Boosting Cybersecurity with Zero‑Trust and VPN Integration

We live in an age where links have become stronger, but our privacy has become more fragile than ever. Reports of data breaches and cyberattacks have become a normal occurrence, and what was once thought to be a space for easy communication and exchange of information has been shadowed by risks and uncertainties.

These apprehensions have become even more pronounced in the business sector. With access to sensitive personal customer information and financial credentials, eCommerce platforms and business websites have become a favorite target among those with malicious intentions. Hence, the need to boost cybersecurity measures with zero-trust and VPN integration.

To prevent the loss of customer trust and loyalty, and avoid reputation tarnish, businesses need to establish a robust security infrastructure to avoid any tendency of data leakage. And if your company is looking for the best measures to implement, you have come to the right page. Keep reading to learn more.

The Need to Improve Cybersecurity Systems

What cybersecurity measures has your company been implementing so far? How sure are you that only those with authorization have been able to gain access to sensitive files? With the growing number of remote employees working for the company, how certain are you that their connections are safe—and that the transfer of critical information was never intercepted?

With the integration of IoT devices and cloud applications, as well as the rise of more developed and sophisticated threats among cybercriminals, you can no longer stay complacent and rely on outdated cybersecurity practices. For instance, the company can’t just subscribe to any VPN to mask IP addresses and prevent ISPs from tracking online activities just because it offers cheap deals and huge discounts.

To ensure security, it needs to be meticulously and rigorously tested by cybersecurity experts who can evaluate holistically—such as the speed, commitment to a no-logs policy, DNS, IP, and WebRTC leakproof capabilities, and threat protection features that can block ads and malware—just like what Cybernews experts did in the NordVPN review. By thoroughly reading comprehensive reviews and checking expert feedback, you get to better understand that not all VPNs are made equally or provide the same kind of services.

And VPN integration is just the first step. To ensure overall security, a Zero Trust Architecture must be implemented for a more strategic and practical framework of protecting company data.

What is Zero-Trust Architecture—and Why Companies Need to Adapt this Strategy

The concept of Zero-Trust security strategy is actually very simple: to assume that no user or device can be trusted by default. This means whoever or wherever that person is, regardless of credentials and past behavior, the individual must still submit for verification, authentication, and continuous validation by a structured system.

With stricter access control, this model intensifies the company’s cybersecurity measures and helps:

• prevent risks both from inside and outside of the company
• reduce the number of vulnerabilities that can be exploited
• monitor and log every activity made for easy tracing and quick detection and mitigation of data breach attempts
• adapt better to evolving threats and sophisticated methods employed by hackers

The Five Pillars of Zero Trust Security

Now, how to implement this cybersecurity structure? Well, to ensure that all areas are monitored and continuously evaluated—and no area is missed—ZTA focuses on five critical areas that can be susceptible to breaches. Also termed the five pillars of Zero Trust Architecture, these include:

1. Identity and Access Management

According to statistics, about 95% of cybersecurity breaches are actually caused by human errors. And while simple mistakes may not look so heavy, when dealing with critical data, a single mistake might cause the company’s reputation damage or even legal repercussions.

Hence, the need to ensure that all users, devices, and applications used by the company are verified before granting access to the network. This could include the use of multifactor authentication, password managers, and behavioral analytics to ensure that the system knows who is accessing and can immediately respond if there is abnormal behavior.

2. Device Security

Next to ensuring that only those affiliated or with authorization are able to access company data, making sure that the devices used are secure and compliant is also important—both company-owned and personal devices used by employees. It’s also important to ensure that devices are regularly updated and compliant with security protocols before granting access.

3. Network Segmentation

To improve threat detection, network segmentation should also be employed to reduce the attack surface and limit the impact of potential breaches. By isolating individual workloads and applying specific security policies unique to every user, it’s easier to monitor traffic and detect unauthorized access.

4. Application and Workload

Companies use various applications to streamline operations and boost productivity. While these tools are useful, they can still pose risks from a zero-trust security perspective. Cybercriminals may exploit them to gain access. That is why it is important to limit application access, especially when handling sensitive data. Regular audits, continuous authentication, and strong security measures are essential to keep these applications protected from unauthorized access and potential threats.

5. Data Security

All these security standards are meant for what? To protect valuable data. And how do you protect this data? By identifying and classifying the kind of data handled by the company, and determining who should have access to it.

Data should always be encrypted—both at rest and in transit. That’s why there’s a need for robust encryption protocols and a complete data protection strategy, such as AES, TLS, and RSA. Companies should also leverage encryption through VPNs, IPsec, and SSL.

Final Thoughts

Without an established cybersecurity measure, the company is on the verge of exposing itself to devastating risks. What took years to build can be gone in an instant. Hence, the importance of zero-trust and VPN integration. With the right cybersecurity tools and software and web app development services provider, you can take confidence that the company can stay secure and resilient despite the evolving threats of the digital world.

The question is: what security measures has the company implemented to keep up with today’s evolving threats?