How can SMEs Apply Zero Trust Cyber Security Practices

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Adopt Zero Trust Security for Your SMB

With the cyber threat landscape getting more complicated with every passing minute, cyber security deserves more attention than ever. Fully trusting applications, interfaces, networks, devices, traffic and users without authentication is no longer an option. Misjudging and misplacing your trust in a malicious entity can lead to severe breaches that can damage your business. Zero Trust Security practices, however, can go a long way towards helping small and medium-sized businesses minimize cyber security risks and prevent data breaches.

Zero Trust was introduced in 2010 by John Kindervag, a former Forrester analyst. The concept has since gained wide acclaim and approval as a trusted framework for cybersecurity. The Zero Trust approach trusts nothing within or outside its perimeter and insists on verifying everything attempting to connect to the company systems before granting access. In simple terms, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) refers to it as a “never trust, always verify” approach. 

Security Frameworks: NIST or ISO27001? Which one to choose?

Implementing Zero Trust Security within your business can help guard against data breaches, downtime, productivity loss, customer churn and reputation damage. Over 70% of companies planned for the deployment of Zero Trust in 2020, and it is even more critical for SMEs in an era where workforces and networks are becoming heavily distributed.

Three Misconceptions and Facts About Zero Trust Security

First Misconception: Zero Trust Security is only for enterprises. 

The Zero Trust cybersecurity framework is a proven counterthreat strategy. While it’s true that enterprises prioritise the protection of their data and networks by deploying the best solutions and approaches, SMEs must also protect sensitive data and networks.

Smaller companies might not have access to the fanciest solutions but can still take adequate measures to minimize internal and external vulnerabilities. Thus, Zero Trust Security isn’t just for enterprises. It is equally significant for SMEs as well.

Second Misconception: Zero Trust Security is too complex. 

By applying Zero Trust concepts at a scale that makes sense for your business, you will realize it isn’t as complex as you thought. Once you have the right policies, training and tools in place, the process becomes routine.

Third Misconception: The cost of implementing Zero Trust is too high.

Zero Trust adoption is operationally and economically feasible if you focus on your most critical applications and data sets first. To learn about the main aspects you should improve, we recommend performing a Gap Analysis.

Still Not Convinced?

Let’s look at a few statistics that should convince you of the seriousness of today’s cyber threat landscape as well as the need for a Zero Trust approach:

• Human error causes close to 25% of data breaches – Unfortunately, you can’t completely mistrust an external network, nor can you fully trust even a single user within your network. 
• Experts predict that ransomware attacks will occur every 11 seconds in 2021 – This gives you no time to be complacent. 
• Over 40% of employees are expected to work from home post-pandemic – When this happens, many devices, users and resources will interact entirely outside the corporate perimeter. This increases the risk of an incident occurring. 
• Phishing attacks have increased by over 60% since the pandemic started – To counter such a scenario, cybersecurity policies must be dynamic and adapt to address additional concerns. 

If you’re not equipped with a solid defence against cyberthreats, you may regret it later when a breach happens. Chances are, your current approach to cyber security comes short of stopping cybercriminals from accessing your network. The Zero Trust approach can change all that.

Adopting Zero Trust Security within your business does not mean throwing away your existing security tools and technologies. In fact, according to NIST, Zero Trust Security must incorporate existing security tools and technologies more systematically.

Build an effective Zero Trust model that encompasses governance policies — like giving users only the access needed to complete their tasks — and technologies such as:

1. Multifactor authentication
2. Identity and access management
3. Risk management
4. Analytics 
5. Encryption
6. Orchestration 
7. Scoring 
8. File-system permissions

Taking your business down the path of Zero Trust may not be easy, but it’s undoubtedly achievable and well worth it. Don’t worry about where and how to begin. With the right MSP partner by your side, your journey becomes easier and more likely to succeed. Contact us to get started.

Our specialists will be happy to provide advice and answer any doubts about technology and security you might have. Then we can outline priorities and develop a plan to bring you where you want to be.

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Source:

1. Solutionsreview.com 
2. IBM 2020 Cost of Data Breach Report 
3. JD SUPRA Knowledge Center 
4. Gartner Report 
5. Security Magazine Verizon Data Breach Digest