Securing the Future of Work With Zero Trust

December 18, 2022

Cybersecurity is a growing concern for organizations and securing the future of work with Zero Trust is getting importance. As companies embrace a hybrid/flexible work model, new cybersecurity challenges are emerging. These include digital attacks, cyber-criminals, and data breaches. A zero trust approach covers the entire ecosystem from fully remote to hybrid and on-site work. As such, it cannot implement piecemeal. Instead, organizations must implement a comprehensive, long-term shift.

Netskope’s Private Access

Netskope’s Private Access is a security service that enables organizations to use zero-trust principles to protect sensitive data, while ensuring users can connect to corporate resources securely from any location. Its advanced data protection capabilities include adaptive application security, context-awareness, and continuous risk evaluation. Additionally, Netskope’s Private Access is available through the Microsoft Azure marketplace, enabling users to choose a package that works best for them.

Netskope’s Private Access solution leverages the company’s cloud-native ZTNA platform to deliver fast, secure access to private applications. Its security cloud runs on the world’s largest security network, NewEdge, and delivers real-time security, ensuring data integrity, compliance, and access. Moreover, it integrates with existing IAM and provides end-to-end protection.

Netskope and Telefonica Tech are partners that specialize in delivering solutions for a diverse set of applications and services. The collaboration allows both companies to take advantage of their respective strengths, and to better serve customers worldwide. Together, they are helping organizations accelerate digital transformation by integrating Netskope’s security capabilities with their own security solutions.

As most of the workforce now works from home, businesses have new challenges to address. Without authentication, they can’t give remote users access to company resources. This is problematic, but an evolution of zero-trust principles must also include data protection.

Securing the future of work with Zero Trust is a fundamental shift in how businesses operate. It means a new way to secure business applications while enhancing the productivity of employees. Businesses are more responsive and can make quick decisions, which means employees are more engaged and collaborate with their teams.

Netskope’s CISO, Neil Thacker, talks about Zero Trust in the new remote working landscape. Netskope’s philosophy on Zero Trust is about proving and verifying identity before allowing access. It helps enterprises prevent future pains from arising.

Zero-trust principles and technologies have adopted by several companies as a means of ensuring their systems are secure. Zero-trust is a concept that has gained traction thanks to the rapid growth of remote work and cloud migration. The hybrid workforce will be with us for the foreseeable future, and it’s the perfect time to adopt a zero-trust security strategy.

Netskope’s ZTNA platform

Netskope is a leading innovator in Zero Trust and Security Service Edge. Its Netskope Private Access platform helps organizations apply zero trust principles across web applications, private applications, and endpoint devices. This allows them to transition from outdated infrastructure to modern infrastructure while still maintaining zero trust principles.

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is an emerging security technology that treats everyone everywhere as a potential threat. Users required to prove their identity and permission to access certain network resources. As a result, zero trust solutions designed to grant access to only those users who need it. This approach allows organizations to tailor user access to specific systems, applications, and services. However, there are several limitations to ZTNA. One is that it does not protect all enterprise data and cannot detect malware. Therefore, enterprises need a more comprehensive solution that combines multiple security technologies.

Securing the future of work with Zero Trust

Securing the future of work with Zero Trust are essential in hybrid work environments. These principles govern the behavior of networks, devices, and applications. They ensure that users and applications adhere to policy guidelines. By eliminating implicit trust in entities, technology resources evaluate contextual elements, including user role, device identity, and data sensitivity level, to ensure a secure work environment. This helps organizations become more agile and secure. Furthermore, it streamlines network and application maintenance and provides zero trust data protection.

Netskope’s ZTNA solution helps organizations adopt zero trust principles while securing their cloud environment. It provides a secure environment for workers to access corporate resources while on-the-go. Its platform also continuously evaluates context and adapts to minimize risk. This unified data protection platform has consistently received accolades for its advanced data protection capabilities.

Netskope’s ZTNA software enables organizations to set up their own virtual perimeters around applications and devices, including cloud applications. The ZTNA platform offers organizations two basic architectures: agent-based and endpoint-initiated ZTNA. In endpoint-based ZTNA, a software agent installed in network endpoints. This agent provides information to the ZTNA broker during the authentication process.

Netskope’s ZTNA solution offers consolidated best-in-class security and a single-pane-of-glass management experience for all users. The solution provides continuous threat and trust verification for all users and applications and provides industry-leading SLAs.

CISO’s role in adopting zero trust

A recent survey conducted by General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) found that fewer than half of U.S. federal agencies will meet their zero trust requirements by the 2024 deadline. Several reasons listed for this shortfall, including a lack of expertise and legacy infrastructure. Many governments also struggle with how to classify and manage their data.

The zero trust model is based on removing trust from the system and ensuring security through continuous verification. This strategy builds on the security controls already in place, while incorporating new tools and modern architecture. The key to zero trust is that it isn’t a “set-and-forget” strategy, but a continuous process model.

In adopting zero trust, the CISO must map out the organization’s roadmap. This map should involve the IT and Security teams. The CISO should also establish a “Hippocratic oath” like the one used in the medical field: “First, do no harm.” This mindset will ensure that Zero Trust will implemented correctly and have a positive effect on all parties.

To succeed in adopting zero trust, the CISO must have visibility across the entire enterprise’s infrastructure and implement controls to prevent attacks. For example, CISOs should consider installing detection tools that will help stave off ransomware attacks. These tools can include EDR and extended detection and response (XDR).

The zero trust group recommends that CISOs begin by implementing the zero trust strategy in the easiest and most realistic steps. NIST has created guidelines and recommendations that can help CISOs implement zero trust in their organization. They should also understand the benefits and challenges of zero trust to get their leadership on board.

Zero Trust is a comprehensive strategy involving automation and orchestration. These measures reduce human error and improve security posture. Leading CISOs are adopting Security Orchestration, Automation and Response platforms (SOAR) solutions that combine machine learning and human expertise. With these tools, incident response actions are prioritized and automated, and compliance is enhanced.

Healthcare organizations are also undergoing a transformation to zero trust. The rapidly growing use of IOT devices has made zero trust security a challenge for many providers. Another challenge is the complexity of authentication and interoperability. Despite the challenges, zero trust is a valuable strategy for healthcare organizations.

Finished: Securing the future of work with Zero Trust

Ammar Fakhruddin

ABOUT AUTHOR

Ammar brings in 18 years of experience in strategic solutions and product development in Public Sector, Oil & Gas and Healthcare organizations. He loves solving complex real world business and data problems by bringing in leading-edge solutions that are cost effective, improve customer and employee experience. At Propelex he focuses on helping businesses achieve digital excellence using Smart Data & Cybersecurity solutions.


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