Central Idea

In response to rising cyberattacks, the Centre has established a secure e-mail system for 10,000 users across critical ministries and departments.
The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has designed this system, incorporating Zero Trust Authentication (ZTA).

What is Zero Trust Authentication (ZTA)?

ZTA is a security concept and framework that operates on the principle of “never trust, always verify.”
This approach to cybersecurity is a significant shift from traditional security models that operated under the assumption that everything inside an organization’s network should be trusted.
In contrast, Zero Trust assumes that trust is never granted implicitly but must be continually evaluated and authenticated, regardless of the user’s location or the network’s perimeter.

Least Privilege Access: Users are granted only the minimum level of access needed to perform their job functions. This limits the potential damage in case of a security breach.
Strict User Verification: Every user, whether inside or outside the organization’s network, must be authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated for security configuration and posture before being granted access to applications and data.
Micro-segmentation: The network is divided into small zones to maintain separate access for separate parts of the network. If one segment is breached, the others remain secure.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): ZTA often requires multiple pieces of evidence to authenticate a user’s identity. This could include something the user knows (password), something the user has (security token), and something the user is (biometric verification).
Continuous Monitoring and Validation: The system continuously monitors and validates that the traffic and data are secure and that the user’s behaviour aligns with the expected patterns.

Technology: Implementation of Zero Trust requires technologies like identity and access management (IAM), data encryption, endpoint security, and network segmentation tools.
Policy and Governance: Organizations need to establish comprehensive security policies that enforce Zero Trust principles, including how data is accessed and protected.
User Education and Awareness: Training users on the importance of cybersecurity and the role they play in maintaining it is crucial.

Enhanced Security Posture: By verifying every user and device, Zero Trust reduces the attack surface and mitigates the risk of internal threats.
Data Protection: Sensitive data is better protected through stringent access controls and encryption.
Compliance: Helps in meeting regulatory requirements by providing detailed logs and reports on user activities and data access.
Adaptability: Zero Trust is adaptable to a variety of IT environments, including cloud and hybrid systems.