In today’s world of an increasingly connected enterprise ecosystem, security practices need to adapt to meet the novel complexities these modern environments create. Managing cybersecurity maturity has never been an easy task, but the increasing sophistication of modern cyberattacks has ramped up the difficult as well as the cost of failure. With the cost of data breaches at an all-time high and increasing regulatory concerns, zero trust architecture (ZTA) is prudent way of thinking about responsibly securing organizational systems.
Many security researchers have long advocated for ZTA, especially in response to high-profile software supply chain attacks that completely circumvent all perimeter-based defenses. TDI has been one such advocate, which is why we are announcing our upcoming nSights Report: Are We There Yet? From Zero, to Zero Trust. It is an insightful publication detailing a practical approach to implementing effective zero-trust principles.
ZTA is a cybersecurity framework that assumes that no user, device, or application should be trusted by default, where instead everything must be verified and authenticated before gaining access to resources. In a zero trust model, security controls are implemented at every level of the system, from user identity and access management to network traffic and data protection.
Zero trust is particularly powerful when it is accompanied by Cybersecurity Performance Management (CPM)™. CPM prioritizes visibility into critical business infrastructure, day-to-day cyber operations, and organizational risk to provide a wholistic understanding of organizational risk. Where ZTA provides a strong foundation for a proactive and robust security posture, CPM helps organizations establish a comprehensive framework for measuring the effectiveness of their security controls, identifying potential vulnerabilities, and responding promptly to emerging risks. By continuously evaluating the performance of their cybersecurity measures, organizations can detect weaknesses, make informed decisions on security investments, and prioritize remediation efforts to address the most critical areas of concern.
Together, Zero Trust Architecture and CPM create a dynamic cycle of security improvement. Zero Trust establishes the fundamental principles and guidelines for secure access, while CPM ensures that these principles are consistently evaluated, refined, and adapted to the evolving threat landscape. By integrating these two approaches, organizations can foster a culture of resilience, agility, and proactive cybersecurity, thereby safeguarding their critical assets and maintaining a robust security posture in the face of emerging cyber threats.
It does all of this while focusing on solutions that provide the best outcomes for the business. CPM allows you to best prioritize cybersecurity improvements that will have the largest impact on your overall posture, meaning that improvement expenditures can be targeted and optimized for the best bang-for-the-buck.
To learn more about ZTA, stay tuned to your feeds for our upcoming nSights Report: Are We There Yet? From Zero, to Zero Trust. When it is available, you will be able to find it on our website, as well as posted on our LinkedIn and Twitter pages. You can also find our most recent nSights Report, Cybersecurity Evolved: Increase Value, Improve Alignment with the Business, and Engage the Board of Directors here.
