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If youre familiar with the Zero Trust framework, its principles may seem simple enough in the context of network security. Nobody not even your most senior leaders can be granted user access without first being checked at the gate.

Heres the problem: Traditional perimeters are a thing of the past. Today, with remote access and hybrid work a mainstay of the modern enterprise, cyber threats are challenging your organization like never before. Thats why the most forward-thinking businesses are implementing Zero Trust.

However, two questions remain. How do Zero Trust principles work in a cloud environment? And, more importantly, how can they help you safeguard your sensitive data?

In this guide, well walk you through the convergence of Zero Trust and cloud security. From why its important to how it works, well help you identify all the tools and technologies you need to create a Zero Trust cloud for safe and secure access.

IT professionals are well-versed in the art of Zero Trust security. Since its inception in 2010, this innovative approach has quickly ushered in a wave of support for modern network access.

However, whats not so crystal clear is how this security policy will translate to an increasingly cloud-first landscape. What does Zero Trust for the cloud even mean and how does it work? Lets connect the dots.

According to Forrester, a Zero Trust architecture is built upon three fundamental concepts:

These tenets form the core of the Zero Trust framework and can be applied to any cloud environment whether its a public, private, hybrid, or multi-cloud infrastructure.

Contrary to a traditional security posture, which assumes a condition of implicit trust, the Zero Trust model believes all endpoints, users, and applications are potential cyber threats. Organizations that embrace the Zero Trust approach especially in the cloud can unlock a host of significant benefits:

The further you more effectively implement Zero Trust principles, the sooner youll realize these key advantages. Not sure where to start? Check out our guide on the Zero Trust Trust Maturity Model.

Traditionally, Zero Trust security is predicated on an enterprises ability to manage the network itself. In turn, the security team can establish access control policies and other mechanisms and more importantly, it can enforce them.

But now, with more organizations hosting information in cloud environments, there is concern over whether or not enterprises lack this level of control. Cloud domains are owned/operated by cloud providers and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) vendors, meaning a companys network security policy doesnt automatically carry over to the cloud environment. Consequently, sensitive data that is stored or transmitted is at risk of being spread out across an unprotected attack surface. And, because these safeguards dont automatically carry over, many businesses might have little to no insight into:

In simple terms, theyre sitting ducks. Worse yet, threat actors have taken notice. IBM reports that 82% of all breaches in 2022 involved data stored in the cloud, suggesting cybercriminals are targeting cloud-hosted assets and virtual infrastructure.

More than a buzzword, Zero Trust architecture has its fair share of enterprise applications. Strengthening a Zero Trust security posture can help you manage:

Its clear theres much to gain by adopting a Zero Trust model. But how do you actually do it?

Unfortunately, theres no such thing as a silver-bullet Zero Trust solution. However, there are several technologies and techniques that help you navigate the Zero Trust journey:

Certificate lifecycle management is essential to implementing Zero Trust at scale. Digital certificates are issued to people and devices so that organizations can verify their identities and authorize requests, whether it be to access the network or a specific corporate resource. Digital certificates are also used for strong encryption and access control. With so many certificates in use for so many purposes, CLM allows you to ensure no certificates go unmanaged, and enables you to enforce the principle of least privileged access.

There are three important steps in the certificate lifecycle:

Keys and secrets underpin the security of cryptographic processes. Managing their complete lifecycle is critical for comprehensive security.

User identity is the heart of post-perimeter cybersecurity. A robust, feature-rich IAM portfolio is key to securing identities and keeping your most valuable assets protected from compromised credentials, phishing attacks, and other threat vectors. Essential capabilities include:

Now that you know why creating a Zero Trust cloud is important and the tools it takes to get there, lets talk about the actual implementation process.

Be warned: Its not happening overnight. The Zero Trust journey could turn out to be a multi-year endeavor, so its best to take a phased approach. You can implement the foundations early, but as an ongoing process, reaching Zero Trust maturity will require continuous effort.

Here is one approach to how you can start your journey to Zero Trust maturity:

As cloud environments grow larger and more complicated, traditional network security tools are falling short of the mark. Todays organizations need more robust, advanced, and automated solutions that not only lay the foundation for a Zero Trust architecture, but also pave the way for ongoing security well into the future.

The good news? Thats where Entrust comes into play. Our portfolio of Zero Trust solutions are designed to secure your most critical resources:

From phishing-resistant MFA and adaptive authentication to strong credentials and CLM, we offer a full range of tools to take your asset protection to the next level. Leverage our expertise to:

Ready to get started? Explore our Zero Trust solutions for more information.

The post How to strengthen cloud security with Zero Trust appeared first on Entrust Blog.

*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from Entrust Blog authored by Samantha Mabey. Read the original post at: https://www.entrust.com/blog/2023/09/zero-trust-cloud-security/

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How to strengthen cloud security with Zero Trust - Security Boulevard