Traditional security models no longer safeguard organizations against modern threats in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. As technology advances, cyber attackers are also refining their strategies. Cisco's Zero Trust Architecture is a transformative approach to network security that challenges conventional notions of trust and introduces a new era of protection.
Read on to learn how Cisco’s Zero Trust Architecture can safeguard your cybersecurity.
Understanding the Essence of Zero Trust
Cisco's Zero Trust Architecture tries to eliminate threats from an organization's network architecture. The traditional belief that the traffic inside the corporate network is inherently trustworthy has become obsolete. The zero trust model prompts organizations to question trust assumptions at every access attempt.
The idea of a secure perimeter is not valid in a world where mobility, BYOD, IoT, and cloud adoption for greater collaboration are common. All resources, both inside and outside the network, are viewed as potential risks under zero trust. It places a significant value on ongoing verification before access.
Three Pillars of Cisco's Zero Trust Framework
Cisco's Zero Trust Architecture is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It is a comprehensive framework built on three pillars, each addressing a crucial aspect of network security.
User and Device Security
This focuses on establishing trust in users and devices through robust authentication and continuous monitoring. Custom security policies are implemented to protect every application.
Network and Cloud Security
Safeguarding all network resources, both on-premises and in the cloud, is the goal. It ensures secure access for all users, regardless of their location.
Application and Data Security
Irrespective of where the applications are hosted, this aims to prevent unauthorized access within application environments.
Here's a more in-depth look at each principle of zero-trust architecture.
User and Device Security
Utilizing a zero-trust system means constantly questioning and verifying. This approach can monitor multiple elements, from rogue actors exploiting stolen credentials to the risks posed by insecure, unmanaged devices.
User Identity: Verify the identity of every user, irrespective of type (contractors, vendors, third-party providers, partners, remote users, employees, temporary workers, etc.).
Access Policies: Enforce adaptive access policies based on user role, device type, security health, user group, application type, and more.
Remote, Frictionless Access: Enable secure access to multi-cloud environments, web applications, servers, VPNs, and more for employees, remote workers, and contractors.
Network and Cloud Security
In a world where network boundaries are becoming increasingly porous, Cisco's Zero Trust Architecture seeks to fortify the network and cloud security. It prevents attacks from data exfiltration, exploitation attempts, and insider threats. To achieve comprehensive zero trust in network security, organizations must:
Know Who Is on the Network: Employ mobile device management (MDM) for devices under control and utilize network-based machine learning for unmanaged devices. This ensures a clear understanding of who is accessing the network.
Define Endpoint Access: Implement segmentation and establish access policies tailored for individuals and groups of devices. The focus here is to ensure that each entity has the necessary permissions and nothing more.
Maintain Continuous Analysis and Enforcement: Set up an ongoing cycle of analysis and enforcement to proactively address emerging security threats. This constant vigilance helps organizations stay one step ahead of potential risks and vulnerabilities. Regularly analyzing and enforcing security measures ensures a dynamic response to the evolving threat landscape.
Application and Data Security
Applications and data are at the core of organizational operations, making them prime targets for cyber threats. Cisco's Zero Trust Architecture for application and data security aims to prevent advanced threats, malware attacks, and unauthorized access within application environments. Its critical components include:
Comprehensive Visibility
Achieving end-to-end visibility is paramount. This involves gaining insights across on-premises and multi-cloud environments. By having a clear and comprehensive view of your entire system, you can effectively identify and mitigate potential security risks.
Control Lateral Movement
To bolster security, innovative segmentation policies are implemented. These policies can regulate access to critical resources. By controlling lateral movement within your network, you minimize the pathways available to potential attackers, making it more challenging for them to navigate and compromise your system.
Ensure Application Compliance:
Building robust cloud security posture management (CSPM) capabilities is crucial. This involves monitoring risk exposure levels associated with various aspects such as configuration, network segmentation, and user/system events. You can identify vulnerabilities and rectify them by ensuring application compliance and fortifying your defenses against potential cyber threats.
Cisco SAFE Capabilities
The Cisco Zero Trust Architecture uses the Cisco SAFE methodology for a robust and structured approach to cybersecurity. Standard capabilities, including anomaly detection, device posture assessment, flow analytics, identity authorization, multi-factor authentication, security orchestration automation and response (SOAR), and threat intelligence, form the foundation of this architecture.
Security Capability Groups
Cisco's security capability groups, which include endpoint security, secure internet gateways, and application workload security, allow organizations to tailor their security measures to specific needs and challenges.
Internet Edge Capabilities
Securing the internet edge is crucial in Zero Trust Architecture. Cisco's capabilities, ranging from DDoS mitigation to web application firewalls, ensure a fortified perimeter, protecting against cyber threats attempting to breach the organization's defenses.
Cisco SAFE Business Flows
The concept of business flows in the Cisco SAFE methodology simplifies analyzing and identifying threats, risks, and policy requirements. This allows organizations to select specific capabilities, ensuring a targeted and effective defense strategy.
Cisco's Zero Trust Architecture is a powerful security solution in the ever-changing digital space. This method rethinks traditional trust standards, providing a comprehensive framework for today's dangerous scenario. If you want to embrace the future of network security with Cisco's Zero Trust Architecture, Anchor Network Solutions can assist you. Contact us online or call us at 303.653.9533 to learn more.