How important are Identity and Endpoint Security to Zero Trust?
In an era marked by increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, the traditional security perimeter is no longer sufficient to protect sensitive data and critical systems. Enter Zero Trust Security – a paradigm shift that challenges the conventional notion of "trust but verify." At the heart of Zero Trust lie two pivotal elements: Identity Security and Endpoint Security, working in tandem to fortify the defense posture of organizations.
Identity Security serves as the linchpin of Zero Trust, emphasizing the principle of "never trust, always verify." In this context, every user and device attempting to access the network must undergo continuous verification of their identity. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) and biometric authentication are key components, ensuring that only authorized individuals gain access. Identity-based policies enable organizations to enforce the principle of least privilege, granting users the minimum level of access necessary for their roles. By robustly authenticating and authorizing users, Identity Security forms the first line of defense in the Zero Trust framework.
97% say identity is a foundational component of a zero-trust security model. (Source: 2021 IDSA survey). Endpoint Privilege Management protects the most important identities - privileged identities and is recognized as must-have for enabling a zero-trust architecture (ZTA). No one technology class is by itself sufficient to create a zero-trust environment. Many technologies are needed as part of a zero-trust initiative.
8 Ways to Enables Zero Trust with EndPoint Privilege Management*:
Inventories all privileged assets to eliminate blind spots, spotlight shadow IT, and control access points for separation of control and data planes.
Applies least privilege controls for every identity, account, and secret—human, application, machine, employee, vendor, etc.
Enforces adaptive and just-in-time access controls based on context in real-time.
Implements segmentation and micro segmentation to isolate assets, resources, and users to prevent lateral movement
Secures remote access with granular least privilege and adaptive capabilities well beyond that of VPNs, RDP, SSH, HTTPS, and other commonly used technologies
Proxies access to control planes (cloud, virtual, DevOps) and critical applications by enforcing network segmentation
Monitors, manages, and audits every privileged session that touches the enterprise for appropriate user behavior
Simplifies secure management of identities and zero trust implementation enterprise-wide by extending Microsoft AD authentication, SSO, Group Policy Configuration Management to Unix/Linux
As organizations strive to fortify their cybersecurity defenses in the face of evolving threats, the integration of robust Identity and Endpoint Security measures is essential. Zero Trust, with its emphasis on continuous verification and skepticism towards both users and devices, represents a paradigm shift that aligns with the dynamic and complex nature of modern cybersecurity challenges.
*Information sourced in partnership with BeyondTrust.
Contact us to learn how Three Wire and BeyondTrust can support your organization through innovative, agile defense resources and IT capabilities.