Zero trust describes a cybersecurity strategy in which a system assumes it’s already been breached by bad actors hiding behind legitimate credentials. Rather than barricading the perimeter, this strategy focuses inward, monitoring the digital environment for suspicious behavior by comparing real-time activity to a baseline of how credentialed users are expected to behave within the system.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) outlines the traditionally accepted framework for Zero Trust assessment in their Zero Trust Maturity Model (ZTMM). This model measures:
The maturity level of:
- Visibility and analytics
- Automation and orchestration
- Governance
Across five pillars:
- Identity
- Devices
- Network
- Apps and Workloads
- Data
Using ratings:
- Traditional
- Initial
- Advanced
- Optimal
But we’ve identified a fundamental flaw in CISA’s ZTMM: identity’s role is misunderstood. So what is that role? Let’s dive in.
Identity is the Center of Everything
With a zero trust strategy, the system is looking for users who may not be who they say they are; its success in identifying a breach hinges on the speed and accuracy with which behavioral discrepancies can be spotted in the digital environment. But without Identity, there is no reference point for zero trust.
So the factor of identity can’t be separated from the pillars of devices, networks, apps, workloads, and data in the way CISA’s traditional ZTMM holds. Rather, identity is a fundamental component of each pillar, required to enable even the most base level of maturity.
Identity-First Zero Trust
Our Identity-First Zero Trust framework exists to more accurately convey the nature of Identity within the zero trust security framework for a comprehensive approach to zero trust where identity is the throughline connecting each pillar.
Today, BeyondID is the first and only managed identity services provider delivering on a holistic approach to zero trust. We’ve been able to do this by ensuring that everything we do is in support of the integral relationship between identity and zero trust maturity.
Our digital Identity services bolster zero trust functions across the board (from devices, to network, to apps and workload, to data) to promote a holistic zero trust strategy. With the best baseline of digital identity, our 24/7/365 SOC can detect and respond to suspicious activity in all corners of your digital environment faster than ever.
When we look at the outcomes of this approach to zero trust, we see exactly what we’d expect from a highly successful identity-centric cybersecurity strategy. These are long-term, experiential outcomes like:
- Brand loyalty and topline growth
- Frictionless productivity
- Improved customer experience
Top security benefits include:
- Optimal thread detection, investigation, and remediation
- Continuous compliance and risk mitigation
- High ROI on IT and security investments
Who We Are
BeyondID is an Okta Apex Partner and leading Managed Identity Solutions Provider (MISP). An MISP provides solutions and services that simplify and secure the management of digital identities, enabling organizations to control access to applications, data, networks, and devices while facilitating continuous regulatory compliance and ensuring seamless user experiences.
BeyondID specializes in creating Secure Total Experiences for Financial Services and Healthcare/Life Sciences organizations.
