What is Zero-Trust, and Where Did It Come From?

Zero-trust is a data protection method that's becoming very popular in the tech world. It’s one of the best ways to keep your business safe from hackers. Let’s discuss how zero-trust started and why it’s important today.

The Origin of Zero-Trust: John Kindervag

John Kindervag, a former broadcast engineer and computer animation specialist, is the person behind zero-trust. He became interested in networking because of the video game Doom. Yes, you read that right—Doom actually contributed to creating the best security strategy we have today.

While working, Kindervag set up ethernet networks in his office. These networks weren’t just for work, though. They were also used for after-hours Doom gaming sessions. At the time, these networks weren’t very secure. The only protection was a firewall, which kept out outside threats. But it didn’t stop people from sharing data from the office network to the internet.

Kindervag thought this system was "insane" and wanted to create a way to ensure that no one was automatically trusted. That idea is now called zero-trust.

What Is Zero-Trust?

Zero-trust is all about never automatically trusting anyone or anything, even inside your own network. Here are the five steps to setting up a zero-trust system:

Figure Out What Needs Protecting

Focus on the most important stuff first. Ask yourself: What are the things I need to keep safe?

Understand How Data Moves in Your System

You need to know who uses your system, why they use it, and how data gets stored and shared.

Create a Security Plan

Make a plan based on your business’ needs. It should be unique to your situation.

Set Rules for Access

Decide who can access what, when, where, and why. These rules should apply to everyone—every user, device, and network.

Keep an Eye on Things

Keep monitoring your network for problems. Fix any issues before they become serious.

Why Zero-Trust Matters

Kindervag has a good point: cyberthreats can hit anyone. Whether you’re a small business or a huge company doesn't matter. In today's online world, everyone is at risk.

For example, a type of ransomware targeted a dairy farmer in the Swiss Alps. It locked up his milking machines! Even if he could milk the cows by hand, he wouldn’t have access to the data that keeps the cows healthy. A zero-trust system can help you avoid these kinds of losses.

Take Action

Don’t let the fear of hackers stop you from improving your security. Use it as motivation to strengthen your system. If you want to learn more, call us at (403) 210-2927.