As businesses grow and become more complex, the traditional security model of "trust but verify" is no longer practical. With hybrid workforces that include employees, customers, and partners working both on- and off-premises, properly managing access to resources can become overwhelming quickly.
A zero trust policy gives you the ability to safely grant access to only those who need it, when they need it. In this blog post, we will discuss five ways zero trust policies can help businesses with a hybrid workforce.
What is a Zero Trust Policy?
A zero trust policy is a security model that requires users and devices, regardless of location, to be authenticated and authorized before they can access any resources. This applies toboth on-premise and off-premise resources, even if connected to trusted networks and previously verified, leading to zero trust policies sometimes being referred to as perimeter-less security.
Zero trust frameworks are gaining popularity because they secure data much better against modern digital threats.
Ways Zero Trust Policies Can Help Businesses With a Hybrid Workforce
With a zero trust policy in place, businesses can enjoy the following benefits:
1. Reduced Business Risk
A zero trust policy can help reduce business risk by ensuring that only authorized users have access to company resources. By reducing the number of people who have access to company resources, and eliminating elements like allowing users to automatically login or remain logged in for extended periods even when inactive, businesses can reduce the chances of data breaches and other security incidents.
2. Simplified Security
You can simplify your business network security by eliminating the need to manage multiple security perimeters. With a zero trust policy, all users are treated equally regardless of location, so all devices are treated as part of the same network. This can reduce the amount of work that IT staff need to do in order to keep company resources secure.
3. Complete Visibility
A zero trust policy can help provide complete visibility into who is accessing company resources and when they are accessing them beyond what possible with a traditional security model. With complete visibility, businesses can more easily identify security risks and take steps to mitigate them.
4. Better IT Management
You can improve IT management by simplifying the process of granting access to company resources. This makes it easier for IT staff to manage user permissions and ensure that only authorized users have access to company resources. Additionally, better IT management can lead to reduced costs.
5. Contributes to Compliance Standards
With the authentication and visibility mentioned above, demonstrating compliance with data privacy regulations becomes much easier. Businesses can show that they are taking steps to protect the personal data of their employees, customers, and partners, and more readily fulfill their requirements.
Implement a Zero Trust Policy
When implemented correctly, a zero trust policy can be an effective way to protect company resources and improve IT management. Zero trust can be utilized without losing employee efficiency, and technology experts agree that it’s well worth the effort for the security boost it gives your company!
