Would you trust a bank that locks its doors at night but leaves all the money sitting in a big pile on the floor? Probably not—if someone got through the door, they could take all the money without any trouble.

This is kind of how cybersecurity used to work. If someone got into a company’s network, they could see and use anything they wanted. But now, many businesses are using a better system called zero-trust security.

Let’s explore what zero-trust security means and how it works.

What Is Zero-Trust Security?

Zero-trust security means that nothing is trusted automatically. Even if someone or something is inside the network, it still has to prove that it belongs there.

Going back to our bank example, imagine the bank not only locks the doors but also puts the money in a secure vault inside, with multiple locks and checks to make sure only trusted people can get in. This makes it much safer because if someone sneaks inside, they still can't just take the money—they have to pass more tests.

This is how zero-trust security works for companies. It assumes that no one should be trusted automatically, and everyone needs to keep proving they have the right to be there.

How Do You Use Zero-Trust Security?

To use zero-trust security, there are seven important things a company needs to think about:

• Users - You need to know who is trying to get into the network and make sure they only see what they need for their job. For example, your sales people probably don’t need access to your accounting information, and engineers don’t need access to HR folders.
• Devices - Every computer, tablet, or phone that connects to the company’s network must be kept safe. This means making sure they have the latest updates and security patches and checking that each device is allowed to connect.
• Networks/Environments - Different parts of the network should be locked down so only people who really need to use them can get in. Firewalls and other tools help block anyone who shouldn’t be there.
• Applications/Workloads - All software used by the company should be kept up-to-date and approved by the IT team. This way, no one is using unsafe programs that could open the door to hackers.
• Data - The company’s data is super valuable, so it needs to be protected by encryption (which turns data into code) and other strong security measures to keep it safe from unauthorized access.
• Automation - Computers can help by automatically watching the network for any strange behavior, like a hacker trying to get in. This helps the company stop threats faster than if a person had to do it.
• Analytics/Visibility - By keeping track of everything that happens on the network, companies can spot warning signs early and stop problems before they get too big.

Zero-trust security is all about being careful and checking everything, even when it’s already inside the network, to make sure nothing bad can happen.

If you want to know more about how to keep your business safe, we’re here to help. Just give us a call at (760) 466-1200.