Zero Trust (ZT) security architecture is a modern cloud security approach that operates on the principle of "Never Trust, Always Verify." Primary Benefits of Zero Trust in Cloud:
* Minimizes Attack Surface
* Traditional security models assume trust within an internal network.
* Zero Trust eliminates implicit trust and enforces continuous verification of user identities.
* Reduces the risk of data breaches, insider threats, and lateral movement attacks.
* Strong Authentication & Access Controls
* Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) & Just-in-Time (JIT) access are mandatory in Zero Trust models.
* Uses context-based access policies (device, location, behavior analytics) to enforce adaptive security.
* Micro-Segmentation & Least Privilege Access
* Restricts access to only necessary applications, minimizing lateral movement in cloud environments.
* Micro-segmentation isolates workloads, reducing the impact of breaches.
* Cloud-Native Zero Trust Integration
* Cloud providers (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) offer Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solutions.
* Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) continuously scans cloud environments for security compliance.
This aligns with:
* CCSK v5 - Security Guidance v4.0, Domain 12 (Identity, Entitlement, and Access Management)
* Zero Trust Cloud Security Architecture (CSA Zero Trust Working Group).