Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is a cybersecurity paradigm that is rapidly gaining popularity among IT professionals. At its core, ZTNA is about moving away from the traditional network-based security perimeter approach and instead focusing on the users, assets, and resources that make up a system. 

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides a comprehensive definition of ZTNA, which emphasizes the importance of authentication and authorization as discrete functions performed before a session to an enterprise resource is established.

ZERO TRUST IS A JOURNEY

Zero Trust is not a one-time implementation or solution, but rather a continuous process of improving an organization's security posture. It requires a fundamental shift in the way we approach cybersecurity, moving from a perimeter-based security model to a model that focuses on protecting resources based on identity, context, and risk. 

Zero Trust is a framework that can be applied to all aspects of an organization's security, including network, application, endpoint, and data security. The journey towards Zero Trust involves a series of steps, including assessing the current security posture, identifying and prioritizing assets and risks, implementing appropriate security controls, monitoring and responding to threats, and continuously evaluating and improving security practices. 

To achieve Zero Trust, it requires a cultural change and ongoing commitment to security.

A CLOSER LOOK AT ZTNA

Remote work has become the norm. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we work, with many employees working from home or other remote locations. According to a Pew Research Center survey, about a third (35%) of workers with jobs that can be done remotely are working from home all of the time. With remote work becoming more common, traditional network-based security measures are no longer sufficient.

Cloud adoption is also on the rise, regardless of remote work status, with many organizations moving their data and applications to the cloud. Gartner forecasted, the worldwide public cloud services market was projected to grow by 21.7% in 2023, totaling $597.3 billion. ZTNA provides a more flexible approach to security that is better suited to remote work and cloud environments.

And with cyberattacks becoming increasingly sophisticated, traditional security measures are no longer enough to protect against them. ZTNA offers a more advanced and effective approach to security that can help prevent cyberattacks.

The proliferation of mobile devices has created new security challenges for IT professionals. According to Gartner, the number of mobile devices in use is approximately 7 billion. With so many devices accessing enterprise resources, it's more important than ever to implement strong security measures like ZTNA.

Additionally, compliance requirements are becoming more stringent, with regulations like GDPR and CCPA imposing heavy fines for non-compliance. ZTNA can help organizations meet these requirements by providing a more robust and secure approach to data protection.

NEXT STEPS

Protective DNS (like DNSFilter) plays a critical role in your Zero Trust journey by filtering out malicious DNS requests, preventing users from accessing potentially harmful websites and domains. By blocking malicious sites, protective DNS reduces the attack surface of the network and makes it more difficult for attackers to gain access.

Additionally, protective DNS solutions (ahem, DNSFilter) can also be used to enforce content policies, limiting access to certain types of websites or domains that are not necessary for business purposes, further enhancing the security posture of the network.

Implement protective DNS as part of your Zero Trust security strategy with a free trial of DNSFilter here.

‍

‍