The traditional idea of a protected “edge” around a network is no longer valid. With employees working everywhere from home to coffee shops, the former method of network security is outdated. Companies can’t assume what’s inside their network is safe and what’s outside isn’t.

Switching to Zero Trust is vital for modern security, not just a trend. However, many find their current systems lack a key part: connecting user identification with session authorization.

Essentially, Zero Trust is a security approach based on “Always verify, never trust.” It assumes a security breach is happening or will. Therefore, no user, device, or app is automatically trusted based on location.

Unlike older systems that acted like a castle, where entry meant full access, Zero Trust is like a high-security building where each door needs ID and a scan. This thorough check is needed to protect against today’s online threats that easily move inside networks.

Many companies have boosted security with multi-factor authentication (MFA) and conditional access rules, but this is not enough.

Despite efforts, breaches using valid logins keep increasing. The issue is misunderstanding MFA’s function. Authentication confirms the user’s identity but doesn’t guarantee the access is secure at that moment.

Today, the “where” and “how” of access are as vital as the “who.” Consider these examples:

• A remote worker logging in from a personal, unsecured laptop.
• A contractor using a device without updated antivirus.
• A user connecting via public Wi-Fi without a VPN.

In these instances, the user might easily pass MFA. They are who they say they are. However, if that device is infected with malware, the “authenticated” session provides a direct route for hackers.

Hackers know where MFA fails and have adapted. They use infostealers, token theft, and session grabbing to take login details created after MFA. By putting this token into their browser, they skip security checks.

They don’t have to force access because the system already thinks they’re a valid, authenticated user. If your security only checks identity at login and ignores device safety, attackers can more easily acquire access and find private data.

Device reliability is now key to securing the total access process. When access depends on both identity and device security, authentication is specific, not general. A successful MFA confirmation is no longer the end of security. It’s one of many considerations.

Solutions like Specops Device Trust immediately confirm device safety during login, giving access based on the device’s current condition, not just the user’s login details. If the device becomes unsafe, access can be restricted or checked again without needing a different security tool to find the problem later.

This change fills a gap for companies using Zero Trust. Identity confirms the user, and device trust confirms the connection’s safety. Without both working together, Zero Trust is incomplete.

Zero Trust requires continuous effort. Real-time monitoring aids security teams in identifying unusual activity and quickly addressing threats. With tools that display device health, companies can uphold security, even with changing devices and conditions.

For example, if a user’s laptop is compromised mid-session, or a security feature is disabled, the system should quickly spot this change.

Automating device checks means security teams can ensure the “verify” part of “never trust, always verify” happens in real-time. This level of monitoring is crucial to counter today’s fast and sophisticated attack tactics.

Securing a hybrid workforce requires linking identity to a secure device and continuously checking that security in every session.

Specops’ Zero Trust access solution, Specops Device Trust, is based on that idea. It uses identity linking to ensure access is connected to a specific, verified device, not just a user account. It also checks device safety in real-time and can change the rules if risk changes during a session.

If problems are found, built-in solutions help users fix them without stressing IT teams. Allowances and automated checks reduce issues while upholding security, so security doesn’t lessen productivity.

By combining tough logins and continuous device checks, companies can decide access based on who is connecting and the device’s current status.

Zero Trust isn’t about more login prompts. It’s achieved when identity and device security work together to ensure access is only granted when both are safe.

Want to see how continuous authentication could work for your business?

Contact Specops today and discover how our Zero Trust access solution, Specops Device Trust, can improve your authentication process.

Sponsored and created by Specops Software.