In a perfect world, you could turn a blind eye to your company network and safely trust that anyone trying to access it had the purest intentions. But in reality, there’s no telling how or when a malicious actor might be targeting your corporate data.

That’s a scary thought for any organization, but the good news is that there’s a comprehensive solution. Here, we’ll explore what a zero trust architecture is, how your enterprise would benefit from a zero trust security strategy, and how to identify the right zero trust vendor for you.

What is Zero Trust Architecture?

Zero trust architecture is a security technology where no implicit trust is granted to users trying to access a company network. Zero trust applies even if the access request comes from within the organization’s own firewall. A simple way to define zero trust is by the motto “never trust, always verify.”

This approach to cybersecurity is in stark contrast to the castle-and-moat methods that many enterprises have historically relied upon. These traditional perimeter-based strategies work by essentially applying authentication checkpoints around the network. Access to the network (i.e., the castle) is controlled and verified at the point of entry (i.e., the moat). Once a user or endpoint gains access, they have free rein to do as they please.

That’s a big problem. Why? Because network-centric security models implicitly trust already-authenticated users or endpoints and classify them as safe. In turn, this “trust, but verify” principle increases the risk of a data loss incident if that user’s credentials are breached by a malicious actor.

On the other hand, zero trust security models take a polar opposite approach to network access. Rather than assume all authenticated users are trustworthy, the zero trust approach continuously verifies their identity and treats all access requests as if they originate from an unsecured open network.

In turn, implementing zero trust allows you to:

  • Close security gaps and control lateral movement of malware on your network.
  • Improve cybersecurity initiatives for your hybrid and remote workforce.
  • Provide access to your cloud-based and on-premises applications and data without exposure to risk.
  • Defend against increasingly complex threat vectors, including malware and ransomware.

Access can strengthen your security posture with location-based security and provide zero trust network access to critical business apps — all inside a simplified user experience.

How Does Zero Trust Architecture Work?

Zero trust security models are built upon two guiding principles: continuous validation and least-privileged access. Let’s take a closer look at each one to understand how they improve your security posture:

  • Continuous validation: Zero trust architecture uses a continuous process of authorization rather than one-off validation at the point of entry, regardless of where the request originates. This security model requires a user to prove their trustworthiness before it can move through the network.
  • Least-privileged access: Application access is restricted based on identity and context. For example, a user might only be able to access applications that are required to perform their job.

Together, continuous validation and the principle of least-privileged access allow you to adaptively enforce access controls throughout the duration of a user’s session. Identity and access management are important aspects of a zero trust security system because they provide adaptive authentication measures such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to grant access.

Why is Zero Trust Architecture Such an Important Aspect of Cybersecurity?

A recent report predicts that by the end of 2023 more than 9 in 10 infrastructure and operations (I&O) organizations will shift primarily to a remote work model. And to support this transition, businesses will continue equipping their increasingly hybrid workforce with the cloud-based technologies they need to perform their best and drive value to the company.

But consequently, this increases attack surfaces exponentially. Think about it: Users are accessing corporate assets on unmanaged devices from many disparate locations on networks your security team can’t keep secure.

To make matters worse, cybercriminals and their cyberattacks are becoming more daring and sophisticated. They’re exploiting these new doorways into your network, gaining practically unfettered access to your corporate data and hanging it over your head for personal gain. In fact, by IBM’s estimate, the average cost of a data breach in 2021 was $4.24 million. In combination, these vulnerabilities are raising the stakes and amplifying the complexity of network and application security.

However, a zero trust approach simplifies the security effort by continuously verifying user identity throughout the duration of their session — protecting apps and sensitive data. Zero trust acts as a force multiplier for your security team by detecting suspicious behavior and denying user access to those who may be outsider or insider threats.

Therefore, implementing zero trust is critical to the security of your corporate assets. Better yet, zero trust security directly impacts the bottom line. Per IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2021 was nearly $2 million less for organizations that adopted a mature zero trust architecture.

What are the Benefits of Zero Trust Architecture?

Before you can understand the advantages of a zero trust security model, it’s important to understand the downfalls of other remote access technologies — particularly virtual private networks (VPNs).

The Downsides of VPN

Many businesses have responded to the growing complexities of network security by deploying VPNs as their solution of choice. At a glance, VPNs may seem like a worthy answer to the increasingly critical need to gain secure remote access for all users and endpoints at your company. They allow you to funnel access through a private connection over an unsecured network, thus encrypting the user’s online activity.

But here’s the thing: VPNs are the quintessential example of the castle-and-moat model previously mentioned. Because they use a policy of implicit trust when it comes to network access, it only takes one compromised user for a bad actor to cross the proverbial moat and steal your sensitive data.

As if that’s not enough, VPNs are simply insufficient for the needs of a modern enterprise. Here are a few drawbacks that necessitate a smarter, more comprehensive approach to network access:

  • Scalability: VPNs are only meant to service organizations that have a small number of remote workers. With remote work on the rise, VPNs will create bottlenecks when delivering assets and applications, thus hindering the user experience and derailing productivity.
  • Complexity: Leveraging a VPN across an entire workforce requires many different login points, a complicated configuration process, and is often too time-consuming to manage effectively.
  • Vulnerability: VPNs aren’t meant to detect risk — only to create a private connection. If VPN credentials are jeopardized, an attacker can move freely throughout the network without detection and exfiltrate data as they please.
  • Visibility: Because VPNs are perimeter-focused, they only control access at the network level. This leaves the application layer exposed to attack.
  • Privacy: When you use a VPN, you connect to a VPN server. That means all user traffic — including personal traffic — is backhauled to a data center.

For these reasons, organizations are turning to alternative solutions. In fact, a recent report predicts that 60 percent of enterprises will abandon VPN for zero trust network access (ZTNA) by 2023.

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

ZTNA is a set of multilayered cloud security technologies that take a granular approach to network access using a zero trust architecture.

In contrast to VPNs, ZTNA only permits access to specific applications on a need-only basis instead of the entire network, thus preventing lateral movement and reducing the risk of data loss. By implementing zero trust, your organization stands to gain in a number of important ways:

  • User experience: Generally, ZTNA is native to cloud environments, meaning that it doesn’t need to backhaul traffic to a data center and that security controls can be applied in real time. This empowers end users to take full advantage of their most critical applications with the security architecture they need to use their own devices.
  • Scalability: Because ZTNA is cloud-native, it can autoscale across your entire workforce regardless of end-user location or choice of device without disrupting everyday workflows.
  • Simplified management: Unlike VPNs, a zero trust architecture allows you to continuously monitor and detect risks from a centralized dashboard — a must-have when it comes to keeping tabs on an increasingly complex IT ecosystem.
  • Enhanced security: ZTNA assumes that all users, endpoints, and applications could pose a risk to your data. Through continuous authentication, it ensures that all permissions are assessed during a session without impacting the end-user experience.

Traditional VPNs are incapable of meeting the cloud security requirements of your hybrid workforce. Only through a zero trust architecture can you provide truly secure access to every layer of your network.

A zero trust framework delivers secure access to all corporate apps, modernizes your IT security, and allows you to securely support your hybrid workforce.

What Makes an Ideal Zero Trust Architecture Provider?

As more organizations come to realize that traditional perimeter-based security models no longer meet their needs, ZTNA solutions are becoming increasingly available. That’s why it’s imperative that you identify a zero trust provider that meets your needs down to the very last requirement and empowers you to realize the benefits of your digital transformation.

Here are a few key qualities to look for when evaluating your ZTNA provider:

  • Adaptive access: The best ZTNA provider will lean heavily on the principle of least privilege and default to the lowest level of access for all users. By continuously monitoring user activity, your provider should be able to proactively verify identity and reassess permissions as needed.
  • Remote browser isolation: The right solution will allow users to secure their personal devices and access critical applications using a hosted secure browser that safeguards against browser-based threats, as well as prevents the transfer of malware from an unmanaged device to the corporate network or applications.
  • Advanced threat protection: Behavior-based security tools allow you to mitigate zero-day threats and prevent costly data loss incidents, including malware and ransomware strikes.
  • Security analytics: Use data to your advantage to intelligently identify anomalous behavior, evaluate risks in real time and multiply the power of your security team.
  • Network segmentation: Segmenting your network puts a stop to lateral movement and minimizes the damage if a breach does occur.
  • Endpoint protection: Monitor endpoint devices in real time to ensure they are protected with active and up-to-date protection software. The right solution can do this on a per app basis, ensuring that highly sensitive apps are only accessed by users with secure endpoint devices.

When it comes to network and application security you shouldn’t have to make compromises. That’s why Citrix Secure Private Access provides all of these advantages and more in a single zero trust solution. Citrix uses the latest ZTNA technologies to secure access to your most important applications and information with no disruption to the end-user experience.

ZTNA Use Cases

Curious about your current level of protection or which ZTNA benefits suit your specific needs? Calculate your current and desired ZTNA Protection Index Score and learn the benefits of ZTNA in real world situations with the Big Book of ZTNA Security Use Cases. Consider this use case from the book: 

Constant Monitoring & User Risk Score

Scenario:

John works for a major defense contractor. He works on a corporate device designing next-gen military aircraft. However, he learns that he will be let go in an upcoming wave of layoffs. Disgruntled, he decides to download as many aircraft designs and blueprints as he can before he leaves. He intends to use them to help his chances as he approaches competitors for a new role.

What is at risk:

If John can take all the stolen files with him, he will create significant legal challenges for himself, his current, and future employers. This type of information is extremely sensitive, and simply allowing it to be taken will be seen as a failure on the part of his former employer.

How Citrix ZTNA protects:

With Citrix Secure Private Access (SPA), all employees, including John, can be given watermarked access to sensitive data, creating a deterrence for theft. Also, Citrix Secure Private Access (SPA) collects data throughout the user’s session. If John downloads irregular amounts of data, Citrix will raise his user risk score. This will trigger an alert and an automated block of any downloads by him.

Learn More About Zero Trust

With workforces more distributed than ever before, it’s vital that all users are accessing the corporate network as safely as possible. In a cloud-based environment, implementing zero trust is the ideal solution to update your security policies and meet your remote access needs. A zero trust approach not only helps you mitigate risks in real time, but also continuously reduces your attack surface and enhances your security posture.

Check out our recent whitepaper for more information on how Citrix can help you migrate away from outdated VPN and toward a zero trust architecture today.