Using Zero Trust and Conditional Access Policies to Reshape Cybersecurity

Using Zero Trust and Conditional Access Policies to Reshape Cybersecurity

Eliminate trust based on location, such as within a company network, and always verify users at every access request.

Having a password that contained a random assortment of characters used to be considered the high-point of IT security.

And this system was optimal when all we needed was to be on the corporate network and were physically on-site. If traveling or working from home, a laptop and VPN would suffice.

But the ways that employees and corporations function have changed dramatically in the last ten years. We're much more mobile than we used to be, and no longer working with applications that only reside on the local server, but instead are sitting on the cloud. From a security perspective, the 'perimeter' is fast expanding, and we must update our approach to network security and access.

And users are inadvertently a risk to security:

  • 4 percent of users will click on anything
  • 28 percent of attacks involved an insider
  • Casual events caused 17 percent of breaches

Modern users are more mobile than before: Are VPNs still viable?

With the increased practice of cloud-based apps and mobile devices, users are not only more mobile but using personal devices for work at an increased rate.

  • Employees working from home and cafes
  • Contractors working offsite
  • Increased usage of mobile devices

The traditional method of using a VPN has too many disadvantages and security flaws to be viable. They give too much access and expose assets to the internet. Security experts instead recommend using zero trust VPN combined with conditional access.

What is zero trust and conditional access?

Zero trust is a cloud-based solution used to grant secure remote access to users while isolating resources such as apps and data from attacks and threats. It can be broken down into three main components:

  • Never trust—always verify
  • Successful access granted only after end-device authentication
  • Each access request is unique

Conditional access dynamically determines each access request in real-time instead of storing user credentials which may be outdated and granting access if the credentials are correct. This approach is no longer practical. What if the user inadvertently downloads a malicious app? What if their location has changed? There are too many variables for an identity-only approach.

Implied assumption of safety

The assumption of security comes from the adage that if the end-user is known and has the correct credentials, then they are not a threat. Conditional access takes into account multiple endpoint factors and provides real-time risk assessment. For instance:

  • Network - Is it a secured connection or unsecured, such as free coffee shop WiFi?
  • Operating system - The user may be missing a critical OS security update or no compliant OS
  • Location - Logging in from a suspicious location outside normal behavior
  • Device - Non-compliant devices from specific manufacturers may be blacklisted

These are just some of the holistic methods of conditional access. Dynamically checking each access request to preserve security by 'never trusting' and 'always verify.’

Do you need conditional access?

Attacks are at a record high, and we shouldn't assume that just because users are on a corporate network, they're secure. This was true 20 to 25 years ago, when only emails would leave the secured network and working offsite was a rarity, much less being able to connect to the network from outside the perimeter.

Today's attacks are much more sophisticated, and even two-factor authentication can be breached due to security flaws from the user. Fake emails, phishing scams are ever-present, and even customers at large banks fall prey to these attacks.

Integrating a zero-trust policy helps companies defend themselves from attacks by removing the assumption that the user can be trusted, to one of explicit verification.

Main takeaways

Networks that don't adapt their security approach will always remain vulnerable to attacks and breaches of data. Technology has evolved to a level of connectivity that mixes both work and pleasure across devices. Facebook, LinkedIn, OneDrive and other platforms can be accessed from nearly anywhere and on any device, expanding the security perimeter.

The only way to maintain security is to assume a zero trust policy combined with conditional access. Eliminate trust based on location, such as within a company network, and always verify users at every access request. Conditional access will further strengthen security by limiting access to high-value assets depending on the user profile at the time.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.