Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) can help you avoid compliance violations (and the fines that go with them). By using strict access controls and strong authentication measures, you can lower your risk of attack.
If your network is not compromised, consumer data remains secure, which keeps you on the right side of regulations like HIPAA or the GDPR.
ZTNA compliance is the use of zero trust architecture and strong security tools to ensure your company is fully compliant with local privacy and data security regulations.
Most common privacy regulations require that consumer data cannot be accessed by unauthorized users, and ZTNA is one of the best solutions around to help prevent that.
Here are the key factors in ZTNA compliance.
ZTNA solutions ensure that all users who attempt to access a private network are authorized to do so.
Additionally, not all remote users ought to access all parts of the network or the information within a segmented area, and ZTNA provides access control enforcement to block users. Blocking may be based on the user’s role within the company or other factors.
Device identity verification is another important aspect of ZTNA, and when your device is added, you will need to complete verification steps to confirm that the device belongs to you and meets the security requirements for accessing the company’s network.
All devices that have remote access to your company’s network must be appropriately secured; otherwise, an attacker can use that device as a vector.
Monitoring helps you get a jump start on responding to unusual activity.
Since unusual activity is connected to the beginning of an attack, a quick response is essential for limiting the amount of information an attacker manages to find, steal, or destroy.
It’s also important to have complete visibility into your network, so that you always know what data you have, where you and your employees are storing it, and what measures your organization is taking to protect it. If you don’t know about a collection of plaintext documents stored in someone’s downloads folder, you can’t secure those files. They are then susceptible to unauthorized viewing or use.
ZTNA actively assesses any changes in your behavior or your device’s behavior. If unusual activity occurs or your environment and context changes, ZTNA will detect the change and respond.
Usually, that means restricting your access until you can redo the verification.
ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) goes beyond just meeting compliance standards; it actively strengthens your overall security posture. Compliance regulations are established to ensure robust data protection for your customers.
By adhering to ZTNA principles, you achieve compliance while also:
While ZTNA offers significant security benefits, achieving compliance can present some hurdles:
You may not be able to completely eliminate your risk of attack, but by using best practices and ZTNA solutions, you can improve your alignment and compliance with the regulations relevant to you.
Always ensure that you’ve given your access lists and network segments appropriate attention.
You can have the best access control enforcement the world has ever seen, but it won’t do you much good if the rules aren’t strong and clear enough.
MFA is an essential part of any security system. It helps to reduce exposure from stolen devices or credentials, and it is very difficult for an attacker to get past.
Always ensure that employee devices receive regular updates, health assessments, and endpoint protection.
Your ZTNA solution should alert you to unusual traffic patterns, but it’s a security team’s job to identify the threat and respond quickly. Don’t assume an attacker can’t get through.
ZTNA is highly effective, but nothing is perfect.
Your security is only as strong as the weakest part. Require all employees to follow best practices, especially those pertaining to authentication.
It’s tough to keep up with changing cyberthreats, but ensuring that you are compliant with your relevant legal requirements is a good place to start. Establishing a zero trust environment and adopting Perimeter81’s ZTNA solution can also help keep your data and network locked down, keeping your risk of both infiltration and noncompliance fines low.
To learn more about how our solutions can benefit your compliance efforts, contact us today.
