The Zero Trust model is a security framework that assumes no user or device, whether inside or outside the network perimeter, is automatically trusted. It operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify." Instead of trusting anything inside its perimeter, the Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) …The Zero Trust model is a security framework that assumes no user or device, whether inside or outside the network perimeter, is automatically trusted. It operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify." Instead of trusting anything inside its perimeter, the Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) trusts nothing by default. Verification is required from everyone and everything trying to gain access to resources on the network.
Key principles include:
* **Verify explicitly:** Always authenticate and authorize based on all available data points, including user identity, device health, location, service being requested, data classification, and anomalies.
* **Use least privileged access:** Limit user access with Just-In-Time and Just-Enough-Access (JIT/JEA), risk-based adaptive policies, and data protection to protect both data and productivity. This minimizes the blast radius if an account is compromised.
* **Assume breach:** Minimize the blast radius for breaches and prevent lateral movement by segmenting access by network, user, devices, and application awareness. Verify all sessions are encrypted end to end.
In Azure, Zero Trust is implemented using various services like Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) for identity and access management, Azure Security Center for threat detection and vulnerability management, and Azure Network Security for network segmentation and security policies. Conditional Access policies in Azure AD are central to enforcing Zero Trust by granting access based on various conditions.
Zero Trust Model: A Comprehensive Guide
{'exam_tips': "**_Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Zero Trust Model_**: When answering exam questions about Zero Trust, keep the following in mind:
1. ***Understand the Core Principles:*** Ensure you know 'never trust, always verify,' least privilege access, and assume breach.
2. ***Identify the Problem Solved:*** Zero Trust addresses the limitations of traditional perimeter-based security in modern environments.
3. ***Recognize the Components:*** Be familiar with the key technologies and processes involved, such as IAM, device security, microsegmentation, and threat intelligence.
4. ***Apply the Concepts:*** When presented with scenarios, analyze how Zero Trust principles would be applied to mitigate risks and protect resources.
5. ***Differentiate from Traditional Security:*** Understand the key differences, such as the elimination of implicit trust and the continuous validation of access requests.
6. ***Associate with Azure Services:*** Understand applicable Azure services that can implement Zero Trust to your deployments like Conditional Access, Azure AD, Azure Security Center, and Azure Sentinel.
***Example Question:*** A company is moving its applications to the cloud and wants to improve its security posture. Which security model is best suited to address the risks associated with cloud environments and remote access? ***Correct Answer:*** Zero Trust Model.
***Explanation:*** The company's environment involves users outside the traditional network perimeter accessing company resources in the cloud. The model eliminates trust to all access requests, ensuring the security will be applied to all accesses.", 'what_it_is': "**_What is Zero Trust?_**: Zero Trust is a security framework based on the principle of 'never trust, always verify.' It assumes that no user or device, whether inside or outside the network perimeter, should be automatically trusted. Instead, every access request is treated as a potential threat and must be authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated before granting access to resources. Key tenets include: verify explicitly, use least privileged access, and assume breach.", 'how_it_works': '**_How Zero Trust Works_**: The Zero Trust model operates on several core principles implemented through various technologies and processes:
1. ***Identity and Access Management (IAM):*** Robust authentication and authorization mechanisms to verify user identity and grant appropriate access privileges.
2. ***Device Security:*** Ensuring device health and compliance before granting network access. This often involves device posture assessment and management.
3. ***Microsegmentation:*** Dividing the network into smaller, isolated segments to limit lateral movement of attackers within the network.
4. ***Data Security:*** Implementing data encryption, classification, and access controls to protect sensitive information.
5. ***Threat Intelligence and Analytics:*** Continuously monitoring network activity for suspicious behavior and using analytics to detect and respond to threats.
6. ***Automation and Orchestration:*** Automating security tasks and workflows to improve efficiency and responsiveness.
Consider an example where a user wants to access a database. Instead of granting immediate access due to the user being on a corporate laptop. The user identity is verified through multi-factor authentication (MFA). Then, the device security is validated to check the configurations. This then applies a least privilege access to only give user access to specific data. If everything is valid, the access is granted. This is continously monitored to ensure no malicious activities occur.', 'why_important': "**_Importance of Zero Trust_**: In today's complex threat landscape, traditional security models that assume trust within a network perimeter are no longer sufficient. Zero Trust addresses this by eliminating implicit trust and continuously validating every user and device. It reduces the attack surface, minimizes the blast radius of breaches, and improves overall security posture. The move to cloud, remote work, and diverse device access necessitates a Zero Trust approach to protect sensitive data and resources."}