A workplace security strategy defends your business’s critical data and information, keeps employees and customers safe, keeps you compliant with updated laws and regulations in your country, and builds trust for the organization.
Taking security to a higher level is a priority for every organization these days when cyber-attacks are common. Zero trust is a novel paradigm that spares no one in this matter. The framework works on the core concept of “Trust no one, verify everyone.” Zero Trust adoption rose from 35% to 41% among surveyed organizations between 2021 and 2022.
Zero trust security refers to the security from inside or outside of the network where no one is trusted by default to gain access to the network’s resources. Still, the user is required to pass the verification test. The aim here is to add an extra layer of security to prevent cyber-attacks and data breaches.
Want to know more about it? Here is your read!
Key Principles of Zero Trust
Zero trust framework attempts to protect computer networks against cyber risks by eliminating the distinction between internal and external threats of traditional network perimeters. It works on the following fundamental principles:
● Least Privilege Access
Least privilege access must be enforced. It gives users and devices only the access they need and regularly re-authenticates them. The framework believes that the more a given user has access, the greater the threat to the organization it can be.
● Micro-Segmentation
Micro-segmentation contains data breaches by isolating network endpoints and determining if two endpoints should access each other. The zero trust framework assumes that a violation will occur and to stay alert at all phases. It takes endpoint management the extra mile by enforcing segmentation with the most minor privileged rights.
● Continuous Monitoring and Verification
The zero trust framework continuously and carefully monitors user activity to ensure an organization’s safety. It controls, audits, and manages user activity in real-time to strengthen and pinpoint secure infrastructure at every level.
● Multi-Factor Authentication
The zero-trust framework prevents data breaches with a strong authentication series where users must pass multiple forms of verification before gaining access to resources.
Zero Trust Architecture Addressing Common Security Challenges
With the sheer degree of cloud, endpoint, and data sprawl in today’s IT infrastructure, implementing security is necessary. Zero-trust architecture believes that all entities are zero-trusted by default. Here are the top three of its benefits:
● Visibility Check
The essence of the Zero-trust model is that it allows identity-based access control. It reduces the attack surface and, hence, data theft risks. The adaptive adjustment of authority by trust levels offers a solid risk-coping ability.
Also, data monitoring is included in the architecture, allowing you complete visibility of who accesses the data and from where the location is. All activities are closely monitored, limiting the chances of data exfiltration
● Endpoint Protection
Attackers often target corporate endpoints like servers, laptops, desktops, and critical Points of Sales (POS) to gain access to the organization’s network. The zero trust concept is centrally implemented to cover endpoint security through the cloud and cover endpoint security. The complete framework is security optimized- the apps that run on the devices are securely provisioned, properly configured, and kept up to date.
● Regulatory Compliance
Regulatory compliances pose questions about how to protect data and keep it safe. In zero trust architecture, the identity and payload are verified for each data movement. Hence, you can stop the attack before any data breach.
Remember that zero-trust architecture is a concept and needs to be implemented. HCL BigFix, an endpoint management software can help you achieve the Zero Trust philosophy of “never trust, always verify. This system allows you to secure endpoints.
HCL BigFix and Zero Trust Integration
HCL BigFix offers secure infrastructure by intelligent automation of servers, cloud assets’ security, and risk management compliance. With its cyberFOCUS security management feature, businesses can discover, prioritize, and patch critical vulnerabilities and reduce cybersecurity risk in real-time. It suggests the most impactful remediations to execute, define, and manage Protection Level Agreements (PLAs) and analyze CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability exposures.
Implementing Zero Trust Architecture With HCL BigFix
Still unsure of how HCL BigFix gets the job done. Here are some highlights of how it achieves so!
● Encompasses Resources on the Network
HCL BigFix considers all data sources and computing services as resources. It differs from traditional systems that only consider endpoints that connect to the network as resources, but HCL BigFix also considers dynamic cloud computing services as resources.
● Secured Communication
HCL BigFix doesn’t trust a connection request from inside or outside the organization’s network. Regardless of location, requests from inside the perimeter must meet the exact authentication requirements of those outside the organization.
- Attribute-based policy enforcement
HCL BigFix sets up policies based on attributes such as behavior, location, environment, etc, to determine resource access.
● Monitoring Asset Integrity
When evaluating a connection request, HCL BigFix checks the security posture of the asset. It works on a robust monitoring and reporting system of endpoints and other systems.
● Session-Based Access
HCL BigFix Trust establishes a session time before granting access to a resource, meaning trust can only be valid for one session.
● Dynamic Authentication and Authorization
It timely reevaluates trust and then grants access to the resources.
● Data Collection
HCL BigFix constantly checks on the state of the network and communications to improve security posture continuously.
Benefits of Zero Trust Security with HCL BigFix
HCL BigFix helps you achieve zero-trust architecture with a strong security posture, protection, and regulatory compliance. Explore the transformation of your security approach using HCL BigFix Zero Trust Endpoint Management. Uncover vulnerabilities, control configurations, and oversee endpoint Zero Trust compliance. Learn how HCL BigFix enhances your journey to Zero Trust.
Structural diagram of zero trust security principles.
It offers intelligent automation to manage nearly 100 operating system versions, streamline management processes, reduce operating costs, and improve endpoint security. Other highlights of using it are:
- BigFix Lifecycle provides patching, operating system provisioning, software deployment, and remote desktop control.
- With BigFix, organizations can discover, secure, and manage network endpoints on more than 90 operating systems
- HCL BigFix meets all the necessary security compliance standards
- Using HCL BigFix, organizations can manage physical and virtual endpoints through a single infrastructure
- HCL BigFix leverages endpoint management from the cloud, reducing infrastructure costs.
Conclusion
Don’t risk losing business assets by ignoring security. Securing valuable assets from theft or damage saves you loss, protects your employees and customers, and creates brand value. It ultimately benefits you with customer loyalty and boosts business revenue.
Contact us and implement zero-trust architecture for your company today.