Zero Trust is one of the biggest security buzzwords in recent years. But what does this concept actually mean, and why do you hear so much about it? In this article, we explain in an accessible way what Zero Trust is, why the principle works so well, and what its added value is - both in IT and business terms.
What is Zero Trust?
Zero Trust is a security model (also known as Zero Trust architecture) that is based on the principle “never trust, always verify.” The idea was introduced around 2010 by security expert John Kindervag from Forrester Research. Essentially, it means that no one and nothing inside or outside your network is automatically trusted. Each user, device, and connection must prove to be trustworthy before giving access to a specific and predefined part of a network. This is a significant change from the traditional approach, where it was often assumed that everything within the internal network was secure.
Under Zero Trust, every access attempt is continuously considered suspicious until proven otherwise. Is someone in the office plugged into the network? In addition, that person must be explicitly authenticated and authorized before they can access sensitive data or systems. So there is no automatic “trusted” internal network in this model — every request both internal and external sources are checked first. This approach is therefore also known as Zero Trust security mentioned, because it takes a fundamentally different approach to security: the focus is no longer on one thick outer shell, but on careful controls at every access.
Why is Zero Trust necessary?
The Zero Trust approach has become popular because traditional network security has shown its limitations. In the past, organizations built a sturdy wall (such as firewalls) to keep the outside world out. Everything within the network was subsequently largely trusted. The problem, however, is that if a attacker Once he breaks through that outer layer, he often has free rein within the internal network. This classic “coconut model” (hard outer shell, soft core) allows hackers to cause massive damage once they're inside. A single weak link or stolen password can therefore be a huge risk if you blindly trust internal security.
What's more, the world of IT has changed rapidly. We are increasingly working in the cloud and upon distance. Employees, partners, and customers log in from a variety of locations and devices outside the traditional office walls. This increase in remote connections and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) means that there are many more untrusted devices and networks at play. At the same time, cyber attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, while old tricks such as phishing are still effective. In short, a solid network perimeter alone is no longer enough to protect your organization in this modern landscape. Zero trust therefore solves this problem precisely, because it is precisely designed for a highly divided environment and takes modern threats into account.
The principles of Zero Trust
Zero Trust is not a single product, but a set of principles (Zero Trust principles) and best practices that you can apply to your IT environment. Zero Trust's three core principles are as follows:
Always verify
Never assume that a user or device can be trusted. Every login or access attempt must be validated. This means that you use strong identity checks (e.g. multi-factor authentication) and perform contextual checks, such as checking location and device, before access is granted. Trust is therefore given over and over again, not given by default.
Least privileges
Give users and devices only the access they need — no more. By limiting rights to someone's job or task as much as possible, you reduce the chance that someone can access data they don't need to see. This principle goes hand in hand with segmentation of your network and applications. In a Zero Trust architecture, your IT environment is divided into smaller “zones” so that a user can only reach a small part instead of the entire network. Should an account be hacked, the damage will be limited to that one zone or application.
Assume Breach
Zero Trust works from the idea that a burglary can happen anytime or may already be underway. That's why continuous monitoring is crucial. You continuously monitor what users and devices are doing to quickly detect unusual behavior. Logs are actively analyzed and suspicious activity leads to immediate action — for example revoking access rights to certain data or systems. By starting from the worst-case scenario, you can proactively contain threats instead of having to limit the damage afterwards. This can help you with this through our specialized SOC service.
These three principles form the backbone of Zero Trust. By always verifying, granting minimal rights and constant monitoring, you create a much more resilient IT environment. As it were, you are building several small ditches and bridges in your network, instead of one large port. This way, you significantly improve security compared to the old model where everyone inside the gate could roam freely.
Zero Trust in practice
You may be wondering: how do I apply Zero Trust to my business? Zero Trust is an architecture concept and not a ready-to-use tool. It requires a combination of technologies and policies. A common term in this context is Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). ZTNA is a concrete example of how to implement Zero Trust principles for secure access to your business applications. Instead of letting users into the entire network via a traditional VPN, ZTNA isolates application access from network access. In other words, an employee only gets access to the specific applications or data they need, and not to the entire company network. All user connections to the application are encrypted and outbound, so that the underlying infrastructure remains invisible to unauthorized persons.
Such ZTNA solutions are offered by various suppliers (e.g. under names such as Cloudflare Zero Trust, Zscaler, Microsoft Entra Private Access, etc.), but it's important to realize that Zero Trust on its own no product is. It's a strategy that often combines multiple tools — from identity & access management to endpoint security and microsegmentation. It National Cyber Security Center highlights, for example, that Zero Trust requires an integrated approach, in which technology, employee awareness and good policy go hand in hand. So you can't install Zero Trust as quickly as a piece of software.
So first identify which important data and systems you have and who has access to them. See where the biggest risks lie. Start with a few quick wins: for example, introducing strict MFA for all users, or segmenting a sensitive part of the network. This way, you can quickly show the effectiveness of Zero Trust, without having to change everything right away. From there, you can continue to expand. This requires an integrated strategy that leaves no small back entrance uncovered. We are happy to help you develop this. Plan one informal conversation in to find out what we can do for you!
Zero Trust business value
Not only the IT department is reaping the benefits of Zero Trust — the benefits also make a clear and strong use case at the business level.
Reduce the risk of costly incidents
As mentioned earlier, data breaches and cyber incidents can cause millions in damage. Zero Trust drastically reduces this risk by proactively preventing attacks and reducing the impact of an incident. Your company is less likely to be disrupted to business as a result of, for example, a ransomware attack. This also means less financial damage, less downtime and less panic because you know that multiple layers of security are active. In short, Zero Trust is a form of risk management: you invest in prevention to prevent future costs and losses.
Compliance
At a time of stricter privacy and security laws (such as AVG/GDPR and new guidelines such as NIS2), Zero Trust is the solution. Because you keep a log for each access and have strict controls, you can better demonstrate who has access to which data. Companies that use Zero Trust therefore have an advantage in audits and meet security requirements from legislation and regulations more quickly.
Trust and reputation
Nowadays, good cybersecurity is also a selling point. Customers and partners increasingly value good security measures at the organizations they work with. By implementing Zero Trust, you show that you are serious about protecting data and systems. That gives confidence. In this way, you not only protect yourself, but also your customers against the indirect consequences of potential data breaches or hacks at your organization.
Flexible working
Zero Trust makes it easier to safely deal with hybrid or remote working. Employees can work remotely safely without the disadvantages of insecure (and sometimes outdated) VPN solutions. You can confidently deploy cloud apps, SaaS services and mobile devices, because each connection is still individually assessed and secured. This increases the productivity and flexibility of your organization.
Conclusion
Zero Trust is not just another IT hype, but a fundamentally different way of thinking about security that is becoming increasingly relevant in our business today. By assuming zero trust and always verifiable, you protect your organization against the reality that threats can come from both outside and inside.
If you weren't already familiar with Zero Trust, we hope this article has clarified what it entails and why it's worth considering. With Zero Trust, you're building a strong foundation of safety and trust — an investment that pays off in peace of mind for both your IT department and your entire company.
