Too Much ‘Trust,’ Not Enough ‘Verify’

Source: Dark Reading
Author: Rob Sloan, Sam Curry
URL: https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/too-much-trust-not-enough-verify

# ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:
The outdated “trust but verify” approach to cybersecurity increases risk, necessitating a shift to a zero-trust architecture for better protection.

# MAIN POINTS:
1. Trust but verify assumes users and devices are trustworthy after initial verification.
2. The approach falters due to evolving network complexities and device volumes.
3. Users are rarely re-verified after onboarding, increasing vulnerability.
4. Breaches resulting from trust can cause catastrophic damage to organizations.
5. Most organizations consider initial verification acceptable until a crisis occurs.
6. Inadequate verification leads to costly breaches and regulatory penalties.
7. Continuous monitoring of user and device activity is now essential.
8. Zero-trust architecture only allows necessary access, enhancing security.
9. Zero trust requires ongoing testing within IT and cybersecurity strategies.
10. Adopting zero trust reduces the attack surface and minimizes security risks.

# TAKEAWAYS:
1. Shift from “trust but verify” to a continuous verification model.
2. Regularly re-evaluate user access to sensitive information for risks.
3. Invest in robust identity and access management controls.
4. Embrace zero trust to minimize attack surfaces and vulnerabilities.
5. Understand that breaches have significant financial and reputational consequences.