Aladdin: Do you trust me? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jasmine: Yes\u2026 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The king\u2019s men have just discovered the runaway princess\u2019 hiding place<\/a>. At which point, Jasmine is faced with a tough decision: should she accept her fate or take a leap of faith? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately for IT admins, trusting unknown network users and devices doesn\u2019t end with singing songs on magic carpet rides. According to the 2021 Cost of a Data Breach Report<\/a>, hackers cost companies $4.24 million per incident on average. That\u2019s the highest cost in the 17-year history of IBM\u2019s annual report. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An increasing number of organizations are adopting Zero Trust security<\/a> models in response, including the U.S. federal government<\/a>. But misunderstandings within the IT community remain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Confusion around Zero Trust stems from buzzword saturation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For startups, it\u2019s words like disruptive<\/em>, democratize<\/em>, and agile<\/em>. In the IT industry, we have net neutrality<\/em>, datafication<\/em>, and hyper-automation<\/em>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regardless of the industry, we\u2019ve all heard jargon thrown around without it being clearly defined. Understandably, the term Zero Trust is no different. Here\u2019s what it actually means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zero Trust <\/strong>is a security framework that combines factors like microsegmentation<\/a>, identity and access management<\/a> tools, and the principle of least privilege (PoLP<\/a>) with the philosophy of our (my) favorite princess: trust nothing; verify everything. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This realization, understandably, comes as a disappointment to any IT admin seeking a magic bullet. Afterall, SaaS vendors sold them the dream that Zero Trust is the latest and greatest security tool they must have in their arsenal! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rushing to purchase singular tools \u2014 without first outlining overarching strategies \u2014 left a sour taste in the mouths of some IT managers. Many small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have wasted budgets on ad hoc purchases that weren\u2019t compatible with existing IT systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s why cybersecurity industry leader Forrester recommends taking an incremental approach when moving away from perimeter-based infrastructures. Put simply, switching to Zero Trust is worthwhile, but only when completed in small steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Learn more in Forrester Research: A Practical Guide To A Zero Trust Implementation<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As mentioned above, Zero Trust isn\u2019t a security tool, but a security framework. Regardless of the organizational infrastructure in place, true Zero Trust programs include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again, it\u2019s worth emphasizing that Zero Trust is a continuous process and strategy, not a one-off purchase and installation. Despite its \u201cbuzzwordy\u201d status, Zero Trust is becoming a vital component of securing our modern remote workforce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Benefits of Zero Trust include improved network security, better usability, better network admin experience, and the ability to adapt to future changes in network infrastructure. But to enjoy these benefits, organizations must adopt a structured approach to Zero Trust implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where does all of this leave on-prem networks and legacy systems? Let\u2019s take a quick trip in our time machine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cybersecurity has always been a concern since the network\u2019s inception. But it wasn\u2019t until Cornell University graduate student Robert Tappan Morris developed the first automated worm<\/a> in 1988 that industry leaders collectively said, \u201cOh, sh#t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2020, much of the global workforce shifted to remote work as governments enforced COVID-19 restrictions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Pew Research Center<\/a>, 59% of U.S. workers feel their job can be done remotely. The movement, ultimately, accelerated many new (and existing) challenges, like the need for bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, managed access to a growing list of cloud-based applications, and remote troubleshooting and support. And with it, the need to find better ways to secure their networks beyond on-premise security measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Such small steps forward are essential as a full-fledged Zero Trust program takes anywhere from 2 to 3 years<\/a> to launch. Prioritize the steps that make the most sense for your organization, and start with the specific network resources workers rely on the most. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zero Trust <\/em>is the<\/em> long-term security solution for combating modern data breach threats. Has your organizational leadership been under the impression that Zero Trust is complex, expensive, and time-consuming? While switching to ZT can be these things, it doesn\u2019t have to be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Strategize execution based on your unique organizational needs, existing\/future infrastructure compatibility, and available resources. One of the best ways to streamline the journey is to consolidate your efforts whenever possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With JumpCloud, organizations gain access to a powerful tool that combines several Zero Trust elements \u2014 patch management, mobile device management, identity and access management, single sign-on (SSO), compliance reporting, and more \u2014 under one pane of glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n