The term “Zero Trust” was coined by Forrester Research analyst John Kindervag in 2010 . It follows the motto “never trust, always verify” and assumes that risk exists both inside and outside a network.
A zero trust strategy requires the authentication of every connection from every user and device and treats each connection as a threat regardless of whether the connection is internal or external, and regardless of type of connection.
Zero Trust Guiding Principals
Verify explicitly
Zero Trust assumes that no user or device should be automatically trusted based solely on their location or network credentials. Instead, each user and device must be authenticated and authorized individually before accessing any resources or services.
Least privilege access
Users and devices should only be granted the minimum level of access required to perform their specific tasks or functions. This principle ensures that even if an entity is compromised, the potential damage and lateral movement within the network are limited.
Assume breach
Zero Trust operates under the assumption that a breach has occurred or will occur at some point. It focuses on minimizing the impact of potential breaches by containing and isolating them, rather than relying on perimeter defenses alone.
How does Microsoft implement zero trust
Microsoft utilizes its cloud services to implement Zero Trust through a comprehensive approach that spans across various layers and components of its cloud infrastructure. Here are some ways Microsoft incorporates Zero Trust principles in its cloud services:
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is a key component of Microsoft’s Zero Trust strategy. Azure AD provides robust identity and access management capabilities, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), conditional access policies, and risk-based access controls. These features ensure proper authenticated and authorized before accessing resources, but users or services, regardless of their location or network.
Network and Data Protection
Microsoft provides multiple network security features as part of their cloud network offerings. For example, virtual network isolation, network segmentation using virtual LANs (VLANs), and network security groups (NSGs) for micro-segmentation. Azure also offers data protection mechanisms such as encryption at rest and in transit, data loss prevention (DLP) policies, and Azure Purview Information Protection for classifying and protecting sensitive data.
Threat Protection and Monitoring
Microsoft cloud services incorporate advanced threat protection capabilities. Azure Defender for Cloud provides centralized security management and monitoring, including threat detection, vulnerability assessment, and security recommendations. Microsoft Defender suite, which includes Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Defender for Identity, and Microsoft Defender for Office 365, delivers advanced threat protection across endpoints, identities, and cloud applications.
Zero Trust Networking
Microsoft Azure implements Zero Trust principles through Azure Virtual Networks (VNet) and the Azure Firewall service. Azure Virtual Network enables the creation of private networks with controlled access between resources, while Azure Firewall provides centralized network security policy enforcement and application-level visibility and control.
Compliance and Governance
Microsoft provides a range of compliance certifications and tools to help organizations meet regulatory requirements. Azure Policy enables the implementation and enforcement of governance policies, while Azure Defender offers compliance monitoring, security baselines, and regulatory compliance reporting.
These are a few examples of how Microsoft employs its cloud services to implement Zero Trust and how Microsoft can deliver a robust Zero Trust framework for their cloud customers.
