Debunking Common Zero Trust Security Myths

According to recent estimates, the zero-trust security market is estimated to be worth $52 billion by 2026. Moreover, almost 63% of businesses worldwide have already adopted zero-trust infrastructure.

However, despite the widespread recognition and adoption of zero-trust security, there are still some myths about it. Therefore, let us debunk some of the most common zero-trust myths while getting a deeper understanding of what is zero trust security for infrastructure.

What is the Zero Trust Security Model?

Modern business infrastructures are no longer built on a “trust but verify” approach. With a rising number of cyber security threats, businesses are moving towards a zero-trust approach rather than a trust but verify one. 

On February 12, 2024, more than a hundred senior executives’ accounts were threatened in a Microsoft Azure Data Breach. This cyber attack was phishing-based, and the attacker’s focus was cloud account takeover. According to statistics, one attack happens somewhere around the world every 39 seconds.

A zero-trust security model is a modern security approach that does not use a single product, service, or technology that a business can use to revamp or secure its infrastructure. 

It is also not a one-time approach or practice but a continuous security approach that requires continuous effort to build a defensible security infrastructure. It is based on a never-trust, always-verify model that creates layers and limitations to access for better security.

Debunking Zero Trust Security Myths

• Myth 1: Zero Trust Security is a Product

The biggest myth people have is that the zero-trust model is a product or a single product. It’s not. Zero trust is an approach or framework that involves implementing a set of security principles that verify explicitly, use least privilege access, and reduce an organisation’s attack surface. 

You can create zero-trust infrastructure using different products or tools, but that doesn’t mean they are zero-trust products. They are just security products that help to build a zero-trust infrastructure. 

• Myth 2: There is a Single Way to Implement Zero Trust 

Zero-trust security is not based on any single principle. Instead, it is based on a number of principles, which require constant verification with no trust, least access, and breaking the very foundation of the threat.

To get started with this zero trust you can follow two main approaches: multi-factor authentication and micro-segmentation. The multi-factor approach helps with quick results, whereas micro-segmentation helps with the segmentation of the network and provides better control to identify a threat.

• Myth 3: Zero Trust Models Have Complex Implementation

Zero-trust cloud-based infrastructure is straightforward to implement as there is no hassle of an on-site system. Though it requires a lot of planning, it can be quite beneficial for an organisation in the long run. 

While it may be tricky to implement across legacy systems, many organisations have taken to adopting a hybrid approach to mitigate this issue. 

• Myth 4: Zero Trust Slows Down or Affects Productivity

It is easy to assume that zero trust slows down the infrastructure or affects productivity due to constant authentication and verification. However, when done right, it improves overall performance efficiency and experience.

Conclusion

Zero-trust network access is not a single product, and there is no single way of implementation. It is a continuous process built on a never-trust, always-verify model. It is not complex but requires planning, which becomes handy in the long run. Further, once created, it improves user experience, performance and overall efficiency.