What is Zero Trust?

Zero Trust Access

Zero Trust, or Zero Trust Access, is the term applied to the strategy which assumes that you cannot trust the individual or device until verified.  The good guys, the bad guys, and all devices are the same and should not be trusted automatically. Proof of trust is verified with credentials.

The term was first coined in 1994 by Stephan Paul Marsh at the University of Stirling as part of his doctoral thesis that focused on trust. Over the next ten years, it became part of the tech vernacular as it relates to defining the perimeter of security access.

Three Principles

While implementing a zero trust strategy can happen in different ways, a zero trust architecture will always have similar elements.

• User/Application authentication – grouped together since some actions are automated
• Device authentication – consideration of access scenarios, will access be granted through a mobile phone, IoT device, different locations, etc
• Trust layers – evaluation of access based on application layers rather than overall network access
• Interaction – a way of duplicating verification through interactivity

Working together, these principles are modeled on the “never trust, always verify” foundation. And that means that even if they are connected to a corporate LAN, they need to be verified. The complexity of today’s technology landscape means that we cannot operate on any assumptions. Just because a device or login exists on a network, verification or validation should not be automatic.

Security From Start to Stop

AllSafe IT provides businesses with the tools to identify gaps in their security programs. Additionally, our ongoing training program and other resources then mitigate the risks that are found to further prevent the likelihood of a cyber breach.

AllSafe IT has spent over 15 years providing IT services to hundreds of businesses. Our specialized services are uniquely tailored to provide our customers with the reliability, protection, and fast services needed to ensure 100% uptime and maximized data security. From comprehensive and preventative cybersecurity strategies to 24/7 customer support, AllSafe IT understands the unique needs of businesses.