In a world that is increasingly interconnected and vulnerable to cyberattacks, organizations are firmly embracing zero-trust architectures to protect their digital infrastructures.

How to implement Zero Trust

Although each entity has specific needs that may lead them down different paths, Dell Technologies suggests a series of common considerations that can guide the implementation of a Zero Trust strategy:

  • Change planning. Adopting a Zero Trust architecture represents a significant shift from traditional security models, so meticulous planning is crucial. Cybersecurity experts at Dell Technologies underscore the importance of reevaluating the enterprise’s security posture, moving away from traditional perimeter-based solutions and toward a micro-segmented, data-centric architecture. It is also essential to consider costs, impact on operations, and compliance requirements. At this point, it may be helpful to seek help from outside experts.
  • Choose the right path. There are several routes that can be taken to implement Zero Trust:
Incremental: An iterative approach that incorporates key zero trust principles into the current environment.
Hyperscalars: Leveraging zero trust capabilities from leading cloud providers.
Dedicated and fully supported environment: A private and local environment, built from scratch and strictly adhering to zero trust standards.

In addition to these three approaches, small and medium-sized businesses can opt for an “identity as the new perimeter” approach, focused on identity and access management, relying on SaaS tools to achieve Zero Trust protection. A critical component of this approach is the implementation of multi-factor authentication (MFA) throughout the organization. Dell Technologies experts note that hyperscalar and identity-based approaches are typically less expensive compared to those that integrate Zero Trust principles into today’s environment or those that build dedicated environments, which will always require greater investment.

  • Control based on business needs. A zero trust architecture should be designed to manage and protect an organization’s workflows, user roles and privileges, devices, data, applications, and networks. The first phase of implementation requires extensive documentation of these aspects, followed by the design of the control plane and infrastructure to apply the corresponding policies. If zero trust architecture significantly interferes with or disrupts business operations, any security improvements may not be worth the effort. Therefore, it is essential that controls are built around the needs and growth objectives of the business, always keeping user experience and usability as priorities.
  • Focus on data. Data protection is at the core of a Zero Trust architecture. It is necessary to ensure that all network, device and user activity is recorded continuously. Given the large amount of data generated, modern analytics tools must use AI and machine learning to be effective
  • “Never trust, always verify” policy. A zero trust strategy must be applied globally, including third-party physical and digital supply chains. Failure to do so could leave critical security gaps