Unlocking IAM Potential: Adding Layers of Zero Trust Security

Ransomware attacks are becoming extremely common these days. As per the statistics of the first half of 2022, around 236.1 million attacks were reported worldwide. Therefore, it is essential to have sophisticated identity and access management solutions that add an extra layer of safety to your business infrastructure.

But before adding this additional layer, it is essential to understand what is Zero trust network access and what role zero trust applications play in bettering your infrastructure.

What is Zero trust identity and access management?

Zero trust IAM, or Zero trust security as per its name, is a security framework that is built to challenge the old-school model of trusting any user or device based on their location within a network. In this framework, trust is not assumed by Zero Trust security.

Instead, a strict structure is set up with the help of IAM that creates strict access controls, and access can only be granted after verifying their identity and authorisation, whether the user or device is within or outside the corporate network, which adds a layer of controlled security to the entire organisation structure.

With a trusted zero-trust enterprise like InstaSafe, no threats can ever slip through your firewall, as it is explicitly designed to stop any attack escalation.

Identity Access Management (IAM): A Cornerstone to Zero Trust

Zero trust is the approach for infrastructure security that never directly trusts a user, whereas IAM is a security management tool that helps control the rights to access company applications. It does so by comparing the access attempt with credentials that are stored within the system to identify whether the user is one who they say they are based on their predefined access policies.

A Zero trust enterprise ensures access to only those users and devices once they are proven compliant based on the company’s predefined policies. At the same time, IAM puts forth policies for identity and access management.

IAM is a part of zero trust security, but it is only some of it. The two are different, but IAM helps organisations standardise and verify user identities.

Also, it is essential to understand that zero trust is not achieved by getting just a single product; you need to implement a comprehensive structure to make it work.

Nevertheless, most vendors only offer a piece of zero trust security, helping employees accomplish compliance with their organisation’s security objectives.

How does IAM add up its potential with Zero Trust Security?

When IAM and Zero Trust are combined, they ensure that there is continuous device authentication based on the Zero Trust Security principle that focuses on verifying every user and device that tries to access resources.

Devices get authenticated at each logic and access is only given to those who meet the particular mentioned policies.

Conclusion

Therefore, the integration of both enhances security and reduces the risk of unauthorised access or any security compromise, aligning with the most critical principle of Zero Trust Security.