Zero Trust Security Models are a cybersecurity paradigm that assumes no entity, whether inside or outside the network, can be trusted by default. This model functions on the principle of "never trust, always verify," meaning every access request must be authenticated and authorized regardless of origin.

Cybercriminals are not new, and often neither are their tactics. Despite this, phishing attacks, which incorporate social engineering in emails and messages to persuade people to perform an action that puts organisations at risk, continue to be highly successful. New technologies, such as GenAI, are improving these tactics further and companies must implement a strategic approach built on a solid foundation of identity security to minimize risks.

Zero Trust maturity might be one of the least understood security buzzwords of our era. The term “Zero Trust” was originally coined over a decade ago and described the principle of not assigning digital trust to any entity, ever, for free. It represented a fundamental paradigm shift from the trust-happy early internet days to the threat-filled cyber landscape we now know. Since then, companies have been striving to make all their systems Zero-Trust mature. As right they should.

Every company has a digital presence nowadays. While this brings numerous benefits for businesses, it also poses a number of risks. Cybercriminals are finding more and more ways to circumvent security measures and access data. If protection is not strong enough, the data of organizations, their customers, and partners could be compromised, with dire consequences for companies.

As flexible working arrangements become increasingly common across every industry, companies need secure, dependable ways to grant remote employees online access to company data, services, and applications. Productivity in today’s highly digital business environment depends upon employees being able to access the systems and information they need for work when needed, from any location.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a seismic shift in how we work, propelling remote work from a niche option to the mainstream. Organizations scrambled to adapt, often prioritizing business continuity over security. However, as the dust settles, it's clear that this new normal of remote work isn't going anywhere. This presents a significant challenge: how do we secure a workforce that's no longer confined within the traditional office perimeter?