Digitisation is significantly transforming how governments interact with citizens, provide services, and handle crises. However, it creates a double-edged sword for cybersecurity. Essentially, disruptive technologies bring many opportunities, but they also usher in significant vulnerabilities, changing the cyber risk landscape by providing a greater attack surface for cybercriminals to aim for. Hence, the more digital you are, the bigger the target you become.
Implementing zero-trust architecture within government structures is one of the most robust ways to deal with the increased vulnerabilities arising from the rising consumption of digital services. However, zero trust is not a typical solution you can buy from the market, an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), or any vendor. It is a combination of multiple steps and processes that work together to achieve a complete zero-trust security strategy.
In fact, we can aptly describe zero-trust as a security strategy that requires collaboration across people, processes, and technology. Most importantly, the communication for such a strategy must come from an organisation’s leadership and top executives – or a government entity, like in this case – who must drive its principles.
Fundamental principles
The three fundamental principles of zero trust are: never trust anyone; always verify the principle of least privilege – only provide access to what is needed; and assume that a breach has already occurred.
Additionally, there are multiple steps in implementing a zero-trust strategy. The first step is the identification of assets. You cannot protect what you don’t know making it crucial to understand your environment and provide complete visibility of what you need to protect. Many organisations, especially those with legacy systems, are unaware of all the assets they own, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks and more.
The second step is mapping network flows. Organisations transmit millions of data packets daily, yet many lack transparency of these flows. A key principle of zero trust is ensuring the transparency and actionability. It’s crucial to monitor traffic from all servers, endpoints, and assets in the organisational network environment. This information should be presented to leadership to help them understand network activities and address any issues or suspicious behaviour.
The third step is to enforce Identity and Access Management (IAM) as part of a zero-trust strategy. This includes implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), where users provide additional verification beyond just a username and password, for example, confirming their identity via a pop-up on their phone.
Principle of least privilege
Another important aspect is Role-Based Access Control (RBAC). This means that users are only granted the specific access and permissions they need to perform their job functions. The principle of least privilege is a key tenet of zero trust.
The next step is to implement endpoint security. Previously, security covered a broader perimeter, but it now focuses on individual endpoints like laptops and devices. Protecting these endpoints is essential and can be done using tools like Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) or Extended Detection and Response (XDR) solutions.
Lastly, a zero-trust strategy necessitates micro-segmentation. Let’s say an application in the organisation connects to 10 different servers or entities. If we suddenly observe an 11th communication from the application, it suggests something has been modified in the system.
The 11th connection needs to be flagged and sent to the security operations team for further analysis to determine if it is legitimate, such as introducing new functionality or an illegitimate connection indicating a potential threat. Micro-segmentation allows you to closely monitor and control the specific communications and connections an application or asset is authorised to have.
Ultimately, zero-trust security marks a major shift for government agencies and organisations relying on legacy systems, ensuring strong security measures against evolving threats. By implementing this approach, governments and organisations can better protect sensitive data, enhance regulatory compliance, and build public trust. However, it demands a cultural shift towards continuous verification and monitoring.
