It’s true that cybercrimes are threats because it leads to compromising money or data. And the softest target of these spies are small companies and startups because they barely invest on IT security and dedicated IT teams. Certainly, the budget is an issue and sometimes, it can be their legacy systems that may not be compatible to modern IT security tools or advanced IT solutions. In these cases, there emerge zero trust IT solutions as a “nice to have” alternative.
Curious to discover more about it? Let’s share with you.
What is Zero Trust?
A Zero Trust Architecture or ZTA is unique IT ecosystem where users and devices inside the corporate network are always verified. So, the principle is simply not to trust, always verify authenticity of those asking for access. Specifically, it covers some key components such as:
- Identity and Access Management (IAM): Users must pass through identity & posture checks before they finally access the device.
- Least-privilege access: Enable access of specific resources corresponding to the needs of each user, but not all.
- Network segmentation / micro-segmentation: Split your network into various zones, requiring access for each one. This practice barricades breaching of whole network, except the one where it is breached.
- Continuous monitoring & validation: One-time check is not sufficient. Always go with re-verification option.
However, businesses fortify their network with a firewall. Zero Trust settings do not allow even a single user or device to access the connection unless they are explicitly verified.
Why Zero Trust Matters for Small Businesses
Small companies often believe that they are too small to be targeted for cybercrimes. Unfortunately, their assumptions fail, and they become an easy bait for having weak security arrangements.
So, Zero Trust is the most relevant concept to get rid of vulnerability or malicious attempts.
- Shrinking attack surface: Strict access arrangements and network segmentation disallow malicious actors to breach. If somehow, they breach a section, the rest of the network remains safe because of the barrier of reverification.
- Protecting remote & hybrid work: Remote teams and hybrid work culture cannot be successful without Zero Trust architecture because access from remote devices can be unsafe. It may lead to compromising the entire cloud storage or computing environment.
- Improving visibility & control: Continuous monitoring reveals patterns of users’ odd behaviour. For example, downloading massive data during odd hours can be a suspicious behaviour.
- Compliance and data protection: Compliance means abiding by regulations. It establishes tighter controls, meaning that only authorized users can access personally identifiable information or PII. It’s a strict guideline.
So, switching to zero Trust concept adds an exceptional edge, ensuring strong security without burdening the budgets.
Advanced IT Solutions for SMBs under a Zero Trust Framework
Zero Trust model denotes a revolution in modern IT solutions and services. It’s feasible option for SMBs especially.
- Managed Security Services: Many SMBs fail to hire in-house IT experts. Consulting with managed service providers can introduce you to Zero Trust tools like IAM, device posture checking, segmentation software. These tools avoid the need for internal team members.
- Cloud-based & subscription models: Zero Trust tools are small and medium-scale business friendly, which eliminates separate investment on security tools. Its package includes IT security via cloud services according to selected ones like per user or per year subscription for the network, cloud, and mobile devices.
- Identity-first and device-aware access: The access to your network is completely secure, as its package has multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), device compliance authentication, etc.
- Segmented access to applications: Modern IT solutions for SMBs can be safeguarded by shifting to the option “connect only the app you need”. It reduces the risk of vulnerability.
- Continuous monitoring, analytics, response: With frequent monitoring and assessment, its automated detection becomes active spotlighting unusual behaviour. It further sends alerts and automated responses enabling small companies to maintain robust security without manual interference.
Practical Steps to Get Started
It’s interesting to discover how to implement Zero Trust with advanced IT solutions.
1. Identify critical assets and access flows
- First up, start evaluating your data, apps, and systems that are critical to your business. It covers everything from who to access from where or what devices. Once discovered, you can define the limit of accessibility and risk levels.
2. Implement strong identity and access policy
- Enable Multi-factor Authentication and SSO as per the level of employees.
- Understand various job roles and define access controls accordingly. It is called role-based access control.
- Meticulously set devices, ensuring endpoints comply, like patches, antivirus, and encryption, before granting access.
3. Segment the network / applications
- Split systems for HR, finance, administration, IT, or general internet access.
- Define access to individual applications like cloud and on-premise architecture instead of broad network.
4. Use a Zero Trust-friendly managed IT solution
- Wisely select a managed service provider for the Zero Trust subscription package, like IAM, device posture, segmentation, and monitoring.
- There is no need for in-house teams for handling these tasks.
5. Seamless Tracking & Responses
- Zero Trust model can track and automatically alarm for suspicious access like strange email IDs, etc.
- Ceaseless monitoring is possible through it.
6. Aware Team about IT Security
- Train old and new employees about how to maintain good cyber-hygiene and keep phishing or ransomware risks at bay.
- Frequently identify changes and updates in policies to integrate with remote work, BYOD, permissions, etc.
7. Review and refine
- Keep the access setting flexible as users change roles or devices over time. So, their audit is necessary to remove unused accounts.
- Audit the implementation whether it’s smooth or bumpy.
Conclusion
SMBs are mostly short of resources, especially to monitor and address IT issues. So, adopting advanced IT solutions is like a dream for them because many of them barely afford or invest in these services. But, Zero Trust model can be their protection against cybercrimes. It refers to verifying everything, every time when need access. This model is extremely cost-effective and can dramatically improve security of SMBs’ IT infrastructure.