Remember when Nick Fury brought in the Helicarrier, the Avengers’ high-tech vessel protecting the world from threats? Now, imagine you had a similar system safeguarding your organization.
But what if a HYDRA agent sneaks aboard undetected, ready to sabotage the mission? That’s the risk traditional security poses. In this version of the Helicarrier, security models let anyone board just by walking through the front door, with no thorough verification—just a glance, and they’re in.
To make the shift, you need to grasp what Zero Trust Access Control truly entails.
It acts as the Helicarrier’s AI, constantly scanning and verifying every crew member(your user) and device before granting access—ensuring that only trusted individuals and secure devices can board, keeping your organization safe from any hidden threats.
Think of Zero Trust security as the ship’s AI—an all-seeing, constantly vigilant system that scans every crew member, device, and even the environment before allowing access. No one gets to operate the ship’s controls without first proving they belong.
Whether it’s a managed device (like Captain America’s shield, always in top condition and trustworthy) or an unmanaged device (like a new piece of tech brought on board, untested and unverified), Zero Trust security ensures only trusted users and compliant devices get access.
With this model in place, your organization’s most valuable resources and data are protected—keeping any cyber criminals or any lingering intruders out, no matter how they try to sneak in.
Understanding managed and unmanaged devices
Characteristics of managed devices
Managed devices are those that fall under the direct control and oversight of an organization’s IT department. Typically issued by the company, these devices are equipped with strict security protocols and are closely monitored by IT teams to ensure compliance with organizational security standards.
- Corporate owned personally enabled (COPE): Managed devices that are owned by the organization, but typically issued to employees for work purposes, ensuring a higher level of accountability.
- IT department control and monitoring: Managed devices are configured, monitored, and secured by the IT department to ensure they comply with organizational security standards and policies.
- Compliance with security policies: Managed devices must comply with strict security policies, including encryption, antivirus software, firewalls, and patch management, which ensures they meet the company’s security and compliance requirements.
Characteristics of unmanaged devices
Unmanaged devices—whether personal smartphones or third-party laptops—are increasingly becoming gateways to corporate data. But here’s the catch: they introduce significant security and compliance challenges. The Shadow IT Report[1] claims a staggering 47% of companies still allow employees to access corporate resources on these devices, potentially leaving sensitive information vulnerable to risk.
Unmanaged devices are typically personal or third-party devices used by employees or contractors to access corporate resources, making it even more difficult to enforce consistent security and compliance measures across the board.
- Personal or third-party ownership: Unmanaged devices are owned by individuals (employees or contractors) or external parties, and as such, they are outside the direct control of the organization’s IT department.
- Lack of IT oversight: These devices are not typically managed by the organization’s IT department, meaning there is no centralized monitoring or control over their security posture.
- Potential security risks: Unmanaged devices pose a higher security risk due to the lack of oversight. Without corporate-level security measures in place, they are more vulnerable to malware, outdated software, and unauthorized access.
The need for Zero Trust Access Control
As unmanaged devices become more prevalent in the workplace, implementing a Zero Trust Access Control strategy is becoming increasingly critical. This approach shifts security from a perimeter-based model to a dynamic, identity-driven framework. Access is granted based on the user’s identity, device health, location, and behavior—rather than assuming any device or user within the network is inherently trusted.
Mitigating the risks associated with unmanaged devices ensures that both managed and unmanaged devices meet the necessary security standards before accessing sensitive data. According to Okta’s 2023 State of Zero Trust report[2], 61% of organizations globally have already implemented a defined Zero Trust initiative.
Also read: Why Zero Trust is essential for modern cybersecurity
Implementing Zero Trust Access Control for unmanaged devices
Challenges with unmanaged devices
The integration of Zero Trust Access Control for unmanaged devices presents a unique set of challenges due to the lack of direct control over these devices. Organizations face difficulties in ensuring that these devices comply with security standards such as encryption, patch management, and secure configurations.
- Lack of direct control: Since unmanaged devices are not overseen by the IT department, it is difficult to enforce security policies directly on them, leaving potential gaps in protection.
- Varied security postures: Unmanaged devices often come with inconsistent security configurations, making them a potential vulnerability. The devices could be running outdated software or lacking essential security features, such as firewalls or antivirus protection.
Strategies for enforcing Zero Trust
To implement Zero Trust security effectively for unmanaged devices, organizations must adopt comprehensive strategies that consistently assess the device’s security posture. They should also apply access controls based on identified risk factors.
- Device posture assessment: By conducting real-time assessments of the device’s health and security state, organizations can determine whether a device meets required security standards before granting access to sensitive systems and data.
- Risk-Based Access Policies(RBAC): Policies can be tailored to provide conditional access based on the risk associated with a particular device. For instance, if an unmanaged device is found to be non-compliant with security standards, access to sensitive data may be restricted or denied.
Implementing Zero Trust Access Control for managed devices
Integration with Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) Systems
When it comes to safeguarding your organization, managed devices are your strongest defense. With Zero Trust Access Control, enforcing security becomes much more streamlined, thanks to the robust infrastructure offered by Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) systems. UEM solutions such as the Scalefusion OneIdP can empower IT departments to monitor, manage, and ensure that devices remain fully compliant with security policies, providing a solid foundation for maintaining control and protecting sensitive data across your organization.
- Leveraging UEM signals for access decisions: Scalefusion OneIdP continuously checks the device’s security posture, such as whether it is running the latest security patches, if it is encrypted, and whether antivirus software is up to date. These signals can be used to make access decisions, ensuring that only secure, compliant devices are granted access.
- Enhancing security through continuous monitoring: Zero Trust security treats access as an ongoing process, not a one-time event. By combining identity management and UEM, solutions like Scalefusion OneIdP continuously monitor managed devices’ health and security, ensuring compliance with policies.
Establishing device trust
In the Zero Trust framework, device trust is established by ensuring that all devices meet strict security requirements before they are allowed to access critical resources. This process ensures that only trusted, compliant devices are granted access, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.
- Ensuring devices meet security standards: Managed devices must undergo a rigorous process to ensure they meet the organization’s security requirements. This includes ensuring the device is encrypted, has up-to-date antivirus software, and is running the latest operating system patches.
- Regular compliance checks: To maintain device trust, regular compliance checks must be conducted to ensure devices continue to meet the required security standards. This ongoing assessment helps to detect and mitigate any security gaps that may arise over time.
Conclusion
In today’s increasingly digital and mobile workplace, managing access control for both managed devices and unmanaged devices is crucial for maintaining robust security. By implementing Zero Trust Access Control, organizations can ensure that only authorized users and compliant devices are granted access to critical resources, regardless of their ownership or location.
While challenges such as the lack of control over unmanaged devices exist, leveraging strategies like device posture assessment and risk-based access policies can help mitigate these risks. For managed devices, integration with Unified Endpoint Management systems and continuous monitoring ensures that security remains top-notch. Ultimately, adopting Zero Trust security is a vital step in safeguarding sensitive data and reducing the risk of unauthorized access in today’s ever-evolving threat landscape.
References
FAQs
1. How does Zero Trust Access Control differ from traditional security models?
Traditional security models rely on perimeter defenses, trusting users and devices once they’ve entered the network. Zero Trust works on the principle, ‘never trust, always verify’; which means no user or device is trusted by default. It requires continuous verification and access control based on real-time risk assessments for every request.
2. How can organizations implement Zero Trust for unmanaged devices?
In implementing Zero Trust security in unmanaged devices, organizations should use device posture assessments, risk-based access policies, and identity verification methods. This involves evaluating devices in real-time and granting access only if they meet security standards, ensuring unauthorized or vulnerable devices are denied access.
3. Why is device posture important in a Zero Trust framework?
Device posture refers to evaluating factors like operating system updates, security configurations, and the presence of malware. In a Zero Trust framework, it plays a critical role in determining whether a device meets the organization’s security standards. By assessing device posture, organizations can enforce policies ensuring that only secure devices access sensitive resources.
4. How does Zero Trust Access Control enhance security for remote workforces?
By continuously validating user identities, devices, and network connections, organizations can enforce Zero Trust Access Control, significantly enhancing security for remote workforces. This approach ensures that even employees working from outside the corporate network must prove their credentials and device security before gaining access to critical systems, reducing risks significantly.
