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Successful Zero Trust Security Implementation Case Studies

 

 

Table of Content:

  • Intro

  • What Zero Trust Entails? 

  • Tips for Implementing a Zero Trust Model 

  • Companies That Implemented a Zero Trust Model 

  • Conclusion

 

 

Intro 

Zero Trust security is a term for security models that don't rely on predefined trust levels. Instead, all users and devices are treated in the same manner, regardless of whether inside or outside the network perimeter. A zero-trust security strategy starts with the assumption that all users and devices are untrusted until they've been verified and authenticated. Once verified, they're only given access to the resources they need – no more, no less. This approach to security has many benefits, which is why more and more organizations are adopting it. This article will look at some real-world case studies of successful zero-trust security implementations. 


What Zero Trust Entails? 


Zero Trust requires a complete rethinking of how security works. It is no longer about protecting the perimeter. Instead, security is about protecting data, regardless of location. Organizations must be ready to accept, adjust, and flow with this shift. 
 
This type of protection entails implementation that relies heavily on having multiple layers of security and multiple means of authenticating users throughout the network. This requires creating a good architecture for your IT environment and implementing it across the organization. 

Lastly, legacy systems may run on unsupported operating systems, use hard-coded authentication credentials, or may be incompatible with certain technologies needed to build the Zero Trust architecture. These factors must be taken into consideration in order to adopt Zero Trust in the right way that will, besides protecting you, also boost your efficiency. 

 


Tips for Implementing a Zero Trust Model 

 


Creating an asset list: First, you must identify all the users, devices, and services that need access to your network. This will ensure that all assets in your organization are properly considered. 

Design proper authentication for all assets: Once you have a list, you must create a verification process for each. This process should include two-factor authentication and a mechanism for revoking access if necessary. The goal is to implement proper access control for accessing all resources and implementing the principle of least privilege across the company. 

Validate all devices: All endpoints connecting to the network should be consistently validated to ensure that it is a company devices and non-malicious. One way to make this easier is to enroll all devices so that you have a record of what devices are company devices and which are not.  

Implement encryption across the organization: You need to ensure that all company data on the network is encrypted in both transit and storage. This is important to prevent any unauthorized access to data.  

 

 


Companies That Implemented a Zero Trust Model 


1) Palo Alto Networks is a recognized leader for the Forrester Wave report on Zero Trust eXtended ecosystem platform providers. Palo Alto frequently stands out as one of the most reliable zero-trust providers, helping companies to reimagine their security outside of typical parameters.  

Palo Alto stands out as a fantastic partner for companies that want to translate their strategy for zero trust into a complete implementation process. You can access full visibility through all traffic layers, verify users, devices, and applications, and unlock context-based insights. Palo Alto helps to consistently enforce reliable policies across all networks.  

2) Security is a stand-out focus area for Cisco. This communication and IT company believe in giving companies comprehensive protection, whether building a remote team or optimizing their workload. With Cisco's holistic approach to zero-trust solutions, companies can discover the benefits of increased access control and stronger end-to-end visibility. The Cisco security framework prevents unauthorized access, reduces the risk of unwanted breaches, and ensures that you can maintain consistent policy-based controls. There's even access to plenty of detailed reports, logs, and alerts to help companies respond more effectively to threats.  

3) Zscaler Private Access is an as-a-Service offering that takes a user- and application-centric approach to private application access. With it, businesses can ensure that only authorized users have access to specific private applications, giving them more granular control. This is through lightweight software connecting apps and users to the Zscaler security cloud. With so many businesses working remotely due to the pandemic, Zscaler is also the perfect way to ensure they can do so safely, easily, and quickly. In particular, Zscaler champions a new approach to connectivity to help businesses build and maintain a long-term access strategy. 

4) Proofpoint delivers zero-trust security systems as part of the Proofpoint Meta approach to cloud security. This solution comes with a software-defined perimeter for the cloud-delivered systems in your business to secure remote access to any resources your teams need. Alongside a secure solution that takes VPN access to the next level, Proofpoint also helps evolving businesses create a more comprehensive policy for data protection as they migrate to cloud and hybrid environments. Through granular access control, central management systems, and complete visibility, business leaders can reduce their chances of breaches.  

5) Citrix provides a comprehensive zero-trust network solution to companies that need a convenient, all-in-one way to transform their existing policies. The Citrix Workspace, recognized by the Forrester Wave report, offers an end-to-end environment for protection. Here, businesses can implement zero-trust principles and avoid the gaps often left by mix-and-match strategies. With Citrix, you enable and control remote access without relying on a VPN. Citrix also brings more context and information to businesses as they track the performance of their processes, tools, and people. With complete access control and security, teams can finally get the peace of mind they need.  

 

 


Conclusion 


In conclusion, Zero Trust Security is a viable and successful security measure for organizations of all sizes. By combining micro-segmentation, identity management, and data encryption, businesses can create a secure network from outside threats.