Providing ample protection for your business and customers is just one of the many responsibilities you have as a small business owner. Whether it’s the physical or digital aspects of your business, ensuring that you can safeguard your assets from various threats can keep your business operational and your brand reputation intact.
There are several solutions you can implement to strengthen your business’s security. If you’re looking for something that can protect you from cyberattacks, consider implementing a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solution because it is an essential building block for implementing Zero Trust.
What is ZTNA?
ZTNA is a security framework that assumes a hard stance against threat. It works by verifying the identity of users and devices—regardless of their location—before granting them access to applications and resources. Using this model in your small business is a great way to protect sensitive data, as it reduces the risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, data leaks, and other cyber threats.
To get the most out of ZTNA, you have to make sure that you’re using the right implementation methods. Here are a few of the best practices you should consider when incorporating ZTNA into your small business:
Adopt the Zero Trust Mindset
Before investing in ZTNA solution or trying out a free zero trust network access (ZTNA) solution, it helps to embrace the “zero trust” mindset for you to be able to appreciate its benefits. This shift in thinking lays the foundation for a newer, more robust security posture, especially in environments where traditional boundaries are increasingly insecure.
The traditional approach of trusting everything within the network perimeter is no longer sufficient in today’s dynamic threat landscape. With the rise of remote work and cloud adoption, it’s difficult to ensure the security of the network used by your work-from-home employees. Moreover, cyber threats have evolved in sophistication, and if you’re only using a perimeter-based security system, cybercriminals can exploit its vulnerabilities and gain unauthorized access.
When you adopt a zero-trust mindset, it means that you follow a “never trust, always verify” line of thinking. It reinforces the significance of verifying access and continuously questioning the security posture. As a result, you’re contributing to a proactive defense against cyber threats, allowing you to better safeguard your sensitive data and critical resources.
Implement Zero Trust Policies
Developing zero trust policies for your small business will define the rules and controls governing access to resources. This ensures that every access attempt is subject to thorough scrutiny, regardless of the user’s location or the device used. When creating policies, it’s in your best interest to base them according to user identity, device, and contextual information such as business hours. Clearly defining and enforcing these policies enables you to establish a strong security foundation that protects your business from external and internal threats.
Use Multiple Verification Methods
Using multiple verification methods, such as multifactor authentication (MFA) or two-factor authentication (2FA), ensures that even if one authentication factor is compromised, there is an additional barrier to unauthorized access. Incorporating biometric authentication, smart cards, or mobile authenticator apps alongside traditional passwords, can significantly reduce the risk of identity-related security breaches. This extra layer of verification adds complexity for potential attackers, making it more challenging to compromise user accounts and devices.
To ensure that multiple verification methods are properly implemented, educate your staff members about the significance of these measures. When your employees have a better understanding of the importance of using these methods, it enhances the overall security of your small business.
Grant Users Least Privileges
Limiting user privileges reduces the risk associated with unauthorized access, which is why you should carefully assess the necessary access rights for each employee based on their roles and responsibilities. Adopting a strategy of granting users the minimum level of access required to perform their specific job function minimizes potential security vulnerabilities. This practice enhances overall security by reducing the attack surface and restricting access to critical business assets.
Just make sure to regularly review and update user privileges as roles change within the organization. You should also implement an offboarding process to promptly revoke access for employees who no longer require it, such as those who have left the company or changed roles, to ensure that access permissions align with the current needs of your business. Or, if you use a data security and workflow solution like Mamori.io, those processes can be automated.
Segment Your Network Into Smaller Segments
Network segmentation is akin to creating secure compartments within the business environment. By categorizing and isolating different parts of the network, you can contain security incidents to specific segments, preventing them from spreading across the entire network.
For example, separating your main company network from the network accessed by 3rd party vendors ensures that a security breach in your vendors doesn’t automatically jeopardize the security of your company network. This strategy enhances overall resilience and minimizes the potential impact of a cyberattack.
Adopting a ZTNA framework is a great way to enhance and modernize your small business’s cybersecurity measures. However, you need to implement it to take full advantage of it. With the help of these tips, you can integrate ZTNA into your business’s operations without hassle.
