The “Never trust, always check” rule is the basis for Zero Trust strategies. The approach departs from traditional models by requiring systematic verification of every access, whether from inside or outside your organization.
 
The cornerstone? No users or devices must be considered reliable by default.
 
By implementing Zero Trust, you significantly reduce your vulnerability to attack and block lateral movements – the moves attackers make after having compromised a first point of access to your network.
 
To build this defense in depth, several complementary technologies must be orchestrated in parallel:
identity management (IAM),
endpoint protection (EPP),
threat detection (XDR),
Data encryption
etc.

Gone are the days when a simple password was enough! Multi-factor authentication (MFA) reduces the risks of unauthorized access by requiring multiple proofs to validate a user’s identity before they can access resources.

Even if credentials have been compromised, identity theft then becomes a very complex task for cyber attackers.

You can deploy different authentication methods:

Those will guarantee that only authorized users can access your critical systems.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions provide total control over access rights to your applications, networks and data.

They make sure every user only has the authorizations needed to carry out their tasks, thus reducing the risk of too many privileges.

For high-privilege accounts, PAM (Privileged Access Management) tools provide an additional layer of control. They make it possible to:

Unlike the traditional approaches based on implicit trust, the Zero Trust strategy must be based on permanent checking. You need to assess the legitimacy of access and the level of security of the terminals connecting to the information system continuously.

To do that, it is essential to:

Endpoint Protection Platforms (EPP) are a central part of the system: they monitor the security status of your devices by enforcing compliance policies and blocking known threats before they compromise your network.

By coupling these tools with risk assessment solutions, you automatically adapt authorization levels according to user profiles, the devices used, and the assigned level of trust.

Micro-segmentation is used to finely compartmentalize your network. Isolated segments are created that all have their own access rules. This approach drastically limits the ability of attackers to move laterally inside your infrastructure.

 Software-Defined Networking (SDN) simplifies the segmentation: it allows flexible, centralized management of network flows using software controllers, without requiring any physical intervention on the infrastructure.

VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) have long been used to set up secure connections between users and corporate networks by creating an encrypted tunnel. However, that approach has its limitations, especially when credentials have been compromised, as an attacker can get full access to internal resources once logged in.

In contrast, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) applies stricter security principles, only authorizing access to necessary applications and data based on continuous identity and context checking. That approach reduces the areas open to attack by preventing unauthorized users or non-compliant devices from interacting with sensitive resources, even if they are present on the network.

What is the purpose of endpoint protection platforms (EPP)? Focusing on preventing known threats using traditional mechanisms (antivirus, firewall, etc.). Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) platforms take this approach a step further by providing advanced detection and responses to complex threats.

Amongst other things, EDR solutions use behavioral analysis to identify attacks that EPPs might miss. EDRs provide continuous monitoring of your endpoints: they provide a proactive response that includes the automatic quarantining of compromised devices and the running of automated remediation actions.

XDR (Extended Detection & Response) solutions go even further, by correlating information from endpoints, the network, cloud applications and e-mail. This cross-analysis capability allows your cyber teams to quickly identify complex threats, automate responses, and limit the spread of attacks.

How to quickly detect an ongoing attack ? SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) solutions built into the Security Operations Center (SOC) help collect and correlate event logs from the various components of your IS.

Thanks to advanced analysis and anomaly detection mechanisms, they can identify suspicious behavior and intrusion attempts in real time.

As alerts multiply and cyber threats grow, automation is key. SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation and Response) platforms industrialize your incident response by automatically running the appropriate remediation actions.

Artificial intelligence enhances this system by dynamically adjusting your security controls. It continuously analyzes behavior to detect anomalies and anticipate potential threats. When unusual activity is detected, adaptive measures can be applied automatically, such as raising authentication levels or temporarily restricting access for example.

In a Zero Trust world, encryption of in transit and data at rest is not optional. It guarantees the confidentiality of your data even when your system is compromised. In the face of increasingly sophisticated threats, this cryptographic protection alongside the compartmentalization between users and services is your last line of defense.

The success of your Zero Trust strategy depends on the combination of these complementary technologies. Strong authentication, micro-segmentation, behavioral analysis and encryption are all solutions that help you reduce your vulnerability to attack and build an adaptive, scalable defense.