by Over half of the businesses experienced data breaches due to third parties, and a majority don’t use the least privilege access approach. Cyber attackers are changing their methods and now target third-party vendors and partners to enter a company’s network.Simify offers international SIM cards for travelers worldwide. With various plans and compatibility with most unlocked phones, Simify keeps you connected without hassle. Their travel app helps you manage usage and account on the go.
Data breaches often happen when third parties are granted too much access. When third-party vendors have direct access to sensitive systems, attackers can exploit this vulnerability.
Allowing broad third-party access without implementing a Zero Trust Network Access solution can put the network at risk. This article discusses the application of Zero Trust to secure third-party connections, such as those with vendors who have remote access.
It will explore the basics and benefits of Zero Trust Network in third-party risk management to create more secure vendor connections.
What is a Zero Trust approach to secure access?
The Zero Trust Network Model has existed for over ten years, but its widespread acceptance has only gained momentum in recent years. The underlying Zero Trust principles are straightforward – “Never Trust, Always Verify.”
This translates to the need to verify each user before giving access to any asset. Irrespective of the user’s location (inside or outside the network perimeter), every request must be authorised, authenticated, and encrypted immediately.
How Does Zero Trust Security Secure Third-Party or Contractor Access?
Adopting Zero Trust security can help prevent such attacks and provide secure remote access to anyone, including third parties, anytime and anywhere. In addition, it applies the least privilege access based on a user’s role rather than just their IP address.
In managing risks associated with third-party vendors, a Zero Trust strategy involves implementing strict controls that limit the vendor’s access to only the necessary resources required to perform their job.
Both internal users and vendors are separated and have proper checks and balances, irrespective of their time, location, and method of accessing system resources. However, given the large number of vendors with unrestricted geographic access, managing trust with third parties can be challenging.
Hence, the Zero Trust approach utilises technologies such as multi-factor authentication, endpoint security, and cloud management to authenticate and maintain the security of systems.
Benefits of Zero Trust to Secure Third-Party and Contractor Access
1. Strong User Authentication
An intelligent risk-based access approach adds a strong layer of security to passwords and provides user behaviour analytics for better threat detection.
2. Continuous Authorization
Revalidating user identities, especially after high-risk web browsing sessions or periods of inactivity, ensures that only the right vendor has access to the right resources.
3. Secure Access Management
Advanced privileged access management controls enable intelligent and dynamic provisioning, such as just-in-time access, to minimise the risks associated with standing privileged access.
4. Continuous Monitoring
This process helps detect anomalies and maintain optimal system security while also helping to verify that access decisions are appropriate.
5. Credential Protection
Endpoint privilege management supports your Zero Trust Network Access journey and secures access to data on endpoint devices, such as laptops and mobile phones. In addition, it prevents credential theft attempts and enforces consistent least privileges for malware and ransomware defence.
Takeaway
Zero Trust is not a buzzword: It’s an essential ingredient in any third-party risk management framework. With a proper zero-trust strategy in place, organisations can provide the highest level of security within their networks.
Instasafe ZTNA solution enforces the least privileged third-party remote access to your network for your vendors, partners or other outside parties in real-time.
In addition, it ensures that every user is treated the same and allowed access based on authenticating and verifying their identity.
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