Protect your digital identity with zero-trust network access

Staying connected makes life easier, but it also opens the door to cyber threats lurking around every corner. Hackers are always looking for ways to steal personal information, break into accounts, and exploit security gaps.

That’s why protecting your digital identity is more important than ever. One of the best ways to do this is by using a security approach called Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA) — which is essentially a way of saying multifactor authentication (MFA) applied to everything. Instead of assuming that any user or device should be trusted by default, zero-trust requires constant verification, just like how MFA asks for extra proof when you log in.

Don’t worry if this sounds technical. This article will break it down in simple terms and explain how it can help keep you safe.

What is digital identity, and why is it important?

Your digital identity is the collection of information that represents you online. It includes everything from your email address and social media profiles to sensitive details like your bank account information and login credentials. Essentially, it’s the key to accessing your online accounts, making transactions, and interacting in the digital world — which is why keeping it secure is so important.

Think of it as your virtual fingerprint unique to you and essential for accessing the services and platforms you use daily. Unfortunately, this information is highly valuable to cybercriminals. If they gain access to your digital identity, they can impersonate you, steal your money, or even damage your reputation.

The problem is that many of us take our digital identities for granted. We reuse passwords, click on suspicious links, or connect to unsecured Wi-Fi networks without thinking twice. These habits make it easier for hackers to exploit weaknesses and gain access to our personal information. 

That’s why it’s so important to adopt stronger security measures, and ZTNA is one of the best tools available for this purpose.

What is zero-trust network access?

Zero-Trust Network Access, or ZTNA, is a security framework designed to protect your digital identity and sensitive data. The name “zero trust” comes from its core principle: trust no one, verify everything. 

In other words, ZTNA assumes that no user or device should be trusted by default, even if they’re inside a network. Instead, it requires continuous verification of identity and permissions before granting access to resources.

Imagine you’re a team lead in the IT department of a big company, and you see Bob from accounting typing in the wrong password 7 times in a row. Before, it was standard policy to just grant him access and be done with it. But how can you be sure his fingers are greasy from the burger he had for lunch and that he isn’t being hacked? 

ZTNA, with its additional requirements, might slightly inconvenience Bob every morning when he opens his laptop, but it will save the company from data theft, damages in the eight-figure ballpark, and irreparable reputation damage. 

Traditional security models often rely on a “castle-and-moat” approach. Imagine a castle surrounded by a moat — once you’re inside the walls, you’re trusted and can move around freely. 

The problem with this model is that if a hacker manages to breach the outer defenses, they can access everything inside. ZTNA, on the other hand, eliminates the idea of a trusted internal network. It treats every access request as a potential threat and verifies it thoroughly.

How does ZTNA work?

ZTNA operates on a few key principles that make it highly effective at protecting your digital identity:

1. Identity verification: Before granting access, ZTNA checks the user’s identity using multi-factor authentication (MFA). This means you might need to provide a password, a fingerprint scan, or a one-time code sent to your phone. By requiring multiple forms of verification, ZTNA makes it much harder for hackers to impersonate you.
2. Least privilege access: ZTNA follows the principle of least privilege, which means users are only given access to the specific resources they need to do their job, nothing more. For example, if you’re working on a project that requires access to a particular folder, ZTNA won’t let you see unrelated files or systems. This minimizes the damage that can be done if your account is compromised.
3. Continuous monitoring: Unlike traditional security models that only check credentials at the point of entry, ZTNA continuously monitors user activity. It uses the same approach for monitoring traffic, whether it’s data feed management for an e-commerce site or confidential files on a government server. 
4. Encryption: ZTNA ensures that all data is encrypted, both in transit and at rest. Encryption scrambles your information so that even if it’s intercepted, it’s unreadable to anyone without the proper decryption key.

Why is ZTNA important for protecting your digital identity?

Now that you understand how ZTNA works, let’s talk about why it’s so important to safeguard your digital identity. It does indeed seem illogical, given that ZTNA increases the number of steps when accessing segments of the network. Nevertheless, its usefulness boils down to: 

• Reducing the risk of data breaches: By requiring continuous verification and limiting access to only what’s necessary, ZTNA makes it much harder for hackers to move laterally within a network. Even if they manage to steal your credentials, they won’t be able to access sensitive data without additional verification.
• Protecting against phishing attacks: Phishing is one of the most common ways cybercriminals steal digital identities. They send fake emails or messages that trick you into revealing your login credentials. With ZTNA, even if you fall for a phishing scam, the hacker won’t be able to access your account without passing additional security checks.
• Securing remote work: The rise of remote work has made it easier for employees to access company resources from anywhere, but it has also increased security risks. ZTNA ensures that remote workers can securely connect to the network without exposing sensitive data to potential threats.
• Adapting to modern threats: From password managers requiring face scans to cloud-native access controls for large enterprises, old one-size-fits-all solutions are a thing of the past.

Can ZTNA keep up?

According to some estimates, 62% of IT teams have adopted AI tools, and the number is expected to eclipse 80% by the end of the year. Other departments are following suit, too. 

This revolutionary breakthrough has opened a whole new can of worms. It’s still a brand new field, at least to legislators and the general public, which means data protection laws, treatment of training data, and other aspects are lightly, if at all, regulated. 

Likewise, deepfakes are better than ever, which puts facial recognition in jeopardy. And that’s even without mentioning the danger that quantum computing poses to data. It sounds scary, I agree, but countless brilliant individuals are working on keeping us one step ahead. Just keep your eyes open. 

Protect your websites and network against cyberattacks

ZTNA represents a significant step forward in the fight against cyber threats, offering a more robust and adaptive approach to security. With it, you can take control of your digital identity and reduce the risk of falling victim to cybercrime. 

Remember, in the world of cybersecurity, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Trust no one, verify everything, and stay one step ahead of the threats. Your digital identity is worth protectingv—vdon’t let it fall into the wrong hands.