Zero trust networking is a modern, identity-centric approach to cybersecurity, where each user, device, and application must be verified continuously—no entity is inherently trusted.

A never trust always verify approach has become valuable as remote work becomes common and cybersecurity threats evolve to take advantage of as little as a single unsecured connection. Even fully on-premises businesses benefit from zero trust as it provides advanced security protections that can stop traditional cyberattacks in their tracks and minimize damage.

Most businesses can’t afford to be left behind as networks trend towards zero trust. Malicious actors continuously find novel means of accessing networks and spreading laterally to steal as much sensitive information as possible. Often, all it takes is a single cyberattack for many businesses to close their doors.

Core Principles of Zero Trust Networking

Zero trust networking operates on the idea of “never trust, always verify.” Unlike older networking models, no accounts, devices, or applications are considered automatically safe or trustworthy.

By orchestrating a wide range of policies, technologies, and user behavior, zero trust networking functions as a holistic approach to securing and operating a network. This means that users and devices must regularly authenticate and prove themselves trustworthy as they navigate the business’ network and attempt to access data.

Pillars of Zero Trust Networking

The pillars of zero trust networking are the best practices a business uses to segment the network, enforce security measures, authenticate activity, and implement policies. They are guidelines that allow SMBs to create flexible and cost-effective security measures that protect its network and allow employees to securely get their work done.

While each pillar is critical to zero trust networking, every business must think critically about the relationship between it and their network. This way, a business can build a zero-trust network that improves security without interrupting workflows or hindering employee efficiency.

1. Identity and Access Management

The first pillar of zero trust networking focuses on verifying users are who they claim to be and ensuring they only access the information that makes sense for their role.

A zero-trust network has robust authentication with security services such as multifactor authentication (MFA) and context-aware access controls. Users must have a means of verifying their identity using something they know, something they have, or something they are. Examples include:

• Pin numbers
• Secondary devices only that employee has access to
• Fingerprints

2. Micro-Segmentation for Enhanced Security

Network segmentation is the process of dividing a business’ network into discrete parts that can have their own traffic and security controls. Micro-segmentation takes this process one step further and implements robust policies and tight security controls that function on the application level.

Micro-segmentation allows a business to better control what different users have access to on the network. This can lead to improved network efficiency where it’s needed most and an added layer of security in the event of a compromised account.

If an employee account is breached, an attacker cannot move laterally through the network because context-sensitive controls and user permissions limit what they have access to. Additionally, as the attacker attempts to access sensitive data, the business’ security solutions flag this as suspicious activity, leading to faster threat detection.

3. Monitoring and Real-Time Security

NIST guidelines for zero trust state that a business must be able to observe and inspect the traffic on its network. To detect abnormal activity early and ensure security policies are being adhered to, around the clock monitoring and real-time visibility are essential for zero trust architecture.

Network detection and response (NDR) and extended detection and response (XDR) solutions are great examples of security services SMBs can implement to improve their monitoring capabilities. NDR, for example, provides automatic alerts for suspicious activity and detailed reports on cybersecurity incidents.

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools also support a zero-trust network, helping SMBs immediately respond to network anomalies.

4. Policy Automation and Dynamic Enforcement

Security solutions alone can’t create a zero-trust network. Businesses need to draft and implement cybersecurity policies that set strong guidelines for technology use and employee actions.

Useful policies for zero trust networking include:

• Principle of least privilege
• Mandatory MFA use for devices connecting to the company network
• Device health and compliancy standards
• Role-based access controls

An SMB’s policies should clearly outline security expectations and have technology solutions that make policy compliance simple and easy for employees. For example, many MFA solutions can check a device’s health before authenticating and prompt users to update their devices or take other actions before they are granted access.

5. Device Security

A network can only be secure when each device connecting to it is protected and compliant with relevant standards. Endpoint protection, for example, monitors a device’s activity and automatically protects against malicious downloads, suspicious links, and other security risks. As a cloud-based service, it can be deployed on every device accessing the network to provide real time endpoint security to the entire business.

Automatic patching is another example of device-level security measures businesses can implement to adhere to zero-trust networking standards. Every device connected to the business’ network can be updated after office hours to ensure patched vulnerabilities can’t be used to attack those devices. Adhering to this pillar of zero trust networking also allows a business to stay compliant with relevant standards, such as NIST and HIPPA.

Best Practice for Sustainable Zero Trust

To successfully transition to a zero-trust network, it is critical that businesses plan diligently. No two networks are the same, so each business’ path to zero trust looks different. Time and care must be taken to implement security solutions tailored to the environment and policies that make sense to the employees getting work done.

Just as zero-trust networking never assumes a device or connection can be trusted, businesses shouldn’t assume their network is as secure as it can be. Even after full implementation of zero-trust solutions, regular auditing and testing is best practice.

IT consultants can be a valuable resource for a successful audit and providing the specialized knowledge needed to further secure the business’ network. They can help with future planning and provide valuable information about the ever-changing threat landscape your industry faces.

Overall, businesses must continuously reassess and refine policies, tools, and training as security solutions and threats evolve.

Building Your Zero Trust Network with an IT Consultant

Small businesses and enterprises alike need a solution that can securely handle remote work, advanced cyberattacks, and network infrastructure that grows in complexity each year. So many businesses have begun their switch to zero-trust networking because threat actors relentlessly find novel ways to exploit each of these pain points and more.

If you are ready to fortify your business’ network and move towards zero trust, contact our engineers today for a personalized consultation to see how we can help you begin your zero-trust journey.