The rapid shift towards more remote work and the associated explosion in devices has dramatically increased the number of cyber threats.
With this in mind, organizations face the challenge of protecting their highly complex cloud-based technology ecosystems as people, software and even partner organizations can pose a threat to the security of valuable systems and data. As a result, the Zero Trust approach has established itself as a popular security framework. Analyst firm Markets and Markets forecasts that global spending on Zero Trust-based software and services will grow from $27,4 billion in 2022 to $60,7 billion in 2027.
What is Zero Trust?
With a zero-trust architecture, the inherent trust in the network is removed. Instead, the network is classified as hostile and each access request is checked based on an access policy. An effective zero trust framework combines multiple tools and strategies and is based on one golden rule: trust no one. Instead, each entity (person, device, or software module) and each request for access to technological resources must provide enough information to earn that trust. When granted, access is only for the specific asset required to perform a task and for a limited time only.
Zero Trust Authentication
Since password-based, traditional multi-factor authentication (MFA) can easily be bypassed by cybercriminals, an effective zero trust approach requires strong user validation through a phishing-resistant, passwordless MFA. In addition, trust must be established in the end device used to access applications and data. If organizations cannot trust the user or their device, all other components of a Zero Trust approach are useless. Authentication is therefore critical to a successful Zero Trust architecture, as it prevents unauthorized access to data and services and makes access control enforcement as granular as possible. In practice, this authentication must be as smooth and user-friendly as possible so that users do not bypass it or bombard the helpdesk with support requests.
Passwordless authentication
Replacing traditional MFA with strong, passwordless authentication methods enables security teams to build the first layer of their Zero Trust architecture. Replacing passwords with FIDO-based passkeys that use asymmetric cryptography and combining them with secure device-based biometrics creates a phishing-resistant MFA approach. Users are authenticated by proving that they own the registered device, which is cryptographically bound to their identity, through a combination of biometric authentication and an asymmetric cryptographic transaction. The same technology is used in Transaction Layer Security (TLS), which ensures a website's authenticity and establishes an encrypted tunnel before users exchange sensitive information, such as online banking.
Not only does this strong authentication method provide significant protection against cyberattacks, but it can also reduce the costs and administrative tasks associated with password resets and lockdowns with traditional MFA tools. Above all, however, long-term advantages result from improved work processes and productivity of the employees, since the authentication is designed to be particularly user-friendly and without friction losses.
Zero Trust Authentication Requirements
It's important for organizations looking to implement a Zero Trust framework to address authentication as early as possible. You should pay attention to the following points:
- Strong User Validation: A powerful factor in confirming the user's identity is proof of ownership of their associated device. This is provided when the authorized user verifiably authenticates himself on his own device. The identity of the device is cryptographically bound to the identity of the user. These two factors eliminate passwords or other cryptographic secrets that cybercriminals can retrieve from a device, intercept over a network, or socially engineer from users.
- Strong device validation: With strong device validation, organizations prevent the use of unauthorized BYOD devices by only allowing access to known, trusted devices. The validation process verifies that the device is bound to the user and meets the necessary security and compliance requirements.
- User-friendly authentication for users and administrators: Passwords and traditional MFA are time-consuming and hamper productivity. Passwordless authentication is easy to deploy and manage, and verifies users in seconds via a biometric scanner on their device.
- Integration with IT management and security tools: Gathering as much information as possible about users, devices, and transactions is very helpful in deciding whether to grant access. A Zero Trust policy engine requires integration with data sources and other software tools to make correct decisions, send alerts to the SOC, and share trusted log data for auditing purposes.
- Advanced policy engines: Using a policy engine with an easy-to-use interface allows security teams to define policies such as risk levels and risk scores that control access. Automated policy engines help collect data from tens of thousands of devices, including multiple devices from both internal employees and external service providers. Since using risk scores instead of raw data makes sense in many situations, the engine also needs to access data from a range of IT management and security tools. Once collected, the policy engine evaluates the data and takes the actions specified in the policies, such as allowing or blocking access or quarantining a suspicious device.
Phishing-resistant and password-free
Traditional password-based multi-factor authentication now poses a very low hurdle for attackers. An authentication process that is both phishing-resistant and passwordless is therefore a key component of a Zero Trust framework. This not only significantly reduces cybersecurity risks, but also improves employee productivity and IT team efficiency.
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About Beyond Identity Beyond Identity revolutionizes secure digital access for internal employees, external and outsourced employees, customers and developers. Beyond Identity's Universal Passkey architecture provides the industry's most secure and frictionless multi-factor authentication, preventing credential-based security breaches, ensuring device trust, and enabling secure and frictionless digital access that completely eliminates passwords.