Zero Trust Security

The idea that you can “trust, but verify” in a timely and effective manner is no longer a safe assumption. Things move faster than ever in today’s digital environment. This approach only offers a single layer of defense. As you well know, the digital space is much more complex and you leave yourself open to numerous vulnerabilities without multiple layers of protection throughout your network. 

A zero trust security model is based on the concept of layered thresholds that continuously vet the trustworthiness of a user. This is a much more thorough means of protecting your network’s infrastructure and greatly reduces the risk of an intruder compromising your most valuable data.

There’s countless reasons at the basic security level to employ a zero trust security infrastructure, but the most important value is that both companies and customers can benefit from the security initiative. Leveraging a zero trust security model in your company’s networks bestows the following benefits:

• Protect your reputation: Your business depends on people trusting you with their information. Without heightened security parameters, you’re putting your reputation at stake. A single data breach could be enough to dissuade potential clients from doing business with you and could motivate once-loyal customers to look for other options.
• Secure intellectual property: Essential schematics, blueprints, and operation procedures are now mostly entrusted to digital networks for safekeeping, as this allows easy access. Zero trust security solutions prevent competitors from discovering your secrets and stop hackers from ransoming your patents.
• Prevent financial loss: Zero trust security ensures that threats aren’t allowed to reduce your profits. Cyberattacks lead to devastating losses, whether it’s through illicitly acquired information held hostage by ransomware or reputational damage done by a data breach.
• Simplify security and digitisation: Consolidating your security measures into a cohesive zero trust architecture makes it easier to keep track of your defenses and be on guard for threats. By creating a security posture for your company, zero trust security measures also make it easier for your business to transfer your assets into a digital medium.

The value of a zero trust security services solution isn’t exclusive to enterprise businesses, though. Your customers also benefit from this advanced approach to cyber security. There’s three key advantages that your customers can enjoy with our zero trust security solutions.

• Stop identity theft: Continual verification processes make it harder for malware to steal identities and dissuade unsavory individuals from attempting to do so. Your customers can enjoy your services with the knowledge that their assets and information are secure.
• Reduce service disruption: Data breaches and similar cybersecurity incidents slow down transactions or even bring them to a halt as your business evaluates the damage done by the threat. With heightened security measures of zero trust protocols, your customers enjoy smooth operations and efficient services.
• Provide a safe space: When your networks are constantly protected and monitored, your customers are assured that they are in a safe space and can go about their business without worrying about cyber attacks.

Several methods establish a zero trust digital environment in your business network. The following are among the most prevalent and effective approaches.

• Multi-factor authentication: Passwords alone no longer guarantee a secure environment. Multiple forms of authentication provide a much safer environment. Examples of other authentication methods include biometrics and two-factor authorisation, which involves inputting a code sent to another device.
• Micro-segmentation: This security measure involves creating rulesets and adopting policy management that creates an intricate layer of defence around each digital asset. By adopting this type of network segmentation, your devices are only allowed to communicate with the ones you want.
• Least privilege protocols: With this approach, anyone entering or using your online networks are only given access to information necessary for their purpose. Everything is strictly need-to-know, with the accessible information decided by the user’s role.
• Application behaviour monitoring: This requires application security that monitors the behaviour of programs, consistently checking if they are operating strictly within their parameters. Any suspicious activity is flagged and lets you know if there are potential problems.
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): Is a service that ensures secure remote access to applications that are running in the public cloud or in private data center environments. These solutions provide secure access based on adaptive controls; they also monitor user activity and perform continuous risk assessment. ZTNA reduces the enterprise’s attack surface and increases IT’s visibility into user activity and applications.

Without thorough security measures in place, your business is unlikely to grow and retain customers. Today, many upstream and downstream providers need to demonstrate their security compliance in order to be an approved vendor of choice. Finding a company capable of implementing thorough zero security measures on your networks is a solid step in safeguarding and investing in your businesses future.

Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) network segmentation is one method to comply with security protocols trusted by the payment card industry. The core requirement of meeting this security standard is to create and isolate a dedicated subnetwork for credit card data from other computing operations.

PCI DSS network segmentation helps you minimise efforts needed to ensure that your company meets the required standards in protecting cardholder information. The streamlined nature of network segmentation techniques simplifies the process of securing sensitive data and minimising the risk posed by hackers and malware.

Network segmentation and micro-segmentation are both effective security techniques. However, you need to trust the cybersecurity company installing these solutions to ensure they accomplish their purpose. By partnering with the right provider, you will know your company is safe from risks and threats.

Matrium Technologies is a leading provider of network security and cybersecurity solutions in Australia and New Zealand. With nearly 30 years of experience in securing the interests of clients, we have the capabilities to safeguard your company’s digital assets.