Why Your Critical Infrastructure Needs Zero Trust Security Policies

When it comes to securing critical infrastructure, challenges abound:

• Legacy systems make it challenging for IT security teams to address vulnerabilities. Some companies run unsupported technology or solutions that can’t be patched or upgraded because of age, compliance, or warranty requirements.
• The rise of the internet of things (IoT) has created an environment where there is an ever-increasing number of devices and endpoints accessing the network and other critical infrastructure elements. This creates a multiplying number of potential gaps in the security plane.
• Cloud-focused strategies are reaping the benefits of better performance, scalability, and cost savings, but in most cases, cloud migrations introduce new security complexity.
• Remote and hybrid workers and their access to infrastructure via home networks and personal devices create new threats for security teams to manage.
• Data availability, while overall a benefit, can spiral into a security concern as employees access areas of the network to gain data analysis and insights.

Companies are adopting a new approach to security that reduces risk by assuming that every device and user is suspect. This contrasts the traditional mindset that assumed all devices and users were trustworthy until proven otherwise. Zero trust policies use a combination of strategies to secure systems and data while providing a consistent work experience to on-site and remote workers.

Least-privileged Access: One of the foundations of zero trust is the careful segmentation and limiting of network access. Employees are granted access to network resources based on their roles and what is needed to complete their tasks.

Continuous Threat Detection: Monitoring is another hallmark of zero trust. Zero trust utilizes tools like Secure Web Gateway, Cloud Access Security Broker, and Next Generation Firewall to offer zero-day detection and mitigation.

Multi-Factor Authentication: At the user level, access is granted using a strong password, but users must also provide biometric verification or enter a code sent to a separate device in order to access the network.

It’s important to note that zero trust is not a specific solution or even a set of practices. It will look different across companies and industries. It should also be approached as an ongoing process, not something to be achieved in a single set of objectives.

Begin your zero trust journey by prioritizing critical infrastructure:

• Identify what comprises critical infrastructure for your business.
• Complete a full assessment of the visibility (or lack thereof) around critical infrastructure, as well as vulnerabilities and risks associated with it.
• Establish network segmentation for operational and informational technology.

While pursuing zero trust policies doesn’t come down to a particular solution, it may require some additional tools to secure your critical infrastructure. To begin with an assessment of potential vulnerabilities, along with guidance in establishing a zero trust environment, contact us at One Connect.