What is Zero Trust? Why Zero Trust?
Zero Trust is security framework that creates a more secure network architecture and prevents cyber breaches by eliminating any presumption of trust of users and devices regardless of their physical location or access history. Unlike traditional perimeter-based security models, a zero-trust approach assumes no inherent trust within the network, requiring continuous verification of user identities and devices.
Zero Trust is accelerating in network security planning in government and business because firewall-based security solutions, which assume everything behind a firewall is safe, have proven to be unreliable. Zero Trust reduces the attack surface by requiring continuous authentication, authorization, and validation of devices and users attempting to access a protected device.
Benefits of Zero Trust
A Zero Trust architecture includes the following benefits:
- pro-active approach to security in which all users and devices are untrusted until authenticated
- provides real-time protection to stop intrusions and attacks
- protects against both external and internal threats
- reduces the attack surface
Applying Zero Trust for OT Security
Zero Trust for OT (Operational Technology) security involves applying the principles of Zero Trust architecture to protect industrial control systems (ICS), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, building automation systems (BAS) and other critical infrastructure. OT environments have unique characteristics and requirements compared to traditional IT environments, making their security challenges distinct.
Ensuring the integrity and authenticity of devices connected to OT networks is crucial for preventing unauthorized access and tampering. Zero Trust principles recommend using device certificates to verify the trustworthiness of endpoints and prevent malicious actors from compromising critical systems.
OT devices are often deployed for decades and older devices may not be capable of being upgraded to support zero trust, or perhaps just too fragile to attempt changes that could disrupt a critical production process. In cases like these, and for improving overall security of OT devices, adding a zero trust security layer that is transparent and non-impacting to the OT devices is a practical approach.
Protect Installed OT Devices with Zero Trust Authentication
Veridifiy's DOME platform uses a NIST-compliant Zero Trust framework for real-time OT Security
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