the network into smaller, isolated segments (micro-networks), limiting potential damage from a breach.
Continuous Monitoring: Proactively identify and respond to security threats in real time.

Identity Verification

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implementing multiple authentication methods (e.g., password, token, biometric) to verify user identity.
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC): Authorizing access based on a combination of attributes about the user, device, resource, and environment.
Strong Authentication Methods: Utilizing robust and advanced methods to verify user identity, protecting against phishing and other malicious attacks.
Device Posture Assessment: Examining the health and security posture of the device to ensure it meets the security requirements before granting access.
Identity Management and Access Control (IAM): Centralized management for user identities and access rights for comprehensive security management.

Micro-segmentation

Network Segmentation: Dividing the network into smaller, isolated segments based on business functions or departments.
Granular Control: Allows for more precise control over network traffic and access to resources.
Isolation of Resources: Limiting the impact of a breach to a specific segment, preventing its spread to other parts of the network.
Enhanced Security Posture: Making it difficult for threat actors to move laterally across the network.
Improved Visibility and Control: Enabling better monitoring and enforcement of security policies.

Continuous Monitoring

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): Identifying and reporting suspicious activities within the network.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): Centralizing security logs for correlation and analysis, identifying patterns and developing new policies to increase security.
Threat Intelligence: Utilizing data and insights from various sources to proactively identify, analyze, and respond to potential threats.
Real-time Threat Detection & Response: Monitoring the network for real-time anomalies and malicious activities, automatically blocking or taking other security measures.
Log Aggregation and Analysis: Gathering security logs and data from various sources into a common repository for comprehensive analytical views of the security posture.

Network Segmentation

Isolation of Sensitive Data and Applications: Preventing unauthorized access to critical data systems and applications housed within specific segments (e.g. financial data, patient data).
Improved Security Controls: Employing varied security measures on individual segments depending on their mission criticality.
Enhanced Network Visibility: Increasing awareness of the network traffic in specific segments.
Limited Lateral Movement: Controlling lateral movement of attacks over the network minimizing the scope of potential damage.
Reduced Attack Surface: Making it more challenging for attackers to traverse multiple segments of the network.

Description

Explore the principles and features of the Zero Trust Security Model. Understand the importance of verifying every access request without assuming trust, and learn about critical strategies like least privilege and microsegmentation. This quiz will test your understanding of how this security model operates in today's digital landscape.