One of the core principles of Zero Trust (ZT) is to “never trust, always verify” every request for access to a resource, regardless of where it originates or what resource it accesses1. This means that ZT does not rely on implicit trust based on network perimeters, device types, or user roles, but rather on explicit verification based on multiple data points, such as user identity, device health, location, service, data classification, and anomalies1.

References =

• Zero Trust Architecture | NIST
• Zero Trust Model - Modern Security Architecture | Microsoft Security
• How To Implement Zero Trust: 5-steps Approach & its challenges - Fortinet

ABAC is an access control method that uses attributes of the requester, the resource, the environment, and the action to evaluate and enforce policies. ABAC allows for fine-grained and dynamic access control based on the context of the request, rather than predefined roles or privileges. ABAC is suitable for SaaS and PaaS, where the features within a service may vary depending on the customer’s needs, preferences, and subscription level. ABAC can help implement ZT by enforcing the principle of least privilege and verifying every request based on multiple factors.

References =

• Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) Definition
• General Access Control Guidance for Cloud Systems
• A Guide to Secure SaaS Access Control Within an Organization

A comprehensive catalogue of all transactions, dependencies, and services with associated IDs is a potential outcome of an effective ZT implementation because it helps to map the data flows and interactions among the assets and entities in the ZTA. This catalogue enables the ZTA to enforce granular and dynamic policies based on the context and attributes of the transactions, dependencies, and services. It also facilitates the monitoring and auditing of the ZTA activities and performance.

References = Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) - Cloud Security Alliance, Zero Trust Training (ZTT) - Module 3: ZTA Architecture and Components

Optimal compliance posture in a Zero Trust environment is primarily achieved through rigorous authentication and authorization of all networked assets. Zero Trust operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify," which necessitates robust authentication mechanisms to verify the identity of users and devices. Following authentication, authorization ensures that each authenticated entity has explicit permission to access only the resources necessary for its function, aligning with the principle of least privilege. These practices ensure a secure and compliant posture by minimizing the attack surface and reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

In a ZTA, automation and orchestration can increase security by using the following means:

• Infrastructure as code (laC): laC is a practice of managing and provisioning IT infrastructure through code, rather than manual processes or configuration tools1. laC can increase security by enabling consistent, repeatable, and scalable deployment of ZTA components, such as policies, gateways, firewalls, and micro-segments2. laC can also facilitate compliance, auditability, and change management, as well as reduce human errors and configuration drifts3.
• Identity lifecycle management: Identity lifecycle management is a process of managing the creation, modification, and deletion of user identities and their access rights throughout their lifecycle4. Identity lifecycle management can increase security by ensuring that users have the appropriate level of access to resources at any given time, based on the principle of least privilege5. Identity lifecycle management can also automate the provisioning and deprovisioning of user accounts, enforce strong authentication and authorization policies, and monitor and audit user activity and behavior6.

References =

• What is Infrastructure as Code? | Cloudflare
• Zero Trust Architecture: Infrastructure as Code
• Infrastructure as Code: Security Best Practices
• What is Identity Lifecycle Management? | One Identity
• Zero Trust Architecture: Identity and Access Management
• Identity Lifecycle Management: A Zero Trust Security Strategy

The first step in Zero Trust planning for an organization is to define the scope of the initiative. This involves determining which systems, networks, and data will be covered by the Zero Trust policies and what the specific objectives are. A clearly defined scope helps in prioritizing efforts, allocating resources effectively, and setting clear goals for what the Zero Trust implementation aims to achieve.

Asset owners are the ones who will determine valid users, roles, and privileges for accessing data as part of data governance. Asset owners are responsible for defining the data classification, sensitivity, and ownership of the data assets they own. They also have the authority to grant or revoke access to the data assets based on the business needs and the Zero Trust policies.

References = Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) - Cloud Security Alliance, Zero Trust Training (ZTT) - Module 2: Data and Asset Classification

Rigorous testing of Zero Trust and Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) implementations is crucial for validating their effectiveness. This testing should be an integrated part of the overall cybersecurity program. By incorporating ZT testing into the broader cybersecurity efforts, organizations can ensure a cohesive and comprehensive approach to security that encompasses all aspects of their network and systems. This integration facilitates continuous improvement, adherence to best practices, and alignment with organizational security objectives, thereby ensuring that the ZT implementation is robust, effective, and capable of protecting against evolving threats.

Multifactor authentication is a method of validating the identity of an entity by requiring two or more factors, such as something the entity knows (e.g., password, PIN), something the entity has (e.g., token, smart card), or something the entity is (e.g., biometric, behavioral). Multifactor authentication enhances the security of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) by reducing the risk of identity compromise and unauthorized access.

References = Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) - Cloud Security Alliance, Zero Trust Training (ZTT) - Module 4: Identity and Access Management

The essential components of an organization’s ongoing risk analysis are assessment frequency, metrics, and data. Assessment frequency refers to how often the organization conducts risk assessments to monitor and measure the effectiveness of the zero trust architecture and policies. Metrics refer to the quantitative and qualitative indicators that are used to evaluate the security posture, performance, and compliance of the zero trust architecture. Data refers to the information that is collected, analyzed, and reported from various sources, such as telemetry, logs, audits, and feedback, to support risk analysis and decision making.

References =

• Zero Trust Planning - Cloud Security Alliance, section “Monitor & Measure”
• How to improve risk management using Zero Trust architecture | Microsoft Security Blog, section “Monitoring and reporting”
• Zero Trust Adoption: Managing Risk with Cybersecurity Engineering and Adaptive Risk Assessment - SEI Blog, section “Continuous Monitoring and Improvement”

To detect and stop malicious access attempts in real-time within a Zero Trust Architecture, comprehensive audit logging and continuous monitoring are essential. These measures provide visibility into all access attempts and activities within the network, allowing for the early detection of suspicious behavior. By analyzing logs and monitoring network traffic, security teams can identify and respond to potential threats in real-time, preventing unauthorized access and minimizing the impact of any security incidents.

A critical product of the gap analysis process is the implementation’s requirements, which are the specifications and criteria that define the desired outcomes, capabilities, and functionalities of the ZTA. The implementation’s requirements are derived from the gap analysis, which identifies the current state, the target state, and the gaps between them. The implementation’s requirements help to guide the design, development, testing, and deployment of the ZTA, as well as the evaluation of its effectiveness and alignment with the business objectives and needs.

References =

• Zero Trust Planning - Cloud Security Alliance, section “Scope, Priority, & Business Case”
• The Zero Trust Journey: 4 Phases of Implementation - SEI Blog, section “Second Phase: Assess”
• Planning for a Zero Trust Architecture: A Planning Guide for Federal …, section “Gap Analysis”

Data and asset classification is a prerequisite action to understand the organization’s protect surface clearly because it helps to identify the most critical and sensitive data and assets that need to be protected by Zero Trust principles. Data and asset classification also helps to define the appropriate policies and controls for different levels of data and asset sensitivity.

References = Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) - Cloud Security Alliance, Zero Trust Training (ZTT) - Module 2: Data and Asset Classification

ZTA uses micro-segmentation to divide the network into smaller, isolated segments that can prevent unauthorized access and contain lateral movement. ZTA also uses encryption to protect data in transit and at rest from eavesdropping and tampering.

Data sources are the ZT element that provide information that providers can use to keep policies dynamically updated. Data sources are the inputs that feed the policy engine and the policy administrator with the relevant data and context about the entities, resources, transactions, and environment in the ZTA. Data sources help to inform the policy decisions and actions based on the current state and conditions of the ZTA. Data sources can include identity providers, device management systems, threat intelligence feeds, network monitoring tools, etc.

References = Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT) - Cloud Security Alliance, Zero Trust Training (ZTT) - Module 3: ZTA Architecture and Components