Contributed by Softchoice.

Written by Abel E. Molina, Principal Architect, Security, Softchoice.

The Critical Need for Zero Trust

The threat of cyber-attacks is both immediate and severe. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), 50% of SMBs have faced at least one cyber-attack, with over 60% of those businesses shutting their doors afterward. This alarming statistic underscores the necessity for robust cybersecurity measures, particularly the adoption of a Zero Trust approach.

Zero Trust Implementation Process - Five Steps

Step 1 - Inventory and Assessment of Assets

The first step in adopting a Zero Trust approach is to thoroughly inventory and assess your assets. This involves identifying and prioritizing critical business systems and services. Determine which Data, Applications, Assets, and Services (DAAS elements) are essential to your organization. Assess your current security maturity and the potential impact of any compromises. Microsoft tools such as Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, available through Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 licenses, can help in identifying and assessing the assets across your network.

Step 2 - Understand How Your Technology Drives Your Business

Next, analyze your critical business systems and identify any dependencies. Document the interactions within and outside the protect surface—the area you intend to secure. Validate these findings with stakeholders to ensure accuracy and refine the protect surface based on risk and security maturity. Microsoft Azure Security Center, included in Azure subscriptions, can assist in understanding and managing the security posture of your business's technology.

Step 3 - Design Your Zero Trust Approach

Designing your Zero Trust approach involves aligning your security objectives with your business goals. Select appropriate technologies, solutions, and vendors that fit your specific needs. Define the policies, rules, and workflows that will govern user, device, and application behavior. A key focus should be on leveraging existing technology investments to maximize efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) and Conditional Access policies, features included in both E3 and E5 licenses, can be instrumental in defining and enforcing access policies.

Step 4 - Implement Your Design

Implementation begins with creating Zero Trust security policies that ensure proper access control. Start small with manageable, quick wins to build momentum. Prioritize use cases that protect your most critical DAAS elements. Evaluate the return on investment by comparing the costs of implementation against the potential impacts of cybersecurity incidents. Utilize Microsoft Intune, which is part of E3 and E5 licenses, for device management and to enforce compliance policies across devices accessing your network.

Step 5 - Monitor & Maintain Your Environment

The final step is to monitor and maintain your Zero Trust environment. This involves continuously reviewing and updating your implemented policies, rules, and workflows based on key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics. Active monitoring and improvement ensure that your Zero Trust architecture remains effective against evolving threats. Microsoft Sentinel, available as part of Azure services, can play a crucial role in providing continuous monitoring and incident response capabilities.

Conclusion

Adopting a Zero Trust architecture is essential for businesses to defend against increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks. By following the outlined five-step methodology and leveraging Microsoft technologies, SMBs can significantly reduce their vulnerability to breaches, ensure the protection of critical data, and maintain strict access control. A cost-conscious approach can help achieve enhanced security without incurring excessive costs, thereby safeguarding the business's future.

About the Author

Abel E. Molina is a Principal Architect, Security for Softchoice. He has over 20 years of experience in the IT industry, specializing in security, cloud, hybrid, and server solutions. He has worked in several roles as an IT consultant engineer, a security engineer, a solutions architect, and a subject matter expert for Microsoft. His dedication to security and zero trust principles has made him an invaluable asset to major enterprises across North America as they transition and implement zero trust frameworks.