User access control has long been a cornerstone of security strategies for government facilities. Traditional perimeter-based security models, however, have become increasingly inadequate in the face of evolving cyber-physical threats.
Zero trust architecture (ZTA) is emerging as a powerful alternative because it challenges the conventional approach to access control and takes security to higher levels of protection.
The Foundations of Zero Trust Architecture
Unlike traditional user access control security models that trust users once they’re inside the network perimeter, ZTA operates on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” It demands continuous authentication and authorization of users and devices, regardless of their location.
The key tenets of zero trust architecture in an access control system are least privilege access, continuous verification, micro-segmentation, and data-centric security. Let’s take a closer look at what each of those principles entails.
Least Privilege Access
As a fundamental principle in cybersecurity, least privilege access is particularly important in the context of zero trust architecture. This principle dictates that users should be granted only the minimum level of access necessary to perform their specific tasks. By limiting permissions, organizations can significantly reduce the potential damage caused by a security breach.
The components of least privilege access in zero trust architecture include:
Granular Access Controls
Instead of granting broad access to systems and data, zero trust architectures use granular access controls, meaning that users are only allowed to access specific resources, applications, and data sets that are essential for their job functions.
Just-in-Time and Just-Enough Access
These principles further refine the concept of least privilege. JIT access provides temporary permissions for specific tasks, while JEA limits access to only the necessary tools and actions.
Continuous Verification
Continuous verification involves constantly monitoring user behavior, device health, and network traffic to detect and respond to potential threats in real time. It proactively ensures that access privileges are granted only to authorized users and devices and that any unauthorized activity is quickly identified and mitigated.
An effective continuous verification practice involves:
User Behavior Analytics
UBA analyzes user behavior patterns to identify anomalies. For instance, if a user suddenly starts accessing sensitive data outside of normal working hours or from an unusual location, it could be a sign of a potential threat.
Device Posture Assessment
This process involves evaluating the security posture of devices accessing the network. It checks for vulnerabilities, malware, and unauthorized software. Devices that fail the assessment may be denied access.
Network Traffic Analysis
By monitoring network traffic, organizations can detect suspicious activity, such as unauthorized data transfers or unusual login attempts.
Identity and Access Management
IAM systems continuously verify user identities and enforce access policies. This includes multi-factor authentication, single sign-on, and password expiration policies.
Micro-Segmentation
Micro-segmentation is a network security strategy that involves dividing a large network into smaller, isolated segments. This practice allows organizations to limit the impact of a security breach. In the context of zero trust architecture, micro-segmentation is a critical component for enforcing least privilege access and continuous verification.
Micro-segmentation operates using the following steps:
Segmenting the Network
The network is divided into smaller segments based on specific criteria, such as application, function, or user group.
Enforcing Strict Access Controls
Strict access controls are implemented between segments, limiting communication to only authorized traffic.
Monitoring Network Traffic
Network traffic is continuously monitored to detect and block malicious activity.
Data-Centric Security
Data-centric security is a security model that focuses on protecting the data itself, rather than relying solely on network security controls. In the context of zero trust architecture, data-centric security complements the principles of least privilege access, continuous verification, and micro-segmentation to provide a comprehensive security approach.
The principles of data-centric security involve:
- Classifying data based on its sensitivity and value to the organization
- Encrypting data both at rest and in transit to protect it from unauthorized access
- Implementing granular access controls to limit who can access and modify data
- Using data loss prevention technologies to prevent sensitive data from being accidentally or maliciously shared
- Masking sensitive data to protect it from unauthorized disclosure
- Maintaining regular backups of critical data to ensure business continuity in case of a data breach
Benefits of Zero Trust Architecture for Government Facilities
High-security government facilities that have implemented zero trust architecture into their user access systems have experienced a host of valuable advantages, including:
Enhanced Security
Zero trust architecture significantly reduces the attack surface by eliminating implicit trust and enforcing strict access controls.
Improved Resilience
By continuously monitoring user behavior and device health, ZTA can quickly detect and respond to threats.
Increased Productivity
This strategy can streamline access processes and reduce the time spent on manual security tasks.
Better Compliance
ZTA can also help government facilities meet regulatory requirements and industry standards, which have been developed by authorities and experts to ensure the most reliable security possible.
Reduced Risk of Data Breaches
By limiting access to sensitive data and continuously monitoring user activity, zero trust architecture can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches.
Improved Incident Response
In the event of a security incident, this architecture helps organizations quickly identify and contain the threat, minimizing any potential damage.
Applying Zero Trust Architecture to User Access Control
As cyber-physical security experts focused on government facilities for more than 30 years, Ariel Secure Technologies knows firsthand what it takes to implement zero trust architecture into user access control systems. We strongly recommend using an approved and certified third party to evaluate your facility and take all the necessary steps for secure execution.
Our comprehensive approach involves:
- Risk assessment. Our team will start by identifying critical assets and potential threats to prioritize security measures.
- Identity and access management. Ariel implements robust IAM solutions to manage user identities and access privileges.
- Network segmentation. We can divide the network into smaller segments to limit the impact of breaches.
- Continuous monitoring and analytics. We’ll use advanced security analytics tools to detect and respond to threats.
- Security awareness training. Our experts can educate users about security best practices and the importance of zero trust architecture.
- Strong password policies. We enforce strong password policies to protect user accounts.
- Multi-factor authentication. Ariel requires MFA for all user logins to add an extra layer of security.
- Regular security audits. Our team conducts regular security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities.
- Incident response. We’ll also develop a comprehensive incident response plan to minimize the impact of security breaches.
- Ongoing consulting services. Moving forward, we’ll continue to help by offering expert advice on security best practices and emerging technologies.
By partnering with Ariel, you’re taking proactive steps to ensure that your government facility is protected from the latest ever-evolving cyber threats and meets the highest standards of security.
Contact us today to learn more about how Ariel Secure Technologies can use zero trust architecture to transform your user access control system.
